Posts Made By: Bernard Kean

Hi Folks, has anyone seen or used the New Kendrick Barlowed Lasers. I'm kind of interested in the 2068-A set so as to be able to collimate from the back instead of running back and forth. Any input would be appreciated.
Buck

Harold
As others have stated, I think we all have started and stopped different hobbies, and lets face it, for most of us this is just a hobby. I'm in my mid 50's and just started a few years ago after a lifetime of looking up and wondering but never doing anything about it. I finally bought a very good small APO and quickly developed aperture (equipment) fever. I have rotated a fair amount of astronomy stuff thru Amart then a few months ago figured out my equipment outpaced my actual knowledge of the sky. I guess where I'm going with this is that I bought all the stuff and it turned out to be a pain to set up so I spent even less time learning and enjoying. I've settled on a good wide field APO and an excellent mid size truss DOB which works for me. Maybe for you it's time to just get back to basics with something that's quick to set up for a quick look at whatever is going on up there that night and enjoy it, then put it away without all the work of a large complicated setup. Hobbies are meant to be enjoyed and if they are not then we are approaching them incorrectly or we have gotten everything out of them we can and its time to move on. However, I think many of us can still remain in a hobby but not in the avid category, but rather the casual category. I still continue other interest even though I'm not deep into it anymore, but just casually only when something comes up to bring up the interest level again if only for short time. I still have a motorcycle but I don't ride nearly as much as I used to. I still have a number of firearms but I don't hunt and shoot nearly as much as I used to. I still have a pilots license but I don't fly much anymore. I still love to camp but I don't backpack anymore. But I still enjoy them all.
I wish you luck and I'm sure you be comfortable with your decision.
Buck

Hi Hal
Here is my version. I used SS threaded rod and threaded stand offs from McMaster-Carr. I just cut them to length and used Locktight secure the stand offs on. It scared me to death holding an allen wrench over the CZ mirror.

Hi Michael
I like it!! Very nice clean lines and look to the scope!
Buck

Sorry to hear about this Michael. If my Starmaster ever gives out for some reason, I'll be looking you up. I like your scopes very much.
Buck

Hi Folks
This is a bit OT for the Equipment forum but because of the large number of folks reading this forum I am posting here. My wife is putting together a scrapbook for us and we saw Halley's Comet from a mountain top in Georgia while backpacking. She wants to put a picture of Haley's Comet in it however I've searched the web and this site and can't seem to find a suitable picture. Does anyone have or can point me to a good picture of Halley's that I can download and print for my personal use?
Thanks
Buck

Hi Hugh
I have a a pair of Nikon Action 7x35's that do the trick for wide field, finding my way around type stuff. They are very light and have a huge 9* fov. I also have Oberwerk 11x70's that work very good. They are still light enough, hand holdable and are still in your price range.
Just my $.02
Buck

Hi Folks
After a number of years of wearing glasses to correct for far sight, I found out recently that I have a small amount of astigmatism (1/2 diopter) that I didn't know about. With that said I've noticed that stars have a spike or flare on the bottom while using a 26mmT5 in a TV101 and no problems with any of my other T6's mainly because of the smaller exit pupil I would think. Getting to the point, I just ordered the Dioptrx and was wondering if anyone is using them and what eyepieces they are used on, and how do they like them.
Buck

Hi folks, I remember a while back reading and seeing pictures of an Alt-Az mount simular to the Gibraltar 5. Can anyone point me to any alternatives.
Thanks
Buck