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Dual Clusters near Antares

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Posts Made By: Rod Mollise

March 27, 2010 08:55 PM Forum: Refractors

Collimating an ST-80

Posted By Rod Mollise
Jon Isaacs said:

All you refractor guru's:

Last night a friend was over with a Nexstar 80GT, this is a typical Synta 80mm F/5 OTA. At higher magnifications, it exhibited what I take to be rather severe coma, viewing Castor at 90x, I could see the airy disks but to one side, there as a large blur which under scrutiny looked to be coma.

A laser showed that the diagonal seemed to be collimated so I am guessing I need to adjust the objective cell which I believe is threaded on (I could be wrong on that.) Any thoughts on what I might do here to try to improve things.

Thanks

Jon

There's really no collimation that can be done on the objective end. What most of us do is loosen the screws on the tailpiece and collimate with that. There's usually enough play in the screw holes to allow you to tighten back down in the proper position.

March 28, 2010 12:53 PM Forum: Meade

UHTC

Posted By Rod Mollise
James Black said:

Anyone know when Meade started putting UHTC on the ETX 125's. Also, does anyone make a press on cap for that scope?

Around about the time the LX200 GPS came out...which was about...oh...2001, wasn't it?

Haven't seen a press-on cap...but check Scopestuff, Agena, etc., the usual suspects. ;-)

April 1, 2010 11:54 AM Forum: Religion

EASTER PARADE!

Posted By Rod Mollise
John Meiners said:

With Easter looming on the horizon.. there is chatter on our local radio stations of "Easter Service" and welcoming folks to Sunrise Service, announcing the resurrection of Jesus Christ... Come and learn about this Historical event, and how significant this miracle is to Christians around the world. Christ has risen from the Tomb.. I'm not atheist by any stretch of the imagination, however....I can't figure out where now back his his physical worldly body, Jesus is going to reside? Bible says "ascends up into the clouds" If he ascends up (vertically) where in God's name (no pun intended) is he headed? Low Earth orbit? The lunar surface? I don't mean to be facetious but reality has to come into play somewhere along this line. I mean no disrespect to the Christian belief system, just wondering about the factual event. JM

Answer: It really doesn't matter. It's hopeless to try to apply the standards of logic and reason to myth and legend. That is not what they are about. In some senses, myth is on a DEEPER and more meaning filled level. Bottom line, though? There is no evidence such a thing happened, and plenty of suggestions that it didn't, beginning with the preponderence of "messiahs" and reborn gods popular in that area of the world at that time.

April 2, 2010 12:19 PM Forum: After Dark

Just can't fall asleep...

Posted By Rod Mollise
Berkeley is a FINE, world class school. Your son is _privileged_ if he is able to go there. Frankly, he would get a good education at the most "lowly" state school...and I don't mean part of the UC system, either. A degree from an Ivy League school is no guarantor of success, and a degree from one of "those" schools is no hindrance. wink

Our daughter was accepted, if I recall, by two Ivy League schools. She turned them down. In her case, Emory was a better match FOR HER. That is what is important.

April 3, 2010 01:05 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Drilling on Sensitive Lands

Posted By Rod Mollise
Actually, we DON'T NEED IT. It is like heroin, and it's why we are in thrall to the middle east dictators. You could drill in every National Park, every seashore, and it would make little difference to the situation. It STILL wouldn't be enough. Our presidents would still be scraping and bowing as the last couple have.

It just puts off the inevitable a LITTLE longer. We need to learn to DEAL WITH THAT.

"Drill baby, drill"? Yeah, and I can see Russia from my back window. LOL!

April 3, 2010 01:10 PM Forum: Politics

Why the US/Russian Arms Treaty is a Joke

Posted By Rod Mollise
Which has NOTHING to do with nuclear arms. Every U.S. President since Ike, including your BELOVED Ronnie, has negotiated or tried to negotiate nuclear arms deals with the Russians. It only makes sense for both sides. Even Reagan decided "linkage" was a mistake.

April 4, 2010 03:17 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Canon XTi /400d

Posted By Rod Mollise
Indrajit Jaswal said:

I recently picked up a used Canon 400d off the local CL, hoping to get started with astrophotography. Unfortunately it appears that not too many are using this camera. Is the 400d worth modifying (IR filter) or should I move onto the newer Canons?

IJ

Don't be too quick to move on. The Rebel is more suited and trouble free for astrophotography than some of her more expensive Canon sisters. I have not had mine modded...I'm not that much into big nebula shots, anyhow, and I find the camera too outstanding for terrestrial use to muck around with it. I might buy a second body one day, or maybe buy a full frame Canon and have this one modded...but, frankly, given my modest astro-imaging requirements, this camera is good enough must the way she it. wink

April 4, 2010 03:22 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

I've come full circle...

Posted By Rod Mollise
Chris Brown said:

It is all too easy to upgrade, downgrade, sidegrade, etc...while all the while, I should be looking at the stars.
Thanks to all I have encountered, a great bunch for sure...
When I finally get my $#!t together, I will return...
Kindest regards,
Chris Brown

Assuming it's not the 12 bucks that is bothering you, there is a lot more to A-mart than buying and selling. I rarely do either. I think I have sold twice over the years and bought never. What more is there? Great forums. Great articles, and I even like to browse the classifieds (you do NOT have to buy). Pay your 12 bucks and stay onboard.

April 4, 2010 03:48 PM Forum: Chinese Optics Imports

Harbor Freight Monocular

Posted By Rod Mollise
Lee Spain said:

Nobody wants to fess up. But, for the record, the little 7x monocular that I got from Harbor Freight the other day is pretty cool.

Why not? There's all kindsa cool stuff in there...I got a digital angle indicator in there to use with my Dob, and I oughta go back and buy one of there sextants (yes). wink

April 8, 2010 11:22 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Question on telescope value

Posted By Rod Mollise
Cory Stone said:

I have a question for the group... I have a 1959 3" Unitron 155 that is in pristine condition. It has everything except the little box for the visual back. I noticed one in the classified section (with a few more accessories than I have on mine) listed at $4500.00. Is this a reasonable price for this instrument?

No offense to the guy selling his; but, that seemed a little high. But, to be honest, I have no idea as to the actual worth of this telescope. So, I thought I would just ask for opinions...

Thank you for your serious thoughts...




As always, _a scope like this is "worth" what you can convince somebody to pay for it_. That said, this is about 1500 high UNLESS. it is the Photo Equatorial with a clock drive equipped mount and all the trimmins.

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