Posts Made By: Mark Pawlak

I have a 5" Vixen/Tasco scope on a Vixen Polaris Mount. The scope gives good visual images, but in my light polluted back yard (where I do most of my observing) I spend more time looking for objects than looking at them (which is the main reason I have it up for sale). I also take kids on sky tours and they fast loose interst when I "can't find it", "hey did you find it yet", when are you "going to show us the fuzzball in the sky"?

Can I add "goto" to a Vixen Polaris Mount for $200 or so? Or am I wasting my time with the idea?

I am trying to figure out how to figure out eyepiece projection exposure times. ( I have a good book, but still unsure).

The focal Length of my scope is 1000mm, and it is a 5" f/8.

I can attach my 35mm SLR camera, (sans the 50mm standard lens) with a T adapter and an eyepiece holding tube that various eyepiece's fit into, which then connects to the focuser on the scope (the camera adapter came with the scope).

My question is:

When calculating exposure times, do I need to take into consideration the camera adapter length when figuring out focal length? Does the camera adapter change the effective focal length of the telescope from the stated 1000mm? If so, how to I compensate?

Thanks

setting circles............mmmmmmmmmm....I can see them on the mount and I know I need to adjust to sideral time based on me being in Cincinnati, but as far as how they work...or how to adjust to the time........"?"

How hard are they to use? My scope did not come with any directions on setting circles.

Does anyone have a web site, or a link for a beginners guide to setting circles, in particular, those on my polaris mount?

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