Posts Made By: Scott Baker

Herb,
It seems that the preference for number of messages to be displayed is not being saved. Every time I come in to Astromart, the number of displayed messages goes back to the default 50 instead of 100 which I had selected and saved. As long as I'm in Astromart, it displays 100, but if I exit the session, come back an hour or so later, it's back to 50. My other preference of message order is saved and remains constant. Thanks and clear skies!

Scott Baker

Herb,
After that long discussion below, regarding preferences not being saved, will there be cookies in the near future? You could tie it to the "Save Preferences" button, if you click it, you get a cookie, otherwise, not.

Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org

Anybody made a monopod style astro bino holder? I am trying to come up with a easy to use, extremely portable, lightweight holder for my 15X70's. I've looked at parallelogram mounts, but they mostly require large bulky tripods. I'd like a monopod, with a gas spring to control the height and maybe a ballhead to hold the binos. Anyone seen something like this?

Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org

Can anyone lead me to web pages for large (16"), fast (f4) mirrors? I've looked at Royce (too expensive), Discovery and Coulter (don't make a 16") and Parks (waiting to hear from). Any help is appreciated.

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Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

I just received the latest catalog from Heartland America and they have a sale on the Barska 15X70 Binoculars at $69.99. These look very similar to my Oberwerks (which I have and love) and the Bear 15X70's that Sportsmen's Guide has occasionally, but I can't attest to these personally. They say they're "Fully Multicoated" but don't say anything about the prisms other then being "Porro" in design. I just thought you astronomy cohorts would like to know about the ad. Here's the web page for the same ad....
http://www.heartlandamerica.com/Item/default.asp?SKU=59904&Cat=1134&SubCat=1

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Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

My long range plan has a 16" LX200 in it, but my co-observatory owner, has tried to talk me out of it because of quality issues. I own and love my 10" LX200 and a 16" just seemed like the next logical step. How about it 16" LX200 owners, had any issues with your scopes?

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Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

I recently accquired a share in an observatory at our clubs dark sky site in Tierra Del Sol, CA. I thought I'd share a picture of it with all of you other home observatory owners. It's a concrete block building 20'X20' with a roll off roof. It has two piers installed, both 18" diameter pipes, with flanges, sunk into five cubic yards of concrete (beefy to say the least), which are designed to hold very large telescopes. My pier is pictured, with it's adapter, to hold my 10" LX200 in Alt/Az mode. This will also be used to hold a 14" LX200 when they begin shipping next year. The building is in need of a little TLC, which I'm giving it on the weekends. Clear Skies!
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Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

The screw that supports the vane of my scope's spider broke, and I'm hoping that one of you ATM people might have one in your junk box. It's made out of either aluminum or pot metal, has a 1/4-20 thread on one end and a tapped 6-32 hole on the other. It came off of an old Meade Newtonian. I have a source for making one, but am hoping that someone will be willing to sell me / give me one if they have it. A picture of one is below. Contact me via email if you have one of these. Thanks and clear skies!
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Scott Baker
[email protected]
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

The screw that supports the vane of my scope's spider broke, and I'm hoping that one of you ATM people might have one in your junk box. It's made out of either aluminum or pot metal, has a 1/4-20 thread on one end and a tapped 6-32 hole on the other. It came off of an old Meade Newtonian. I have a source for making one, but am hoping that someone will be willing to sell me / give me one if they have it. A picture of one is below. Contact me via email if you have one of these. Thanks and clear skies!
--
Scott Baker
[email protected]
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

On page 138 of the November Sky&Tel, is an add for a home above Palm Springs that has a guest house with a roll off roof observatory. The primary instrument is advertised as a "Byers" 24" Classical Cassegrain. Does anyone have any information about this scope or the house that contains it?
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Scott Baker
http://members.cts.com/nebula/s/scottb80/
San Diego Astronomy Association
http://www.sdaa.org
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org