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Posts Made By: Peter Glus

June 6, 2007 07:17 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Focuser Adaptor

Posted By Peter Glus
I just got a 110mm Jaegers lense and I have an aluminum tube and a vixen focuser. Where can I get an adaptor to mount the focuser into the aluminum tube?

June 22, 2007 07:16 AM Forum: Refractors

Zenithstar 105 Triplet

Posted By Peter Glus
Just picked up a used one for a great price...have some dumb questions:

Why does this scope have a threaded split in the middle of the OTA? For easy of packing?

Why is the foam so thick in the inside? Does this help or hurt? Wouldn't rings have been better for baffling?

July 12, 2007 10:55 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Newbie to Astrophoto - Dumb Question

Posted By Peter Glus
Have enjoyed visual for a few years, and want to take a couple of shots with my digital point and shoot. Got me one of those camera adaptors that hold the camera to the eyepiece. Is there a recommended eyepiece for doing this, or do I just use the same as for visual? I have a 12" SCT and typically use a 16 UWAN.

July 18, 2007 07:50 AM Forum: Telescope Making

DIY Alt Az Mount with Slip Clutches ?!?

Posted By Peter Glus
Ive been fristrated at the price of commercial alt az mmounts. Most don't have slow mo controls, and when they do there is no slip clutch (I am hooked on slip clutches since I own a CI700). Hence, I am setting out to DIY!

For my AZ, i was thinking of a two-disk system. Teflon between the top and second disk would provide the slip clutch. A worm gear (actually the second disk) would provide slow mo controls. I could even get some cheapo meade dx motors and have hand paddle control.

For the Alt, I was thinking of a slip clutch on the horizontal shaft made using two collars, a spring, and some teflon washers clamping the spur gear.

The mount would have a 20 - 24" horizontal shaft that could possibly mount two scopes. I think the Alt arangement would be plenty stable. Have some concerns about the stability of the disk arrangement. Could place teflon blocks around the circumference to keep things stable.

Am I reinventing the wheel, or even worse, heading down the path to ATM hell?

See my bad sketch for a horrible visual.

- Peter

August 2, 2007 09:35 AM Forum: Refractors

Vixen NA 120 - First Night Out

Posted By Peter Glus
Just aquired a NA120 on a SP. Gave it a go last night...very nice on doubles and clusters in cygnus. True to everyone's reviews, theres some color on the brighter stars. But its a nice package. Simple and easy to use.

August 23, 2007 10:30 AM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

My 12" SCT on a CI700 w/ Home Brew Wheely

Posted By Peter Glus
Arived at this combo and have been using it for some time. 12" LX200 on a CI700. Absolutely love the CI700 slip clutch arrangement. Have Argo Navis...to aid in locating thru my MAG 3 SKIES (10 miles out of Times Square, NYC). Scavanged my children's tricycle for the platform.

August 23, 2007 10:57 AM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Unethical Sale

Posted By Peter Glus
There is a certain SCT / mount combo selling right now that has apparantly a troublesome electrical problem. The problem is described clearly in the forums, but the ad makes no mention of this. We're all "citizens" here, so what should one do when this type of thing is uncovered? I probably could address him diretcly, but that would not ward off potential buyers.

September 2, 2007 03:25 PM Forum: Reflectors

Large Reflectors for Urban Settings

Posted By Peter Glus
I am a SCT user, and I dabble in refractors. In my area (NYC), clusters and planetary nebula are the bid DSO's of interest. I think that aperture works well here, but I have heard very few tales of BIG dobs 12 - 20" in any urban area. Is there a reason why, that maybe I am missing? Frankly, a nice big fast reflector would maybe beat my 12" SCT. Any thoughts? Any BIG reflectors in very URBAN areas (like VLM of 3 - 4)?

September 14, 2007 06:59 AM Forum: Refractors

Got the Vixen NA140

Posted By Peter Glus
Bought this from a fellow AMer...All I can say is WOW! Dropped in a 22 Nagler, and just spend the night panning around Cygnus and Cassiopia. Having 5.5" of aperature at f/5.7 in a light-polluted environment like mine is a real treat (its probably a better treat in dark skys, but hey, maybe someday). When I had the double cluster in sight, I actually looked around for the "second cluster" becuause I could not believe they were in the same FOV! A VERY different experience from my 12" SCT.

September 26, 2007 05:48 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Large SCT Focusing

Posted By Peter Glus
I have a 12" Meade SCT and I have been using a zero image shift microfocuser for a while. Last night I finally came to the conclusion that maybe a manual 2-speed is better. Has anyone gone through this transition, and could they share the pros and cons?

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