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Posts Made By: Ryan O'Grady

June 17, 2002 04:51 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

C102HD or Orion XT8 Dob?

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
I was very into Astronomy as a kid and I'm looking to get back into it. After reading a bunch of advice online, I'm between the Celestron C102HD refractor and Orion XT8 Dob as a first new scope (as a kid I had a cheap 60mm refractor). Given that seeing conditions where I live (near LA) are not great, and I plan to do most my observing from home, should I lean a certain way on the decision?

June 20, 2002 11:31 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Alternatives to 35mmPanoptic+Paracorr

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
Other than a Nagler 31mm Type 5 (which also costs over $600), is there a less expensive alternative to the TV 35mm Panoptic + Paracorr combination for wide field viewing on fast dobs?

June 28, 2002 08:56 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Unbalanced Dob

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
Anyone have a good homemade remedy to alter the balance of an Orion XT10 Dob? Without the tension spring attached to the bearing, it really wants to go to the zenith. Even with the spring, it doesn't always stay where I want it, especially when it is already close to the zenith.

July 13, 2002 04:12 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Beginner Objects for Star Party

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
I am taking some people to a dark sky sight to do some observing, but have very little experience myself. Is there a list somewhere of like the easiest 10 or 12 DSO's to find in the current summer skies? Unfortunately Orion and Andromeda (M31,33,etc) are not up when I will be out, because I know those well. I have a star chart and software so just the names of the objects will do. Also, I use a 10" Dob.

Thanks -

Ryan O

July 19, 2002 06:14 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

What binoculars should I buy?

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
Don (the Hermit) mentioned 4 things that are essential to the amateur astronomer - 1 of which being binoculars. Given a budget of ~$300-400 (less obviously better than more), any suggestions on which binocs to get?

July 26, 2002 05:26 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Asteroid 2002 NY40

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
Anyone know of highly detailed coordinate mapping for the August 12-18th period for NY40? The Sky and Telescope web site only has a broad picture of the path.

July 29, 2002 05:41 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Meade dobs

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
There is a great review of the Meade 16" on scopereviews.com. Ed Ting spent quite a bit of time and work on the same stuff David complained about, and eventually got it working well (at a considerable increase in total cost). It sounded like its a good scope for people who don't mind getting their hands dirty, given the price.

August 8, 2002 09:32 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Newbie Coolpix 995 question

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
I am looking to get the Coolpix 995 and the 18mm Scopetronix wide angle eyepiece (according to scopetronix website, the eyepiece can screw right into the camera). If you have this hooked to your scope, how do you aim the scope(I have a motor driven CG-4 and a Telrad finder but no GOTO)? Assuming you use the LCD screen's live throughput to confirm the correct aim, do you see the same/more/less than your eye could see without the camera? And do you get the full wide field view (these eyepieces are 66degree AFOV) in the LCD screen or is it vignetted?

Thanks for your help -

Ryan O

August 9, 2002 03:33 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Newbie question

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
Hi - I hope this doesn't seem like a stupid question, but when doing CCD imaging, how do you know that you have the object in the field of view? Specifically, I was looking at the Coolpix 995 camera with the Scopetronix screw-on 14mm eyepiece (seems like a very simple approach to beginning astrophotography).

August 13, 2002 05:02 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Mystery reflector on ebay

Posted By Ryan O'Grady
How could that be an f/9.3 scope?? Therein lies the biggest mystery. It's kind of pricey for such a no-name, as well...for that money you could get one of the Orion 130 reflectors.

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