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Posts Made By: David Hakenewerth

July 1, 2006 02:32 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Anybody else watching Mercury??

Posted By David Hakenewerth
Hi Jon, My normal observing site has the NW view block to about 30 degrees so I packed up the scope and headed out of town. I saw your Mercury thread a couple of weeks ago and viewed Mercury for the first time in my 44 years. This truely is a neglected planted.

Thanks Dave


P.S. I convinced my wife to go out with me and we enjoyed the sunset and views together. She enjoyed the twilight vieiwing but is not an all night diehard like me. ;0)

July 6, 2006 02:20 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Barlow vs. high mag EPs

Posted By David Hakenewerth
I agree with Jim and Jon. The increased eye relief and in my equipments case increased FOV makes the barlow and eyepiece a better option. I have a 2.5X and 3.5X barlow and seem to use them exclusively for high power viewing.

The only draw back I can think of is the extra weight or possibly the slight misalignment from a long tube. I still prefer it for visual observations.

Dave

July 19, 2006 03:19 PM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

All wood (almost) 6-inch

Posted By David Hakenewerth
Mark, The wood working is fantastic. The care you took in assembling the OTA makes the grain from the staves look like a continuous laminate. Incredible job.

P.S. I agree you need to have your neighbor let you enter it in next years competition.

Thanks for sharing. It is obvious you are truely a generous man, to give a masterpiece like this to the neighbor. Wish i had a neighbor like you, but mine didn't want the 6 gum trees I cut down after the storm. HA HA.

They became flowerbed mulch.

August 15, 2006 08:28 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

What you see in which scope (size type, etc)

Posted By David Hakenewerth
This is an interesting thread but I don't think I would take this information to compare different scope designs.

I normally get a "5" with my 8 inch F6.25 Dob on good nights, but I have reached "7" before on great nights. I can't however push the magnification beyond about x240 on my mirror without loosing contrast and detail. x180 to x220 seems to be the sweet spot for my mirror.

Dave

September 25, 2006 08:28 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Bad Focuser

Posted By David Hakenewerth
Hi Darryl

I agree the JMI is a great focuser. While waiting for it to arrive you can improve the cheap plastic one in two ways. First if you put some teflon tape or even scotch tape on the focuser tube it will remove alot of tube slop. Second if you add some vaseline to the rack it will eliminate a lot of the slop to the rack. Once you do this wipe all the access off so you don't get any on your eyepieces.

Good luck
Dave

October 3, 2006 03:05 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Long focus mirrors?

Posted By David Hakenewerth
Hi Jess,

Rick Schaffer wrote a wildcard article 006.1 in the Reviews section under advanced articles that details a long focus unobstructed newt using three long focus spherical mirrors. Similar to the Schiefspiegler but supposedly producing less abberitions. I've considered build a 6 inch F18 because I like planetary observations. I've done two 6 inch F10 mirrors on a machine and they turned out quite well. I hope to complete some existing projects to start on the Stevick-Paul before Mars comes around again.


Good luck Dave

December 20, 2006 07:05 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

I hate the Jet Stream!

Posted By David Hakenewerth
In the midwest, this is a constant problem. 2006 has been the worst year ever for seeing conditions in my area. I use the Clear Sky Clock alerts, set at a modest setting, to keep track of above average conditions. Usually I get aboput 45 hits, this year 7. ;0(

I think the composer of the kiddy lyric Twinkle twinkle little star, lived in my town.

Clear and "steady" skies
Dave

December 24, 2006 07:45 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Meade DS-2102: Failure to Align

Posted By David Hakenewerth
I don't have a Meade DS but my best guess is that you have the time identified wrong or have daylight savings time turned on.

Dave

February 1, 2007 04:43 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Re: bubble cavity between mirror blank and tool

Posted By David Hakenewerth
I agree with Dan. Keep at 120 grit because you should not loose contact that quickly although F4 is a good challenge. What are you using to support the mirror on the barrel? It's not rocking at all is it? Also how are you holding and pushing the tool? You want the downward pressure to be from the center not the edges?

Grind more worry less.

Good luck Dave

February 14, 2007 05:39 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Installing a new mirror

Posted By David Hakenewerth
I would install the cell in the box and then the mirror in the cell.

Good luck Dave


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