Posts Made By: Brian Prestemon

I just recently obtained an Edmund Astroscan with a 28mm RKE eyepiece. I understand that the current new basic Astroscan package includes two Plossl eyepieces, a 28mm and a 15mm.

I'm new to this so am wondering whether this RKE 28mm is as good as the Plossl version and would also like recommendations on other eyepieces to obtain. According to my calculations, the 28mm gets me 16x magnification. And I understand from a review I read that the Astroscan can reasonably handle up to 100x. So should I seek out a 15mm (30x) as per the current packages or go for higher power like say an 8mm (55x) or even a 6mm (73x).

I also need recommendations as to brands/models. I want to buy quality to the level of my Astroscan without going broke. Recommendations as to size, brand/model, and approximate prices would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

What are the local options for telescope accessories in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area (preferably North Dallas). I found The Observatory on Preston Road just south of the Bush tollway but was wondering if there are others.

Thanks.

I've wanted an Astroscan way back when they first came out and now I finally just got a used version which seems to be in perfect shape. I really like it.

I'd like to find out who else out there is a fellow "Astroscanner"... and any stories/advice you've got to give.

A few questions I have are as follows:

1. What's the best method of cleaning the front window? Mine looks like it has one small smudge toward the outside.

2. How can you test your Astroscan to make sure things are collimated correctly? (mine seems to be quite good from what I can tell just using it).

3. Is it a smart move to keep screws (or maybe little plastic caps) in the strap screw holes to keep dust from getting in?

4. What eyepieces do you like using with your Astroscan? I've got the 28mm RKE that came with it and I just bought a 9mm Orion Expanse and an Orion Shorty 2x Barlow from a fellow member on Astromart. Did I make good choices?

I look forward to hearing back from you,

Brian

I live in Plano, Texas (just north of Dallas) but will be going on a week-long Canadian fishing trip on August 6-12. We'll be on a remote fly-in only lake, Lake Vermillion which is 12 air miles northeast of Red Lake, Ontario at 51 degrees 16' lattitude and 93 degrees 50' longitude.

What kind of sky viewing will be available to me there that I wouldn't get to see in the Dallas area (notwithstanding the light pollution we have here). Will I get a chance to see the Northern Lights? What else?

Thanks for any inupt you may have.

Brian

I got this e-mail today. Please let me know whether there's any truth to it at all. Thanks.


This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that
will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in
recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is
in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be
certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth
in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as
60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when
Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and
will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in
the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9
and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest
75-power magnification

Mars will be easy to spot. At the
beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m.
and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are
closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its
highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has
seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at
the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progress ively brighter and brighter throughout the
month.

I recently bid and won an on-line auction for what was described as "spare Astroscan focus tubes, one with some lenses in it." Since it went very inexpensively, I bid on it in hopes that the lenses might be an image erector. Sure enough my hunch was correct and I am now the proud owner of an image erector focus tube for my Astroscan.

I need some help and clarification. I always thought that the Edmund image erector was an separate eyepiece which is placed in the focus tube between the focus tube and the actual eyepiece. I didn't realize that it was a different focus tube itself. Is this the way they are, or did they have both types, or do I have some home-made lens contraption erector focus tube?

In any event it works quite well. It erects the image both up/down and right/left. I do have another question though.

The lens group inside this focus tube can be slid up or down within the focus tube. I tried it both ways, slid way to the bottom and slid right up to the eyepiece at the top. Either way seemed to work just fine. My question is: Is there an optimal point where I should position this lens grouping in the focusing tube? It seems to me that it's relative positioning should affect something.

I'd appreciate any advice you guys can provide. You've been great in the past for me.

Thanks,

Brian

...still hoping for some feedback on this...

Thanks, Brian

(moved this to the equipment section since I wasn't getting responses on the eyepiece section)

I recently bid and won an on-line auction for what was described as "spare Astroscan focus tubes, one with some lenses in it." Since it went very inexpensively, I bid on it in hopes that the lenses might be an image erector. Sure enough my hunch was correct and I am now the proud owner of an image erector focus tube for my Astroscan.

I need some help and clarification. I always thought that the Edmund image erector was an separate eyepiece which is placed in the focus tube between the focus tube and the actual eyepiece. I didn't realize that it was a different focus tube itself. Is this the way they are, or did they have both types, or do I have some home-made lens contraption erector focus tube?

In any event it works quite well. It erects the image both up/down and right/left. I do have another question though.

The lens group inside this focus tube can be slid up or down within the focus tube. I tried it both ways, slid way to the bottom and slid right up to the eyepiece at the top. Either way seemed to work just fine. My question is: Is there an optimal point where I should position this lens grouping in the focusing tube? It seems to me that it's relative positioning should affect something.

I'd appreciate any advice you guys can provide. You've been great in the past for me.

Thanks,

Brian

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I'm still hoping for an answer or two to my question...

Thanks,

Brian

I appreciate seeing Peter Kennett's post on the "Beginners" forum about the upcoming Lyrid meteor shower. I'm surprised they aren't getting talked about more. Are many of you planning to observe them? Anybody have further tips on optimum viewing, photagraphing them, past photographs, etc.? Peter's posting was very complete and educational but I thought others might want to chime in on this "After Dark" forum.

Brian