All, Thanks for the responses. I think I will try to show up at a star party or 2, it looks like they occur quite often, and perhaps join the club also. Seeing what others are using sounds much better paying for a telescope having had no experience. I like the idea of building one, but that available time issue seems to get in the way. I already have: "retrofit my electric heated house to gas heat" on this fall's things-to-do-in-my-spare-time list. I did try out my third iteration of my Barn Door tracker last night, and it actually worked this time. I can get 10 second long steady shots most of the time, but 30 second shots remain steady only 1 time out of 5. I think Kim is right about my tripod being my (next) limiting factor. Turning the screw sometimes wiggles the tripod) I'm going to keep tinkering with the tracker, trying to improve it. Kim ... Did you add a motor to your Barn Door tracker? And what is the longest you have tracked for a single picture? I was even able last night to star hop to the Andromeda galaxy for a picture -- which my wife accused of looking like a water spot. I tried looking for Venus as the sun was setting tonight, but didn't see it. The Western sky was partly cloudy. My other committee member had a very positive reaction to the '...give the other committee member an equally expensive goodie...' suggestion, so we may move into the 'exchange of political favors' stage of these negotiations. The "forgiveness vs. permission" approach is more difficult to make use of in these long term committee appointments. Best Regards, Gary Logan.
Gary, I suspect we will see you at our meetings. One thing I should mention is that once a member we have loaner telescopes you can use. It is typical that a member can check out a telescope for extended periods. So this may be an option that would fit your needs. Rodger Fry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Logan" <garybulk@the-logans.net> To: <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:13 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Newbie continued...
All, Thanks for the responses. I think I will try to show up at a star party or 2, it looks like they occur quite often, and perhaps join the club also. Seeing what others are using sounds much better paying for a telescope having had no experience.
I like the idea of building one, but that available time issue seems to get in the way. I already have: "retrofit my electric heated house to gas heat" on this fall's things-to-do-in-my-spare-time list.
I did try out my third iteration of my Barn Door tracker last night, and it actually worked this time. I can get 10 second long steady shots most of the time, but 30 second shots remain steady only 1 time out of 5. I think Kim is right about my tripod being my (next) limiting factor. Turning the screw sometimes wiggles the tripod) I'm going to keep tinkering with the tracker, trying to improve it.
Kim ... Did you add a motor to your Barn Door tracker? And what is the longest you have tracked for a single picture?
I was even able last night to star hop to the Andromeda galaxy for a picture -- which my wife accused of looking like a water spot. I tried looking for Venus as the sun was setting tonight, but didn't see it. The Western sky was partly cloudy.
My other committee member had a very positive reaction to the '...give the other committee member an equally expensive goodie...' suggestion, so we may move into the 'exchange of political favors' stage of these negotiations. The "forgiveness vs. permission" approach is more difficult to make use of in these long term committee appointments.
Best Regards, Gary Logan.
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Gary, The barn door tracking mount design published in S&T has a motor. I made a few minor modifications to Gary Seronik's basic design, but I think it has about a 45-minute tracking capacity. I use a Nikon D70 DLSR, and I've never imaged for more than about seven minutes. The extra capacity is there in case I ever want to try film again. For the next three days I'm attending an intensive workshop for work, but If I find the time I'll send to you pics of the tracker, pics that I've taken with it, and the article from S&T. If I run out of time this week I'll be sure to do so next week. [Patrick, do we have a gallery alternative? I've been unable to follow every development over the past few days due to work.] For what it's worth, I think I put in about 30 hours total on the first telescope that I built, the 10-inch F5 Newt. I worked on it throughout the winter of 1988-89 while I also spent as much time as I could under the stars with my binos and planisphere. In February of '89 the scope saw "first light," a test view of M42 from the skylight in my attic bedroom. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Gary Logan Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:14 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Newbie continued... -clip- Kim ... Did you add a motor to your Barn Door tracker? And what is the longest you have tracked for a single picture? -clip- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.7.2/1689 - Release Date: 9/24/2008 6:51 PM
participants (3)
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Gary Logan -
Kim -
Rodger C. Fry