Jim, I will play around with this. Actually, I was thinking of going cheap and go with a Walmart bag but then I realized they only use white plastic. Actually, I think I will use foam-core poster board and build a rim with two layers of regular poster board. I made a full aperture bader solar filter this way and it worked great. Thanks for your help Rodger ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Gibson" <jimgibson00@yahoo.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:44 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Harmon’s Aids Armature Astronomer Develop Hi-Tech Equipment
Roger I think you will be surprised how well it does work. Of course consider the paper bag a mock-up. You might want to make one our of better stuff, but don’t tell Harmon’s I said that. Also there is a 3 whole version that may be a little more accurate because when the 3 stars come together it’s more of a sure thing. Just space them out evenly.
Jim
--- On Sat, 2/28/09, Rodger C. Fry <rcfry@comcast.net> wrote:
From: Rodger C. Fry <rcfry@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Harmon’s Aids Armature Astronomer Develop Hi-Tech Equipment To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 8:20 PM
Jim, Where were you when I needed you. I haven't heard of doing this and will really help in focusing on my LX-200 10". I am going to make one as well.
Rodger Fry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Gibson" <jimgibson00@yahoo.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:12 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Harmon’s Aids Armature Astronomer Develop Hi-Tech Equipment
Sorry about the headline but that is how I felt when I tried out my 2 hole
focus mask made from Harmon’s paper bags.
Check it out: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1199
I was surprised how well it worked. I have been having a hard time knowing when my camera is in focus when attached to my Orion 100mm APO.
While I was waiting for the sky to clear I decided to make a focus mask and try it out. I discovered that I like the holes vertical better than horizontal. When viewing a bright star through the camera view finder while attached to the APO I could see 2 stars with wings. The stars were one above the other. Or they would be horizontal if the holes were horizontal. Then as I rotated the focuser the 2 stars came together and join as one. Then I knew I was in focus.
That thing is going to be a permanent part of my Hi-tech equipment.
Jim
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