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Posts Made By: Bill Barrett

May 10, 2006 02:30 PM Forum: Refractors

Source for collimitable lens cells?

Posted By Bill Barrett
Does anyone know of a source for collimitable lens cells? I would like to find a cell for a 6" (152mm) lens to fit a 7" od tube. thank you, Bill

May 11, 2006 03:40 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Installing a chromacor in the drawtube

Posted By Bill Barrett
Would it be possible to install a chromacor in the draw tube? I was
thinking it might work by making a ring which is threaded on both the
inside and the outside & threading a portion of the inside of the
draw tube. The chromacor would thread into the ring, the ring would
thread into the drawtube.

Spacing of the chromacor from the focal plane of the eyepiece is somewhat critical, but I think that could be dialed in by how far the ring is threaded into the tube & the use of different 1.25 adapters.

Does this seem like a workable idea?

thank you, Bill

June 23, 2006 03:24 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Focuser has a point at which it binds

Posted By Bill Barrett
I am using a 2.7" ap focuser on my homebuilt 6" refractor. The focuser has been a joy. However, the focuser has just recently started to bind about 1 1/2 inches from being fully racked in. Once past that point, it is perfectly smooth. The teeth on the tube look perfect.
Has anyone else experienced this? If so I would appreciate your suggestions on how to fix this. thank you, Bill

October 13, 2006 01:06 AM Forum: Mounts

Replacement RA circles for Meade 826?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I have an old Meade 826 mount & I need to replace the RA circle. I called Meade and I believe the mount is older than the person I spoke with....no luck there.
The circle is simply a 3" piece of thin wall tube with a graduated scale printed on a decal. Is this something a machine shop could duplicate? Is there a way I can buy the graduted scale? Any ideas would be most helpful.
thank you, Bill

P.S. I have attached a photo of an 826 mount.



October 19, 2006 11:59 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Modern chinese lenses vs. Jaegers, Edmund etc.

Posted By Bill Barrett
Over the years, I have had several scopes with Jaegers & Edmund lenses. Some were excellent...some were not. I have been thinking of putting together a 6" F5 refractor & was wondering how today's mass produced Chinese lenses compare to the old Jaegers & Edmund lenses? thank you, Bill

December 7, 2006 05:00 AM Forum: TeleVue

Pronto to TV76 conversion

Posted By Bill Barrett
I enjoy my Pronto. But I must admit the new wave of Chinese 66, 80, & 90mm apos are tempting.

I wish Televue would offer a Pronto to TV76 facory conversion.

March 29, 2007 03:13 AM Forum: Refractors

Moonlite replacement focuser for an older Televue?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I have an old Televue Genesis & I love it, but the old focuser could be a bit more precise. Does Moonlite (or anyone else) make a replacement? thank you, Bill

May 5, 2007 04:31 AM Forum: Mounts

Adpater for mounting Pronto to a Polaris?

Posted By Bill Barrett
I just picked up a Polaris Mount to use with my Pronto. Does anyone know what type of adapter I need to use the clamshell with this mount? thank you, Bill

May 11, 2007 01:09 AM Forum: After Dark

Clear skies in Seattle. Grab your scopes.

Posted By Bill Barrett
After months of clouds the skies have finally cleared. Last night was one of the clearest, steadiest evenings we have had in quite sometime and tonight may be even better. Last night Saturn was tack sharp @ 240x with my 6" Jaegers (& chromacor). After Saturn I went to a 22mm panoptic & surfed though the usual globs, & open clusters. Then it was on to dimmer (& better?) things. M81 & M82 were perfectly framed with 13mm Nagler. After pulling in M64, I got my hopes up for the Virgo cluster....but that was a bit too ambitious for our mag 3.5 skies.
The scope is on the deck cooling down now. Can't wait to give it another go.

May 19, 2007 12:55 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Dark skies vs.Urban skies & planetary images

Posted By Bill Barrett
All my observing is done in Seattle with refractors. I understand the impact of light pollution on observing DSO's. Do urban skies have a similar impact on observing the details on Jupiter, Saturn & Mars?

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