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Posts Made By: Bill Barrett

September 23, 2005 01:16 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Setting circles on an alt. az. mount?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I use a GEM and am dependent upon setting circles. Can (non digital) setting circles be installed on an alt/az mount?
thank you, Bill

September 27, 2005 01:12 AM Forum: Refractors

Different filters=different focal points=SA?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I have the Orion basic filter set which has 4 very dark filters. I notice regardless of which (refractor) scope I use,every change of filter requires a slight refocusing. Is this because of spherical aberration?

December 9, 2005 02:26 AM Forum: After Dark

Finally Clear skies in Seattle

Posted By Bill Barrett
Finally, some clear skies! We have been clouded in since early September. Last night I just happened to wake up @ 0300. It was clear and steady. I couldn't pass up the opportunity so I pulled the out the old 6" F8 Jaegers, took some quick looks at Mars & Saturn, then surfed through the open clusters, in cancer, auriga, & gemini. Finally I ended with the ghostly apparitions of M1, M65&M66.
It looks like another good night, so I'm taking tomorrow off. Can't wait to get out there!

December 17, 2005 09:03 PM Forum: TeleVue

Best birding/astro mount for Ranger?

Posted By Bill Barrett
A friend of mine just got a Ranger. He is an avid backpacker/birder & and is astro curious. I know everything is a compromise, but what is the best mount for birding/astro use? thank you, Bill

January 4, 2006 03:08 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

The thrill is in the hunt

Posted By Bill Barrett
I was introduced to deep sky objects late last spring by an experienced observer, with a large dob. at a dark sky site. It was an unforgettable evening as he took us on a guided tour of the universe; from jewel-like golbular clusters, to distinctly shaped barred, eliptical & spiral galaxies.

Since last spring, I have been hunting down deep sky objects at every opportunity from my backyard in Seattle with a 6" refractor on an ancient Meade 826 mount with analog setting circles.

It has been a great adventure working my way through the Messier objects. I get such a charge out of simply finding & confirming what I have found.

We have been clouded in since September but I did get an evening in early December & found M1, M65, & M66. That's about as deep as I can go.

I marvel at the observing reports from experienced observers with large scopes. But for me at this stage, the thrill is still in the hunt.

thanks, Bill










February 3, 2006 06:06 AM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

How do I sign up someone else as a supporter?

Posted By Bill Barrett
As part of a recent transaction, I was asked to register the other party as an astromart supporter. I am happy to do so, but I'm not sure how to do it. thanks, Bill

March 3, 2006 03:33 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

GM8 for a 25lb 6" F8 refractor?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I have have a 6" F8 refractor and have been using an old Mead6 826 mount on a home made pier. The Meade is plenty solid and it tracks well with the scope. I would like to upgrade & have been looking at the Losmandy GM8.
I am strictly a visual observer, and was wondering if the GM8 would have the capacity to handle the 6" scope? The OTA is about 20lbs, and is nearly 25 lbs. with a 35mm panoptic, diagonal, and chromacor.

My primarty interest in the GM8 is the setting RA circle design which (if I understand correctly) does not have to be reset moving from object to object.

March 22, 2006 02:47 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Source for graduated scales for setting circles?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I am very dependent upon setting circles & I have an old Meade 826 mount on which I have worn the graduated scale on the 3" RA setting circle & would like to replace it. The scale appears to be a metal tape with the graduations etched in. Is there someone who would sell or make these?
I have a computer program I could use, but it would print them out on paper which I doubt would last. thank you, Bill

May 2, 2006 02:27 PM Forum: TeleVue

Pronto...the overachiever

Posted By Bill Barrett
The other night we had some unexpectedly clear skies. I took the Pronto which I keep set up in the living room for terrestial viewing, onto the deck for a few quick peeks.
At 80x with a 6mm radian & yellow filter, Saturn showed Cassini's division, a faint band on the globe, the shadow of the rings as they passed in front (from my perspective) of the planet, and the planet's shadow on the rings.
Then I surfed around the open clusters in Auriga & swung around to M3 before turning in.
It doesn't have the light gathering ability to resolve globs to their core (much less galaxies) but everytime I use the Pronto, I am still amazed at how
such a small scope can show so much.
thank you, Bill

May 5, 2006 02:43 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Image scale?

Posted By Bill Barrett
Is image scale the same for all scopes at the same magification? For example is the image scale of Saturn @ 100x the same in a 4" refractor or 25" Dobsonian?

Is the image scale of Saturn @ 100x the same in a 4" F5 as a 4" F15?

thank you,

Bill

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