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Posts Made By: Richard Allen

April 10, 2002 09:51 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Portable, convenient mount

Posted By Richard Allen
I have an Orion Apex 5-inch Maksutov which weighs about eight pounds. I'd like to put it on a very portable, convenient mount, preferably a photo or video tripod with slow-motion controls added, to use for astronomy. The mount I currently have it on --- the largest Slik model ---just doesn't work: there is way too much vibration. The photo tripod Orion recommends doesn't work either. Will any photo or video mount work with a telescope of that size for astronomical viewing, with smooth panning and sufficient tension to hold steady when I take the scope to near-zenith? Or will I have to go with a less portable equatorial mount, with the hassles of counterweights, the tray between the legs, etc.?

April 28, 2002 02:21 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Two Stars & a Dumb Question

Posted By Richard Allen
I'm sorry, but I must ask a stupid question. My excuse is I live in a light-polluted area and can't see every star that is up there. When I look north peering at the Big Dipper and follow a straight line going west away from the bowl (not the handle) there are two stars of just about equal brightness separated a bit but otherwise looking like twins. The one on the right is a double star. What are these two stars? Are they Pollux and Castor in Gemini, or am I looking at Capella and Menkalinan in Auriga?

May 18, 2002 01:54 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

weather

Posted By Richard Allen
I live in the midwest where we've had a lot of rain lately. Clear nights have been few and far between. I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to deal with the weather. Does prayer help? I've heard of the rain dance; is there such a thing as the clear sky dance? If there is, I would be willing to do it. Should I howl at the moon when it is visible? Should I move to Arizona, where the sky is not cloudy all day, and hopefully all night too? Will the law of averages catch up and provide a lot of clear weather to compensate for all the rainy weather? I know some places in the country are having drought. How can we share our clouds with them? Any thoughts would be helpful.

May 18, 2002 02:00 AM Forum: Telescope Making

making an 8-inch dob

Posted By Richard Allen
I've never made a telescope. Presently I have one of the new Orion 5-inch Maksutovs, which I like. I would like to have an 8-inch dob to complement it for deep-sky observing. How hard is it to make an 8-inch dob? Is it cheaper than buying, say, the Orion 8-inch? Just how much work would I be getting myself into? Any advice would be helpful.

Richard

May 18, 2002 02:03 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

collimation

Posted By Richard Allen
I have an Orion 5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain. Will it ever need to be collimated, or to Mak-Cass scopes hold their collimation like a refractor?
Richard

June 21, 2002 10:21 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

getting something named after me

Posted By Richard Allen
Sometimes I fantasize about observing the moon and suddenly seeing an object hit and a brand new crater appear! If this ever happens, who should I contact to make sure it is named after me?

June 21, 2002 10:23 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

erect images

Posted By Richard Allen
Does using an erect image prism degrade an astronomical image? I've heard it does and I've heard it doesn't. Does and erect image work okay at low mag but less well at higher magnifications?

July 13, 2002 02:05 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Hercules

Posted By Richard Allen
Where is the globular cluster in Hercules? Has it been removed from the heavens? I have searched and searched for it, and have seen it before from my location, but I cannot seem to find it now. Star charts say find the "keystone", but sometimes I see several keystones. Does anyone have any advice on how to find it?

April 10, 2002 09:51 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Portable, convenient mount

Posted By Richard Allen

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