March 2003 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

RE: [Utah-astronomy] Tube blackening question
by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

I meant to clarify - the foam rubber I had in mind is actual a "sand" blasting medium for very delicate surface. It is unifromly graded, just like true sandblasting grit. Probably available from sandblasting (or welding?) supply places. -----Original Message----- From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 3:38 PM To: Utah-Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Tube blackening question There's been a fair amount of discussion on the Criterion Dynascope list I'm on lately regarding the best ways to blacken the inside tube of a newtonian. What seems to be the preferred method in this group anyway is to coat the inside of the tube with glue, then apply crushed walnut shells (avialable apparently at Petsmart) and spray paint with Krylon flat black. Many on the list discourage the use of flocked paper. What do the experts on this list think of this? Does such a procedure really make a noticeable difference over a simple coat of flat black paint on the inside of the tube sans the shells? Rich __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Tube blackening question
by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

Flat black paint isn't very flat at angles of low incidence, especially on a fairly smooth surface. I've acquired some black photographic paper - I'm not sure if flocked is the proper description - but this type of paper is far less likely to shed than cheaper flocked paper such as you might find at department stores. I haven't used it on my telescope tube yet because I plan to build a new one, anyway. I've also looked at black velvetine and black felt at fabric stores. The velvetine is nice, but too "shiny"; the felt sheds worse than flocked paper. I've never heard of the process you described, but it sounds good. I wonder if you might also use finely shredded foam rubber? -----Original Message----- From: Richard Tenney [mailto:retenney@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 3:38 PM To: Utah-Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Tube blackening question There's been a fair amount of discussion on the Criterion Dynascope list I'm on lately regarding the best ways to blacken the inside tube of a newtonian. What seems to be the preferred method in this group anyway is to coat the inside of the tube with glue, then apply crushed walnut shells (avialable apparently at Petsmart) and spray paint with Krylon flat black. Many on the list discourage the use of flocked paper. What do the experts on this list think of this? Does such a procedure really make a noticeable difference over a simple coat of flat black paint on the inside of the tube sans the shells? Rich __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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RE: [Utah-astronomy]
by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

Thanks, Chuck. -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:21 PM To: Astronomy in Utah Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Either Vaughn or Steve. All you need is a reference flat of known accuracy and a monochromatic light source. Vaughn has done this for me in the past. Bruce may have one, too. C. --- Kim Hyatt <khyatt(a)smithlayton.com> wrote: > Does anybody know where one can have secondary flat > mirrors and/or diagonals > tested locally for optical quality? > > Kim A. Hyatt, AIA > SL&A Architects > 331 South Rio Grande, Suite 304 > Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 > 801.322.5550 x122 > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Shop
by Greg Taylor 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

Does anyone happen to have a decent sized shop wherein I can build a big scope? Greg --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!

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by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

Does anybody know where one can have secondary flat mirrors and/or diagonals tested locally for optical quality? Kim A. Hyatt, AIA SL&A Architects 331 South Rio Grande, Suite 304 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 801.322.5550 x122

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FW: [Utah-astronomy] Eyepiece seminar indefinitely ON HOLD
by Gary Liptrot 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

That's OK C.H., it will give us all time to study more about eyepiece design and maybe even experiment some before the seminar. No hurry my friend, I know that a while ago you weren't sure about the course your business would take and now you're swamped. I think this situation is better, eh? Tnx es 73 de n7zi Gary Why buy something for ten bucks when you can make it for a hundred... J.R. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 2:21 PM To: Utah-Astro Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Eyepiece seminar indefinitely ON HOLD In the shop today, looking over my workload for the next few months, it is plainly obvious that I will not have the time for the eyepiece "seminar" for several months, at least. I am therefore putting it on hold for an indefinite amount of time. It may even be next fall or winter before I can devote the time needed to do it right. Each eyepiece "kit" takes about three or four hours to produce. You can see that making just 20 of these runs into a lot of time. I'm supposed to finish a basement this summer, too, somehow. I am very sorry about this, but it cannot be avoided. I'm working 60+ hour weeks and there just isn't any time for fun stuff for a while. Chuck __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Patrick's "News"
by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

