Image of the day

Captured by
Daniel Carter

Dolphin Head Nebula Sh2-308

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Larry Thaxton

November 3, 2002 12:10 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Need help with a Starliner cassegrain

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I picked up a 12.5 Starliner cass/newt a while back and would like to find someone in the So Cal area familiar with setting one up. I have tried several methods and get pretty close but not quite. It might be that I have to start over centering everything physically and then collimating but an optical expert would be a welcome shortcut! Any leads?

November 6, 2002 06:16 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Perfect scope battery ??

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I have too many scopes and want to pare down the collection to three or four scopes that will do pretty much everything a visual observer could want. While I know this is a broad-ended question, what would you see as the best all around battery of scopes if given a three or four scope limit?

Thanks!

November 15, 2002 09:07 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

14.5 Zambuto users

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I am thinking of moving up to a 14.5" Zambuto equipped DOB-Starmaster or Portaball. I have a 10" PB that is a killer but want (sigh) a bit more aperature. My primary interest is planetary andf globulars but I am hoping this aperture will net detail in brighter galaxies a well. Anyone out there using a 14.5 Zambuto who can let me know how they perform as planetary scopes? On deep sky?

Thanks-I plan to order soon and just want to know "real world" performance levels before I do.

November 20, 2002 11:25 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Planetary traveling Scope

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I am in something of a dilemma: I have been using a 3.5" Questar as a "quick look" scope. It is quite light and even on the Tuthill Isolastic mount can be up and running in short order. But it is a 3.5" scope. I would like to "grow it" as Mr. Clinton was so fond of saying.

I recently saw the new M715 7" F/15 mak/cass scope from ITE-APM-etc. and it sounds like someone did "grow" the Questar (yes the Q7 is there but good Lord the cost!!). But then there are the MN 76 and the MN160.

In any case the scope woud be a traveling companion and is guaranteed to spend a few weeks a year on a remote beach in Baja where it would be called on to do a bit of every type of observing-informal Messier marathons to "wowing" other Baja travelers with Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon etc. At home it would be a quick look scope with a bit more light grasp.
A Losmandy GM11 would be shouldering the load.

Your thoughts/experiences?


Thanks!


January 18, 2003 06:48 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Question about a highly compact travel scope

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I am planning an extended trip to Mongolia early next year (depending on the political climate) and would like to take along a scope. It will have to be very compact when disassembled and durable as the trip will likely be a month or more on horseback. I hesitate to take the Questar-too small in aperture and probably a bit delicate. Anyone have an idea for a small (6" or so) scope? I am reconciled to the fact that this will be a low power star sweeper givne the limitations of space and time. Should I just get a pair of 20x80 binocs and let it go at that?


Thanks!

Larry

January 28, 2003 08:59 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Feathertouch on a Meade-how??

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I just picked up a Meade 178 APO and am wondering if there is a relatively easy way to adapt a Feathertouch focuser to the OTA? Anyone done this already?

Thanks!!

Larry

May 11, 2003 07:00 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

AP 6" F/12 Superplanetary Refractor

Posted By Larry Thaxton
There must be a few of these floating around. Does anyone know how many were actually produced? I understand they were triplets, anything in particular about the glass used in the lenses for APO performance? How do they actually perform on the planets? Compared to other scopes, i.e., various AP 155s? What mounting are folks using with theirs?

Thanks!

June 1, 2003 07:18 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Mounting Ring Question 6" F/12 AP

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I recently bought a 6" F/12 Superplanetary and planned to use it with a G-11 or a Parallax mount with a Losmandy dovetail adapter. I bought the Losmandy 17.25" plate with the Losmandy adapter for a 6" or 7" AP scope only to find that the hole spacing of the rings (2.8" ctc) does not fit the adapter or the Losmandy plate. Anyone have a similar problem and a solution?

June 15, 2003 04:39 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

How To: Nikon D-100

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I just bought a Nikon D-100 SLR body for a trip to Alaska. I would also like to start taking images with my scopes. What do I need and how does one get started in digital imaging?

Thanks!

Larry

October 14, 2003 10:14 PM Forum: Astro-Physics

Modify an AP 6" Superplanetary?

Posted By Larry Thaxton
I have a 6" F/12 Superplanetary in pretty much mint condition. Problem is that the original 2" focuser uses a very small set screw to secure the diagonal in place and it is not adequate for use with a binoviewer. I am inclined to have a new AP focuser installed but am told that may require shortening, i.e. cutting, the tube as the new focuser is a lot longer. For many reasons I am hesitant to alter this wonderful old scope. Am I being too cautious? Are APs like this collectible and therefore should remain in "original" configuration?

Thanks for your help.

Larry

Funding Member

Telescopes, Astronomy, Binoculars

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search