A company called "Astro Gizmos" sells a red static-cling film. A little more expensive than the rubylith from the link below, it may even be the ribylith. I use a red plexi-glass shield over it to tune brightness, it does take a few sheets to dim it enough.
I use to use a MacBook loaded with Starry Night Pro 6 and after about a
year of using it, the battery just couldn't handle those cold nights (even in the summer) and I had to replace it. At the time I started using it the MacBook was about 3 years old.
In terms of night vision and keeping a computer monitor dark there are a couple of options.
From this site, just scroll down a little.
http://www.myastronomyjournal.com/tips.php?id=nheacock
Here is what he did. He used red rubylith and made a frame to hold it on out of card stock black. Then again one good session with dew and the frame would have to be replaced.
http://www.myastronomyjournal.com/user_images/nheacock_images/Filter-Sliding...
Some use red Plexiglass which can work also. Regardless of which option one wants, there is a need for a side-shield to prevent any light from escaping out sideways that may bother other observers. One solution is a simple cardboard box laid on its side with the laptop inside of it.
On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 6:23 PM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
On 28 Feb 2011, at 11:42, Joe Bauman wrote:
Hi Kelly, Count me in. Could you please charge up those batteries? I still haven't calculated how much juice my computer will need, but will try to do it soon. I have something I can use as a homemade dew shield. Many thanks, Joe
Just a thought Joe, but could it be that the battery in your laptop is getting old and not holding a charge?
When the battery in mine was new a couple of years ago I'd get 6 or 7 hours of use on a charge but I've noticed lately I'm down to an hour or so less than that.
Clear skies,
patrick _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
-- Jay Eads _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com