I don't recall the name of tonight's speaker, but if I recall correctly, he is an educator and will be speaking about Quetzalcoatl (sp?) and relationships with astronomical phenomena/observations of ancient south Americans. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Stitley [mailto:sitf2000@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 8:38 AM To: Astronomy in Utah Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Patrick's "News" Ditto!!! Patrick always manages to find very interesting tidbits that aer always well worth reading, as well as soem very interesting photo links. Great Job, Patrick. Now if we could just get the club to get you the meeting news, it would have everything all in one place. this is NOT a crtitcism, Patrick. You can't publish what news you don't have. I am travelign back to SLC tonight and wnated to coem to the meeting but it will be very tight. i ahev been trying to fidn otu tonight's talk(s), btu with no luck. Anyone possibly know??? Thank you so much, and thanks again,Patrick, for the interesting news and all you do for the club!!! Jim Joe Bauman <bau(a)desnews.com> wrote: I second that! Patrick's "News" is my favorite regular e-mailing. We Utah astronomy and space fans owe him a big thanks. -- Joe Joe Bauman science & military reporter Deseret News bau(a)desnews.com (801) 237-2169 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy _____ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! <http://rd.yahoo.com/platinum/evt=8162/*http://platinum.yahoo.com/splash.htm l> Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live <http://rd.yahoo.com/platinum/evt=8162/*http://platinum.yahoo.com/splash.htm l> on your desktop!

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Patrick's "News"
by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

This morning I once again had the opportunity to peruse the "News" bulletin that Patrick Wiggins puts together every few days. I may not have expressed it before, but I really appreciate this service and the pleasant break it gives me from everyday stuff. Thanks Patrick, and I hope you don't get discouraged if some of us fail to thank you often enough. Kim A. Hyatt, AIA SL&A Architects 331 South Rio Grande, Suite 304 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 801.322.5550 x122

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] SCT or Newtonian?
by Kim Hyatt 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

Brent - I purchased the 5" Meade apo from Les. He still has his Astrophysics (5"?). Depending on the date you observed with him, he may have even had the 5" Takahashi that was later stolen. I don't have enough experience with refractors to compare the Meade with anything, but I am generally very pleased. I have noticed some spurious halos around bright images, but that is probably due to the ultra-wide field eyepieces I've been using. I would like to try some high-power Orthos for comparison. -----Original Message----- From: Brent Watson [mailto:brentjwatson@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 6:42 PM To: Astronomy in Utah Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SCT or Newtonian? My experience with the Astro Physics refractors is looking through two of them. The first I saw was at Riverside. I was not impressed compared to my 8" Brandt, Joan Carman's 6" Brandt, and Siegfried's 9" Clark. I thought the image lacked contrast and detail. The second time was at a star party in Flagstaff. Again, the image lacked definition and contrast. I had my 8" Brandt there for comparison. Both of these refractors were the 130mm guys, I believe. The Brandt is 150mm. I have seen some great images through Les Christopher's refractor at Elizabeth Ridge. I am not sure which it is, maybe someone on the list knows - Kim, didn't you buy it from Les? I have also seen some stunning views of Saturn, Enke's Division, spokes, etc. through Joan's Junior Refractor (the 6" Brandt). All of the commercial refractors are much more portable than my 8" Brandt, but my Brandt is still pretty portable. Sorry I can't help more than that. I will make a broad statement that an apo does not produce as good an image as an achro, IMHO. The achro has secondary color that can be distracting at times, but the detail and contrast are still better. I used to think that SCT's were the best for portability, but I can set up both my 12.5" and my 6" dobs in less time than an 8" SCT. The 6" takes about the same physical space as an 8" SCT, but will produce better images generally speaking. The 12.5" takes up more space, but can still be set up and I can be observing in less than 5 minutes. As always, these are just my opinions, but I believe I can substantiate them all if required to do so. Brent --- UTAHDEB(a)aol.com wrote: > Brent, > > What brand of doublet refractors do you prefer? I > hear the Takahashi doublets > are not as well corrected as the Astro-Physics > refractors. Correct me if I am > wrong. I'd like to get my hands on one the AP 130mm > f/8.35 refractors > doublet or triplet. I wish they would start making > them again. > > Deb > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Apogee Binocular Sale
by Chuck Hards 24 Mar '03

24 Mar '03

S&T, May '03, page 124 Apogee has all 20x80mm "blems" on-sale. I am assuming this to mean cosmetic flaws only, no performance-hindering defects. Best to ask before purchasing. 20x80 reg. 129.95 sale 89.95 20x80 DX 219.95 119.95 20x80 HD 399.95 159.95 Apogee order line: 877-923-1602 questions: 815-568-1988 www.apogeeinc.com The model I purchased is the first listed. Although I haven't had the opportunity to give it a complete evaluation, the views I've had so-far have been impressive, and I am recommending it for astronomy. Chuck __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com

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