TRITIUM4EVER's
Astronomy Stuff
[ NEWS ] - [ TELESCOPES ] - [ EYEPIECES ] - [ ACCESSORIES ] - [ PUBLICATIONS ] - [ IMAGES ] - [ STUFF FOR SALE/TRADE ] - [ EMAIL ADDRESS ]
COOL LINKS:
2004-09-30 12:48am
|
Yes I know, I haven't updated in ages. However, two things have prompted me to do this update. I got my first look at the Double Cluster in Perseus. Actually I found it via Cassiopeia since the skies from my driveway are so bad that most of Perseus is invisible to the naked eye. Rather, I simply used the QuikFinder to point in the general direction (based on my star charts), and moved around a bit until I got it in the 9x50 finder. It was actually really easy...it took less than 30 seconds from wanting to look at it to finding it. I used the 26mm Plossl for 46x, which framed the two clusters very nicely. The other reason for this update is my new EP acquisition. I bought a used 10mm Speers-Waler WA eyepiece off Astromart and it should arrive in a few days. It replaces the 9.7mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl, which I've already sold. The new EP provides a true FOV that's slightly over 50% wider than with the Meade EP, which should help my DSO pursuits. I'm sure the clouds will roll in as soon as the EP arrives. On another note, I recently got glasses and I am amazed at how much deeper I can see in terms of naked eye limiting magnitude. For the first time ever I saw Lyra in its entirety, and this was in the city... without my glasses, I was unable to do this even from Algonquin Park. However, the glasses present two new problems for me. Now I can't quite look through the finderscope the way I could before, because I am left eye dominant and with the glasses I tend to hit the OTA with the glasses. My second problem is more an inconvenience than anything else...I have to take the glasses off to look through the eyepiece. This is because none of my EPs have enough eye relief for me to look without reducing the field of view. Finally, lately I've been considering buying a new focuser for my scope. I've never been totally happy with the stock focuser, what with the sticky glue that Synta calls lubrication and the stiff action. Actually I could get rid of the stiff movement, but it would be replaced by slop. Right now I've got the tube tightened down where slop isn't much of an issue, but it makes the movement a little to stiff for my liking. Frankly the focuser is not bad for a cheap mass-produced scope, but like with eyepieces I'm getting the hankering for something better. I've basically narrowed my choices down to one of two Moonlite focusers: the CR1 ($165 USD), and the dual-rate CR2 ($265 USD). Instinctively I'd go for the CR2, but that extra $100 is quite a bit of money and I'm not sure that dual-rate focusing is worth that extra cost. First and foremost, I'm looking for something smoother and better made than the stock focuser. Anything else is a bonus. As a result, I'm leaning towards the CR1 for the time being. |
| 2004-06-11 1:58am |
Well it's been a month since my last update, and I have great news. On June 8 the weather was absolutely fantastic in Toronto and a whole bunch of RASC members made a trip to the Scarborough Bluffs to observe the transit. Quite frankly the transit was amazing, and I was happy to share the view with about a dozen people. I took some shots of the event and I've stuck them on a page dedicated to the transit of Venus. See the Transit of Venus 2004 page for details!
|
| 2004-05-11 12:52am |
After a couple of months with no changes to my collection in astro gear, I bought something that hopefully will be used for a very important event this year: the transit of Venus. Yep, I bought a solar filter. Not a snooty H-alpha filter...no, "just" a regular filter from Kendrick using the popular Baader AstroSolar Film material. The filter (model 6013-A) fits my 8" SkyWatcher Dobsonian perfectly, though the beveled edge of the scope makes the filter come off a little too easily (mainly because the screws don't quite go as far down the tube as I'd like). A few pieces of scotch tape fixed that quite well, but I'll probably come up with a more permanent way of securely holding the filter. I spent a few minutes with the filter and realized one thing: it's quite difficult to find the sun! I probably would've found it if I spent more time, but I had to run so I gave up. I'll definitely need to get in a few practice runs before June 8th.
