Image of the day

Captured by
Yue Ma

HFG-1

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Bill Barrett

May 25, 2005 12:00 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Understanding Magnification?

Posted By Bill Barrett
The other night I looked @ Jupiter through a 3" scope and a 4" scope at nearly identical magnifications. For some reason the image in the 4" scope appeared noticeably larger. Is that possible? Will the same mags in different size scopes produce different image sizes? thank you, Bill

June 4, 2005 03:48 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Is the optical shop dead?Has the net taken over?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I live in Seattle, and our long standing optical shop is moving out of telescopes & accessories. They said over the past few years, they were losing too many sales to the internet. They previously stocked Televue, Orion, & Meade scopes/eyepieces. They also kept a good selection of book & charts.
Is this the way of the industry? Is there still room for the local telescope shop?

June 10, 2005 03:24 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Is there a recommended/definitive sky chart?

Posted By Bill Barrett
Can you recommend an easy to read sky chart or sky atlas? thank you, Bill

June 10, 2005 03:51 AM Forum: Eyepieces

7mm nagler, 6mm radian, or Meade 5.5?

Posted By Bill Barrett
My main scope is a 6" F8 (1200mm) refractor. I also have a Pronto (480mm)as a travel scope.I am looking for an eyepiece to fit between my 9mm & 4.8 Naglers. I have been debating between a 7mm Nagler and 6mm radian...maybe even a Meade 5.5. I'd really appreciate some input to help me make an informed choice.
thank you, Bill

June 17, 2005 02:23 PM Forum: TeleVue

Eyeguard retrofits

Posted By Bill Barrett
I have an original 13mm nagler & I understand Televue now offers retrofit eyeguards for several of their older eyepieces. Does anyone know what the retrofits cost, and if we need to send the eyepieces back to Televue for installation? thank you, Bill

July 30, 2005 01:18 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Mars:7/27 refractor vs. reflector

Posted By Bill Barrett
A friend came over the other morning @ around 0415 to do some Mars observing.
Mars was about 45 degrees above the horizon. He used his 8" newtonian and I used a 6" F8 refractor w/chromacor.
We set up on the deck and looked over the roof of my house. I set up a least a half hour before he arrived.
We planned to observe with similar magnifications for comparison.The atmosphere was stable, the sky was clear, &the jet stream was nowhere to be found.
We expected his reflector to need time to cool down, but were surprised to find how wrong we were! Regardless of magnification, the refractor never seemed to settle down. The images blurred, danced, & never stabilized in the refractor while the reflector produced steady, sharp images, with detail. This was counter intuitive and surprised us both (particularly me.) I thought refractors generally don't have cool down problems. Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas about how to deal with it? thank you, Bill

August 10, 2005 01:27 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Mount recommendations for 6

Posted By Bill Barrett
Could someone recommend a solid equatorial mount for a 20 lb. 6" F8 refractor? It would need to be motorized but not go to. I don't do photography, and it would be used 99%+ of the time on my deck.
Budget is a consideration, and as much as I'd love a G11, it is more than I can spend. thank you, Bill


August 14, 2005 05:36 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Mars Filters

Posted By Bill Barrett
David;

I have a Baader contrast booster which seems to work quite well. I also find a green filter helps bring out the polar cap, and surface details. Bill

August 16, 2005 12:34 PM Forum: Refractors

How to test focuser collimation?

Posted By Bill Barrett
Is there a simple sure fire way to test the squareness/collimation of a refractor focuser? thank you, Bill

September 14, 2005 12:59 AM Forum: TeleVue

Cleaning & collimation...send back to Televue?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I have a 15 year old Genesis which is really dusty and needs to be cleaned. I live in Seattle and am worried about sending it across the country back to Televue. Is this something which I can have done locally? thank you, Bill

Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search