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Very inexpensive laser
by Chuck Hards 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/m2122.html These are only $2.75 + s&h. I will have a "Barlowed" collimator design available sometime soon, using this laser as a light source. For the "do-it-yourselfers" on the list. Would also make a great "stocking stuffer". C. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/

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Inexpensive shortwave radio
by Marilyn Smith 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

Some time ago, the topic of short-wave radios for timing purposes came thru this group. I just received the new REI sale catalog, which includes two styles. For $30, they have a shirt-pocket sized radio with analog tuning. For $99, they have a digital tuner with solar and hand-cranked power. Be sure to check the reception quality of any short-wave radio, particularly with analog tuning. From my limited experience, a digital tuner is a big plus. Bob Grant

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My $50 refractor, and a request for assistance
by Marilyn Smith 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

The tube of my 8" f6 Cave takes up the majority of the usable space in the back seat of my Dakota extended cab, which has been fine for shorter trips with our camper, but my wife isn't willing to put up with that for the duration of our upcoming 2 week trip to Baja over Christmas. So I set out to make an inexpensive refractor that would take up less space, and accomplished it for $50. But a serendipitous afterthought led to an upgrade that is adding another $200 to the total investment. I ordered a 80x900 objective with plastic cell from Surplus Shed for $30, and a 1 1/4" focuser for $10, and kept my expectations low. I don't understand how "surplus" can be back-ordered, but a delay in getting the focuser caused me to wait two weeks for my order. Meanwhile, while on the prowl at the U Property Distribution center, looking for a cheap microscope for a customer in Idaho, I bought (for myself) a Zeiss stereo microscope for $100. The binocular head on it has a striking family resemblance with the Tele-Vue Bino-Vue as described in the Sept. 2002 S&T, and costing $1,050. When the objective and focuser arrived, I invested another $8 in 3" black plastic pipe and fittings at Home Depot, and $2 for black felt at Michael's, for a total of $50. I already had a star diagonal and eyepieces, and used some CDs for the glare stops. I've cobbled together a couple of small refractors before, but this is actually the first one with a real focuser, rather than just a "push-pull" on the eyepiece, so I'm quite the neophyte ATM. Recent cloudiness has prevented much evaluation of the lens, but "star" testing on tiny Christmas lights at about 150 yards shows spherical aberration. I know some of you (Chuck?) are good at, and seem to enjoy, optical evaluation, so if there is any interest is learning what you get for $30, let's meet. And this is where I can use some help. Over the Thanksgiving holidays, I machined a brass 1 1/4" adapter to allow use of the 45 degree angled bino-head. Initial use with microscope eyepieces showed promise, so yesterday I machined 2 adapters to allow use of 1 1/4" eyepieces. I have an eclectic collection of eyepieces, most of which are 50 years old and came with the 1954 Cave, so I don't know how eyepieces with wider views and/or greater eye relief (I wear glasses) will work in this possibly vignetted RubeGoldbergScope. Does anyone with a more recent collection of eyepieces care to help me make a selection? And perhaps try the bino-viewer on a better scope (it takes a lot of inward focus movement). Buying pairs of eyepieces can quickly blow my budget, so I may initially have to settle for only one focal length, too. The $50 Orion Expanse (66 degree) sound attractive at this point, but I'd hate to throw away $100. I could make 2 more telescopes for that money! ;-) Thanks, Bob Grant 273-0369

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] 2" 40mm Konig MK-70
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 01 Dec '03

01 Dec '03

Chuck, I just went to the University Optics webpage and here is what they had to say about the eyerelief for the 40mm Konig MK-70. "The perfectly balanced eye relief is very forgiving in that your eye does not have to be perfectly on axis to get the full effect of the wide view". I saw this eyepiece got a "thumbs up" from Alan Dyer in "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, Revised Edition". I also think the 70 degree apparent field of view would be wonderful in my TeleVue refractor. I think I'll go ahead and order it and I'll tell you what I think of it when I get a chance to use it. I appreciate your comments and your opinion. Best Regards, Debbie

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Frontiers of Science-Hoffman
by David L Bennett 01 Dec '03

01 Dec '03

Forwarded message from Jim DeGooyer of the College of Science: Begin forwarded message: > From: Jim DeGooyer <jdegooyer(a)science.utah.edu> > Date: Mon Dec 1, 2003 10:48:20 AM US/Mountain > To: jdegooyer(a)science.utah.edu > Subject: Frontiers of Science-Hoffman > > Dear Frontiers of Science participants: > > The College of Science and College of Mines and Earth Sciences is > hosting a Frontiers of Science lecture this Weds, Dec. 3rd in room 220 > ASB at 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. We hope > you will join us for this presentation featuring Paul F. Hoffman from > Harvard University. > > See the attached .pdf file or visit our website, www.science.utah.edu, > or call 581-6958 for details. Note that Hoffman will give a live radio > interview on KCPW 88.3 FM on Dec. 3rd, 9:10-9:30 a.m. Tune in! > > Jim The second presentation will take place on Wednesday, December 3, 2003. This event will feature Paul F. Hoffman, the widely-renowned professor and author from Harvard University. His lecture title is "Snowball Earth: Testing the Limits of Global Climate Change." "Many lines of evidence support a theory that the entire Earth was ice-covered for long periods 600-700 million years ago. Each glacial period lasted for millions of years and ended violently under extreme greenhouse conditions. These climate shocks triggered the evolution of multicellular animal life, and challenge long-held assumptions regarding the limits of global change," wrote Paul F. Hoffman and Daniel P. Schrag in 1999. --

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Off-topic: Weather stations
by Richard Tenney 30 Nov '03

30 Nov '03

A colleague at work asked me today about weather stations available on the Wasatch front (he lives in Kaysville); seems his mother is in the market for one ($400 or less). Anyone on the list know of something recommendable? I suspect the best deals are probably on the web, or...? Anyway, I figured someone here might be into that sort of thing. Thanx, Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/

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2" 40mm Konig MK-70
by UTAHDEB＠aol.com 30 Nov '03

30 Nov '03

Anyone own or viewed through a 2" 40mm Konig MK-70 made by University Optics. . At $200, it seems like a good deal. I was considering the Pentax SMC 40 XL eyepiece, but it has been replaced by the XW series. They newer Pentax eyepieces just don't fit into my budget. Debbie

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Fwd: Texas Star Party 2004
by Richard Tenney 30 Nov '03

30 Nov '03

Note: forwarded message attached. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/

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OT: Thanks for weather station info
by Richard Tenney 26 Nov '03

26 Nov '03

I meant to express my thanks to all of you who've responded on the weather stations. Sounds like there are a lot of great options for very reasonable money out there. Apparently my colleage's mom has already made her choice, so any other suggestions would be merely to inform the rest of us that might have an interest. Thanks again, Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS meeting tonight
by Kim Hyatt 25 Nov '03

25 Nov '03

Joe - we should have the laptop and projector available, so bring a disk. -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 9:37 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS meeting tonight Also, who's setting up the meeting? I have a photo I might want to display via computer. Thanks, Joe Anyone know what's on tap for the SLAS meeting tonighty? Jim _____ Do you Yahoo!? Free <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/slv/mailtag/*http://companion.yahoo.com/> Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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