Posts Made By: Dave Mitsky

October 27, 2009 08:04 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

The Lunar X Is Still Visible

Posted By Dave Mitsky

Here's an afocal photo of the October apparition of the Lunar X.

Dave Mitsky

November 3, 2009 07:15 PM Forum: LUNATICS

There WAS a Plume!

Posted By Dave Mitsky

There's an interesting new article on the LCROSS impact at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/68841092.html

Dave Mitsky

November 4, 2009 08:30 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Apparition of Mars and its Beehive Passage

Posted By Dave Mitsky

I've been able to observe Mars and M44 the past three mornings using an Orion ST80 achromat and a Celestron Regal 8x42 binocular. Mars was very slightly east of the Beehive on Monday morning and is now a bit more than a degree southeast of it.

Dave Mitsky

November 5, 2009 07:54 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Does an Ethos EP enhance galaxy details?

Posted By Dave Mitsky

The 13mm Ethos may not provide absolutely the best view possible but I've certainly been extremely happy with mine. The ability to see ultrawide fields of view at higher magnifications has provided me with some stunning celestial vistas.

Dave Mitsky

November 24, 2009 06:24 AM Forum: Star Parties

Grand Canyon North Rim

Posted By Dave Mitsky

I've been observing at CSSP for about ten years now. Cherry Springs is a great observing site but the desert southwest has the advantages of less light pollution, drier air, and greater altitude.

I attended the Grand Canyon Star Party in June of 2001 but it was at the south rim. The skies there were very good but the manner in which the star party was conducted, for the most part in a busy parking lot, was a bit of a turn off. I've read that the north rim is better. I also seem to recall hearing that air pollution is beginning to be a problem at the Grand Canyon.

Dave Mitsky

December 6, 2009 08:01 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Meade 24.5 swa vs 24 Panoptic???

Posted By Dave Mitsky

Todd Gross reviews the old Meade Super Wide Angles at http://www.weatherman.com/nagler4.htm

Ed Ting compares the 18mm SWA to the 19mm Panoptic at http://www.scopereviews.com/page3.html

Dave Mitsky

December 18, 2009 09:21 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Solar Halo, Arcs, and Sundogs, 2009/12/18

Posted By Dave Mitsky

This shot features (from top to bottom) the left sundog, the 22 degree halo, the tangent arc, and the circumzenithal arc.

Dave Mitsky

December 31, 2009 06:46 PM Forum: SCI-FI

2012

Posted By Dave Mitsky

I saw 2012 at a second run theater on Wednesday night. The first half hour or so was silly but entertaining. However, it was all downhill, excruciatingly so, from there. This film really jumped the shark when Woody, its only bright spot, bought it.

2012 ground on and on and on, grinding countless digital extras in its wake. I kept hoping that the world really would come to an end, right then and there, to put me out of my misery. I wonder why John Cusack, an actor who I admire, ever had anything to do with this disaster of a disaster flick. The movie may have only cost me only $3 but I'll never get those two-and-a-half-plus hours back.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/2012/

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/2012

Dave Mitsky

January 2, 2010 08:11 PM Forum: Reflectors

Suggestions on New Dob

Posted By Dave Mitsky

I bought a 10" Sky-Watcher Collapsible Dob to replace an old 10" ATM truss-tube Dob and have been very happy with it with the exception of the right angle finder scope and the small adapter required for 2" eyepiece use. I wanted something that would be quick to set up and tear down and it certainly fits the bill. The optics are fairly good, especially considering the less than $500 sales price at the time.

Dave Mitsky

January 5, 2010 06:58 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

50" monster Eyepieces

Posted By Dave Mitsky

FWIW, I've observed many hundreds of DSOs using a 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain with a focal length of 6477 mm and a maximum true field of view of only 0.42 degree.

Dave Mitsky