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Posts Made By: Robert Howe

February 10, 2007 03:19 PM Forum: Refractors

straight through viewing

Posted By Robert Howe
Hi, I have picked up a Pentax refractor, only 75 mm but very, very nice images. Unfortunately it is not intended for using a diagonal; it will not come to focus with one. How does one accomplish straight-through viewing for objects above, say, 30 degree elevation?

Robert Howe

March 24, 2007 01:11 PM Forum: Maksutovs

Ceravolo Mak-Newts

Posted By Robert Howe
I'm a confirmed lover of fine refractors, but I bought a Ceravolo 145 f/6 just to see what it is like. Boy is it ever fine, what an impressive telescope, it goes to the mat with refractors of equal aperture.

So I ask, is this typical of the maker? Has anyone else experience with this make, which I do know is no longer in production? Is there any other maker producing 8 or 10 or 12 inch Maks of similar quality? I've owned or tried Maks by several of the Russian makers, Takahashi Mewlon, and of course the universally available SCTs but this is the most impressive non-refractor I have seen.

Robert Howe

March 30, 2007 02:14 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Moon and Saturn March 28

Posted By Robert Howe
On Weds nite 28 March the Moon and Saturn were contained within one field of my 130 f/8 refractor, using a 35 mm Panoptic. It was an astonishingly beautiful conjunction, like an elephant and a mouse. Did anyone get a photo?

March 30, 2007 02:18 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Moon and Saturn March 28

Posted By Robert Howe
Last night 28 March then moon and saturn were within one field using a 130 mm f/8 refractor and a 35 mm Panoptic. Did anyone snap a photo?

April 30, 2007 03:48 AM Forum: TeleVue

New TV EP line, the "Ethos"

Posted By Robert Howe
Of interest at NEAF was the 100 degree apparent FOV, 13 mm FL, 2 inch EP that Al Nagler introduced. The "Ethos". On his 101, it was absolutely pure, with no abberation to the edge of the very, very wide field. This will likely make 13-17 mm, 1.5 inch wide field EPs irrelevant. These will come out "in the fall".

I'll get a photo up tomorrow.

August 18, 2007 05:53 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Mach one Clutch release knobs

Posted By Robert Howe
I am very much enjoying my Mach 1, it is the perfect mount for a 5 to 6 inch refractor or Mak-Newt. I have two issues, though. One is the loud noise it makes when slewing--I presume this is because the motors are more exposed than they were on my AP600. The other is the difficulty I have loosening and tightening the clutch release knobs on the DEC and RA axes. Does any after-market manufacturer make a larger, easier to grab knob, like the heavily studded knobs that Losmandy sells?

October 14, 2007 04:58 AM Forum: TeleVue

2 inch EPs

Posted By Robert Howe
Setting up an observatory, I have been comparing a lot of telescopes and EPs. A question arises. For a 1200-1800 FL telescope, I find that I am using all 2 inch EPs--the new 2/1.25 inch Ethos (13mm), an old 9 mm Nagler with a 2/1.25 inch fit, a 22 Nagler, a 35 mm and a 41 mm Panoptic. So except for the very shortest of FLs, who needs 1.25 inch EPs? Am I missing something here?

Robert

October 15, 2007 02:52 PM Forum: Eyepieces

2 inch vs 1.25 inch EPs

Posted By Robert Howe
Setting up an observatory, I have been comparing a lot of telescopes and EPs. A question arises. For a 1200-1800 FL telescope, I find that I am using all 2 inch EPs--the new 2/1.25 inch Ethos (13mm), an old 9 mm Nagler with a 2/1.25 inch base, a 22 Nagler, 35 mm and 41 mm Panoptics. The combination works wonderfully. So except for the very shortest of FLs, who needs 1.25 inch EPs? Am I missing something here?

Robert


November 23, 2007 07:48 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Telescope protection in a small dome

Posted By Robert Howe
Hi all

This summer I bought an Exploradome, this is an 8 foot injection-molded dome which rotates on casters. It's OK, not as smooth as I would like but adequate for the task. In it I have a Mach 1 bearing a lovely AP 130 f/8 with a TeleVue Genesis on top. I wrap these all in towels after use and keep dessicant in the telescopes; the dome seems not to leak in the rain and I have only once encountered dew on the scopes in the morning. As temperatures fall, I am wondering about safe keeping the telescopes in the dome. Perhaps I should devise a more weather-proof wrap, or buy a zippered cover? I just don't want to have to take the scopes down each time, it would defeat the purpose of having a dome.

Best to all,

Robert

November 23, 2007 07:53 AM Forum: Refractors

Protecting telescopes in a dome

Posted By Robert Howe
Hi all

This summer I bought an Exploradome, this is an 8 foot injection-molded dome which rotates on casters. It's OK, not as smooth as I would like but adequate for the task. In it I have a Mach 1 bearing a lovely AP 130 f/8 with a TeleVue Genesis on top. I wrap these all in towels after use and keep dessicant in the telescopes; the dome seems not to leak in the rain and I have only once encountered dew on the scopes in the morning. As temperatures fall, I am wondering about safe keeping the telescopes in the dome. Perhaps I should devise a more weather-proof wrap, or buy a zippered cover? I just don't want to have to take the scopes down each time, it would defeat the purpose of having a dome.

Best to all,

Robert

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