Posts Made By: Floyd Blue

How many have a dual rate focuser?
Anyone with a NGF-DX1? How do you like it?
Anyone with a Feather Touch? How do you like it.
Anyone tried both? How do you rate them to each other?
I am thinking of going to a dual rate and would like some input.
Floyd

How many have a dual rate focuser?
Anyone with a NGF-DX1? How do you like it?
Anyone with a Feather Touch? How do you like it.
Anyone tried both? How do you rate them to each other?
I am thinking of going to a dual rate and would like some input.
Floyd

Well, I finally decided to buy a Telrad. I have looked through them but not owned them. I have a red-dot finder that I like. But I need something just for the DOB and the red-dot works nicely on the SCT. I get tired of readjusting it when I switch from scope to scope so I bought the Telrad.

It seems like the use of the Telrad and the 16x80mm finder together should make it easier to locate objects. Plus the software will show a Telrad reticle for locating them as well.

Hopefuly it will arrive by Friday so I can use it Saturday night. It is supposed to be a good clear night with no clouds or stormy air.

Now if I could just make up my mind on the dual rate focuser question! Still up in the air over this one.

JMI DX1 is nice but you have to change hands for gross and fine adjustments. Cost is very good though.

Moonlight cost is good and it is looking like a nice choice, but you have to use both hands with it too.

Clements focuser is very nice but pricy and needs a special mounting plate at extra cost.

Feather Touch is nice but requires special plates for collimation costing additional $70! This makes it very expensive overall.

They just resurfaced Mt. Pinos parking lot and there is much more room now for setting up! Very nice, except the new asphalt is very sticky. Watchout for ruining your carpets if you go up. This stuff sticks to shoes like glue and is hard to clean. Maybe it will be better this week. It should get better with time.
Dark skies all.

Well, I just got finished installing black felt inside the secondary of my 15" DOB. It looks great and was a real pain to put in too. :^)
I am hoping that I will get a little more contrast from installing it. I covered the entire inside of the secondary. It took about 3 hours to do it, maybe it will be worth the effort. I sure hope so, but at least it looks very cool!
I also discovered that you can do a nice job of aligning the focuser by inserting the laser in the focuser and turning the secondary over to face the ceiling. Then when your turn on the holographic laser the pattern is displayed on the ceiling! You can see exactly where the diag is in the pattern and then you can adjust the focuser to an extremely fine degree. The hologram can be adjusted by focusing until the tics on the pattern are just the same on all 4 sides. I got the thing adjusted perfectly this way. It has to be within .001 of an inch now. Nice easy way to do a quick check the collimation of the focuser as well. Quick and simple.
Floyd

I know this has been covered before, but I am now wanting to buy a better software. I am interested in printing charts that are useful and do observation planning.
I am looking at a few, Redshift 5, Skytools 2, Desktop Universe.
I would like to hear from anyone that has used these stating your opinions and reasons for liking or disliking them.
I am really interested in how good is the chart printing utilities. With the planning utilities being a secondary concern.
Any real time experience would be very much appreciated. Reviews don't mean that much anymore.
Thanks,
Floyd
P/S I purchased the Sky Atlas 2000.0 Field Addition Ver 2, and am a bit disappointed in it. The charts leave a bit to be desired in labeling and ease of use in finding objects. So if you were thinking about them look at a copy before buying them would be a good idea.
I will probably sell it and the companion guidebook.

Took this with a Canon G-3 through a NS8GPS and a 26mm Meade SP.
Floyd

I would like to ask what you have added to your scope that has given the best performance gain for the money spent.
Everything from EPs, Diags, Flocking, DSCs whatever that you have felt provided the best bang for the buck!

This would include things like collimators too if they improved the performance of the scope.

I for one would say EPs were the biggest improvement I found. With collimator being the 2nd because of the improved images to the EPs. A better Diag did a little but not a big jump by any means so maybe it would come in 3rd. 4th would have to be flocking for improved contrast.

So how about you?
Floyd

Well, it looks like I am going to be buying a Sky Commander DSC computer and encoders. A man here has a new one for sale at a price I could not refuse. ;^)
Now I will have a Go-To and a Push-To! :^)
I guess I am getting old huh?
Next I will want a cushy chair for observing.
Floyd

http://www.astromart.com/viewad.asp?cid=216046
Could this be your old scope?
Floyd

I promised to post a picture of the dew shield I made with rubber padding for placing under a sleeping bag. I can not remember which forum I was on at the time so I am posting in a couple.
The shield is covered in cloth to dampen out light and has cuts to clear the fork mount and finders and jcounter weights.
I used a steel ring to hold the proper shape on the front and velcro to retain it and hold it together.
Floyd