Posts Made By: Dave Hurst

November 30, 2011 10:35 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Power Tank 17 Won't Charge

Posted By Dave Hurst

Have you checked the fuse inside?

January 23, 2012 07:10 PM Forum: Politics

You SHOULD listen to the guy that is pulling the s

Posted By Dave Hurst

Better warn the preppers.
TEOTWAWKI approaches. 8O
I'm gonna go count my precious metals, fuel, sacks of rice, canned turkeys, water barrels and ammo! cwy

February 16, 2012 06:28 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Solar observing

Posted By Dave Hurst

Hi Randy,
Your 80mm scope with solar filter will show you plenty of solar fun. Sun spots will be easy pickin's, and on days of good seeing you should be able to bump up the magnifications to see plenty of details.
See photosphere:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C002091/data/sun3eg.htm
If you don't have a plethora of eye pieces, a good zoom eyepiece is good way to be able to match the current seeing conditions. Many folks say observing earlier in the day presents better seeing conditions. Me, I just do it when I can.
I'm actually getting a solar projection set up started at my school for the June Venus transit of the sun.
See:
http://www.sunguntelescope.com/MAIN.html
See:
http://www.curtrenz.com/venustransit
Just get out there and do it. You can see what the day might hold for you by clicking on the solar disk in the upper left column of http://spaceweather.com/
Hope this helps and enjoy!

February 17, 2012 11:40 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

What are your most unforgettable telescopic sights

Posted By Dave Hurst

I was using a wedged 12" lx200 one night near Idylwild,CA. It was late and Seeing was awesome. I remembered Omega Centari should be slightly above the horizon. I couldn't get the scope to view that far south on the wedge, so I had to swing the tripod out of polar alignment so the tube could swing that low. I scanned with the finder and found the huge globular cluster for the first time ever. It was absolutely spectacular in the 12". One of my best observing memories!

March 8, 2012 01:41 AM Forum: After Dark

Black Polymer solar filter vs glass.

Posted By Dave Hurst

Having tried many different glass solar filters, Baader solar film is the only way to roll for filtered white light solar observing!
There's always the Herschel Wedge or solar projection too!

March 8, 2012 01:55 AM Forum: No Holds Barred

How will you protect yourself?

Posted By Dave Hurst

When things get really nasty, (ie. this thread) I go straight for the popcorn!!!! wink

March 8, 2012 08:01 PM Forum: No Holds Barred

How will you protect yourself?

Posted By Dave Hurst

I'll use just as much tinfoil as I did for the CME todaywink

April 23, 2012 05:43 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Cassini Division

Posted By Dave Hurst

As long as seeing cooperates, I see it quite often in my 10"f5 dob with tracking. It is especially noticable when Saturn is near opposition as the rings are brightened by the Seliger Effect.

April 24, 2012 04:03 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Paypal fees ......

Posted By Dave Hurst

Why would I want to pay Paypal fees if I'm paying by Money Order? (Just my opinion) As a seller, it is better to not include the fees in the price, and to then disclose the additional fees if Paypal is the chosen method of payment.

April 26, 2012 06:13 PM Forum: A Day in the Life of the Administrator

Man - I just don't many of these anymore...

Posted By Dave Hurst

Man I crack up everytime I see "edithole" in these kind of posts grin