|
| Aperture inches/mm |
Focal Ratio, Focal Length | Brand | Type | Comments |
| 8" 203mm |
f/5.9 1200mm |
SkyWatcher (Synta) | Newtonian (Dobsonian mount) | none |
| Focal Length | Brand and Type | Size | Field of View | Eye Relief | Comments |
| 26mm | Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl | 1.25" | 52° | unknown | none |
| 25mm | SkyWatcher Superset Kellner | 1.25" | 50° | unknown | With the barlow, this eyepiece is quite prone to kidney beaning. On its own, it's not much of a problem. |
| 10mm | SkyWatcher Superset Kellner | 1.25" | 52° | unknown | none |
| 10mm | Speers-Waler WA | 1.25" | 82° | 12mm | none |
| Brand | Description | Comments |
| Kendrick Astro Instruments | solar filter featuring Baader AstroSolar Film (model 6013-A) | none |
| Mercury Systems Support | GSFA focuser drawtube adapter | Like the 2" to 1.25" adapter, the GSFA is made of black anodized aluminum and has a brass compression ring. Not surprisingly, it is very well machined and grips accessories very securely. |
| Orion | aluminum focus knobs (#07217) | These knobs are slightly larger and protrude slightly farther from the focuser. I really like the look, and the rubber grip is nice, especially compared to the finger-grinding plastic ridges on the stock knobs. |
| Orion | 2" UltraBlock narrowband filter (#05657) | none |
| Mercury Systems Support | 2" to 1.25" eyepiece adapter | The adapter is made of black anodized aluminum, has a brass compression ring instead of the more usual setscrew, and is threaded for 48mm filters. Kind of pricey but very high quality. |
| SkyWatcher | dual colour LED flashlight | none |
| Gun Guard | Special Edition single rifle case (#10481) | The case is the exact same length as the OTA, and will be used to store accessories. |
| Orion | collimating eyepiece (#03640) | none |
| Orion | padded case for Orion SkyQuest XT8 (#15174) | This case fits my SkyWatcher 8" f/6 Dob perfectly. |
| Fuller | aluminum tool box (18" x 13" x 6") | Once I get some foam padding, this will be used to store my eyepieces and accessories. |
| Antares | 1.25" 13% transmission neutral density filter | none |
| Rigel Systems | QuikFinder unit power illuminated finder | none |
| Antares | Ultima 2X 3-element Barlow (1.25") | none |
| Name | Author | Comments |
| Observer's Handbook 2004 | Royal Astronomical Society of Canada | none |
| SkyAtlas 2000.0 2nd Edition, laminated Deluxe version | Wil Tirion and Roger W. Sinnott | No introduction necessary...this is the intermediate-level atlas to own. |
| The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, Revised Edition | Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer | This book is a great follow-up to NightWatch, providing a ton of info on telescope selection, observing techniques, and astrophotography/imaging techniques. I wish the book included some sky charts, but even without them this book is a must read for any beginner. |
| David H. Levy's Guide to the Stars (planisphere) | Ken Graun, Dean Koenig, David H. Levy, and Wendee Wallach-Levy | I have the 11" version...small and portable yet not crowded. |
| NightWatch | Terence Dickinson | What a great introduction to astronomy. The included charts are very useful and there's a lot of helpful information for beginners like myself. Definitely a recommended book, particularly for those who have yet to purchase a telescope. |
 The moon and Mars, in the southeast skies at about 11pm EDT on August 12, 2003. Taken with a Kodak DX3900 set at 1.6MP resolution, 70mm focal length (film equivalent), f/4 focal ratio, and 6 second exposure time. |
 The moon at 47X through a 26mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl with a 13% neutral density filter, captured with a Kodak DX3900 at 2.2MP and 1/30 second exposure time. The colour has been adjusted to remove the yellowish tint created by the neutral density filter. Picture taken on September 13, 2003 at 12:58am EDT. |
 The constellation Orion, above the roof of my house in the southern sky at 2:24am EST on November 22, 2003. Taken with a Kodak DX3900 set at 2.2MP resolution with an 8 second exposure at f/2.8. The brighter region to the right is a light patch of very thin clouds. |
 My SkyWatcher 8" f/5.9 Dob. This shot nicely shows the size of the scope, with the minivan providing the necessary scale. |
 The front end of my scope. Note the placement of the QuikFinder (perfect for me since I'm left eye dominant) and the new 2" to 1.25" adapter. |
 These are the eyepieces (and barlow) I use on a regular basis. Not shown are the 25mm and 10mm SkyWatcher Kellner eyepieces, which have been replaced with the Meade equivalents. |
 My new Kendrick 6013-A solar filter with Baader AstroSolar Film. The CD is included as a size reference. |
All prices are in Canadian dollars and do not include shipping or delivery (unless otherwise specified). The buyer must pay the full cost of shipping or delivery if it is required. For those who want to pick up, I'm located in Scarborough around the intersection of Finch and Birchmount...click the pic on the right for full-sized map of the general area. I may be able to work out a discount if you buy more than one item. I'm also interested in trades...scroll down to see a list of the stuff I'm looking for.