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M33 in Triangulum

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Posts Made By: Richard Spina

May 13, 2002 03:08 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Barred Spirals

Posted By Richard Spina
Is M95 the best (brightest) example of a barred spiral? I tried to see the bar on Saturday night with my 16" reflector, but could not detect it. Is there a better example of a barred spiral and should I be able to see it with my scope?

Thanks,
Ricardo

June 10, 2002 09:03 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

M16

Posted By Richard Spina
Does any one know what type of aperture that you need to see a hint of the "pillars" in M16? Or, is this feature of the nebula strictly photographic?

Thanks,
Ricardo

November 16, 2003 09:14 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

WideScan Type III: 20mm

Posted By Richard Spina
Has anyone tried this eyepiece in a fast reflector? I assume that its performance is similar to the 30 Wide Scan: good in a slow scope, but soft near the edges in a fast one. I'd be interested in anyone's first hand experience.

Thanks,
Richard

April 5, 2004 07:59 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Books on Optics

Posted By Richard Spina
Can anyone suggest a good book or two that explains the optics of telescopes and eyepieces? I am looking for something with enough detail to explain how the corrector of an SCT works, the difference between a classical cassegrain and an SCT, etc. but without a thousand equations that I cannot possibly understand. I also would like to better understand how eyepieces actually work and how the light moves and bends as it travels through the different elements.

Thanks for any suggestions.

February 7, 2008 10:01 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Astronomers Inn

Posted By Richard Spina
Has anyone been to Astronomers Inn near Benson, Arizona? I have read Ed Ting's review, but my biggest concern is the darkness of the sky. It is fairly close to the town of Benson, and if I look on the Clear Sky Clock, it seems that the site might be impacted by the town's lights. I'm sure that the accommodations are fine, but I would hate to drive there from L.A. for a few days of serious observing and find out that the sky is not much better than just north of Los Angeles where I usually observe from.

Thanks,
Richard

March 16, 2011 03:57 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Arizona Sky Village

Posted By Richard Spina
I heard from another AstroMarter that Arizona Sky Village is a good place to go observing for a few days. It definitely seems to be a very dark site. It is a long drive from LA, and I was wondering if anyone has ever been there and could provide info and details on the observing there. There seems to be a few places to stay, but I was interested in the observing sites and I wanted to make sure that anyone can go there (or is some kind of special permission required).

Thanks,
Richard

January 13, 2003 04:05 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Can a Meade SCT focuser be adjusted?

Posted By Richard Spina
The focuser can be adjusted to reduce almost all of the backlash. Call Meade and they can send you a one page handout that they have for adjusting the focuser. It is quite easy to do and will result in a big improvement.

The image shift is another matter. I was never able to eliminate all of the shift successfully on my scope. I didn't have the nerve to remove the front corrector. I used a JMI crayford focuser and then I didn't have to deal with it.

Ricardo

February 21, 2003 07:36 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Nagler 20mm T2 V.S. Nagler 22mm T4

Posted By Richard Spina
The answer depends on the type of scope. On a fast dob, the 20 is significantly sharper at the edge. My group did numerous side by side tests of these two eyepieces on two dobs, f/4.1 and f/4.5, both with premium mirrors. The 20 was much sharper, no contest.

On my f/15 mak the sharpness was the same in both eyepieces. I liked the size and eye relief of the 22, but I kept the 20 due to its performance on my dob.

February 27, 2003 01:56 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

C102 f/5 on a 10" LX-200= too much weight?

Posted By Richard Spina
The 4" f/5 scope is fine on an LX-200 as long as it is balanced properly. A friend and I done it very succesfully, but you must have the right counterbalancing equipment and take the time to balance it in both the ra and dec axis. It makes a great combination with the f/10 sct. I think that the pronto and tv-85 weigh as much as one of the 4" short tubes anyway.

November 20, 2004 06:30 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Nice D70 Shots...

Posted By Richard Spina
Do you know what the "before and after" indicated in the gallery refers to? The "before" portion of the photos resembles some shots that I have taken recently with my Rebel. Obviously, I'd like for them to look the "after" images.

Thanks,
Richard

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