I don't understand why the imaging issue is a "yes" or "no" question. If a person is not interested, fine, don't do it. Each person can enjoy the wonders of the sky at his or her own level of comfort, knowledge, equipment, or lack of same. I have not spent any money on any astronomy-only photo equipment, but I've enjoyed using what I have to capture a few nice photos. (With digital, I don't even spend money on film for astronomy photos anymore.) And SLAS is tolerant enough of my amateur status to make room for my photos alongside those of the "pros" in its gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=464 For me, it has been a rewarding challenge to even capture the simple photos that I have. (And, of course I'm flattered when someone like my wife thinks they're pretty or unique.) I am confident I will never invest enough time or money to be in Tyler Allred's league, but I really enjoy seeing the magic that he, Patrick, Rob and the growing list of others achieve. And I am dazzled - not offended - by their use of available tools to do a "log transformation" (or any other magic) to make the captured data more accessible to our feeble human vision. Gee! It's all so classy and beautiful, I just can't understand why this topic is even being debated. I enjoy astronomy at my low-to-medium level; and I'm glad the rest of you share your high-to-super level results with such as I. Keep up the good work! Raeburn G. Kennard Kirton & McConkie 60 East South Temple, Suite 1800 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 321-4867 direct telephone (801) 328-3600 main switchboard (801) 550-6143 cell (801) 212-2075 fax rkennard@kmclaw.com   -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of utah-astronomy-request@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 3:42 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 87, Issue 54 Send Utah-Astronomy mailing list submissions to utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to utah-astronomy-request@mailman.xmission.com You can reach the person managing the list at utah-astronomy-owner@mailman.xmission.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Utah-Astronomy digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: CGEM (Was: Atlas or CGEM?) (Rob Ratkowski Photography) 2. Re: why photography? (Michael Vanopstall) 3. Re: CGEM (Was: Atlas or CGEM?) (Chuck Hards) 4. Re: why photography? (Robert Taylor) 5. Re: CGEM (Was: Atlas or CGEM?) (Rob Ratkowski Photography) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 08:29:52 -1000 From: Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] CGEM (Was: Atlas or CGEM?) Message-ID: <a06240801c80f5132d6d0@[192.168.1.6]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Chuck Sounds similar to what the Celestron CGE is like. I have enjoyed the CGE and once aligned (drift) I have found the mount to very accurate and a joy to use. Even from our dark site, old eyes don't see as well. We have a new 20 YO young woman that can see to 6mag plus see color in stars (Jewel Box) like it's on a monitor. I believe you will enjoy your CGEM and not have to hassle looking for objects that are hard to see, have fun Do some astrophotography. Aloha Rob ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 12:46:42 -0600 (MDT) From: Michael Vanopstall <opstall@math.utah.edu> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] why photography? Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.64.1005111241210.29556@sunblast.math.utah.edu> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Hello -- No, I have no curiosity, or desire to try photography. I definitely don't have the money. I probably don't have the patience. I can't imagine driving an hour or two, setting up, and then letting the telescope work by itself for an hour or two. Actually, I plundered my camera batteries for a flashlight, which shows how often I take any pictures at all. The stacking and photoshop part of the process really sounds like not my cup of tea. Like taxidermy after the hunt. I like a pretty fast-paced hunt. Did I mention that my first telescope was stolen off my front porch when I went inside to unload moon photos on to the computer? ---- Rev. Michael A. van Opstall Department of Mathematics, University of Utah Office: JWB 313 opstall@math.utah.edu ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 13:26:00 -0600 From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] CGEM (Was: Atlas or CGEM?) Message-ID: <AANLkTik9xIDNHfeXZ_uyoE8LyDTY__b_tZPmyFOz4GyA@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Rob, I can't wait. If the weather forecasts are correct, I may be setting it up in the back yard Friday night for the first time under the sky. I have a few more accessories to get before I make a serious attempt at imaging- also it's plainly going to take me some time to become proficient at using this mount- probably months, to be realistic about it. Clear evenings do not automatically default to astronomy, in my life. On 5/11/10, Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:

Chuck

Sounds similar to what the Celestron CGE is like. I have enjoyed the CGE and once aligned (drift) I have found the mount to very accurate and a joy to use. Even from our dark site, old eyes don't see as well. We have a new 20 YO young woman that can see to 6mag plus see color in stars (Jewel Box) like it's on a monitor. I believe you will enjoy your CGEM and not have to hassle looking for objects that are hard to see, have fun Do some astrophotography.

------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 14:36:57 -0600 From: "Robert Taylor" <Rob.Taylor@digis.net> To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] why photography? Message-ID: <4AFC586150284432A7AE028D8BB93277@taylormain> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Big Ouch! on having your telescope ripped off. As mentioned on a previous post I dabble in it and will continue to do so. It's how I indulge my inner masochist. I use essentially the same equipment I use to take regular photos, my DSLR. It is not necessary to spend tons of money to get nice images so consider what you already have if you decide to try it again. I often try to get a single good image rather than take a bunch and then stack, I understand the benefits of stacking and if you want the kind of results some of our members produce you need to do that but you can get a decent image without the extra steps and shorten the post processing time. However in general the time involved is still significant. Sounds like you know at least a little about the process. I have been known to bring two scopes with me when I image or at least my 80x20 binocs so I can enjoy the sky while the scope and camera are doing their thing. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Michael Vanopstall Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 12:47 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] why photography? Hello -- No, I have no curiosity, or desire to try photography. I definitely don't have the money. I probably don't have the patience. I can't imagine driving an hour or two, setting up, and then letting the telescope work by itself for an hour or two. Actually, I plundered my camera batteries for a flashlight, which shows how often I take any pictures at all. The stacking and photoshop part of the process really sounds like not my cup of tea. Like taxidermy after the hunt. I like a pretty fast-paced hunt. Did I mention that my first telescope was stolen off my front porch when I went inside to unload moon photos on to the computer? ---- Rev. Michael A. van Opstall Department of Mathematics, University of Utah Office: JWB 313 opstall@math.utah.edu _______________________________________________ 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 ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 11:41:50 -1000 From: Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] CGEM (Was: Atlas or CGEM?) Message-ID: <a06240800c80f7f8b1ba7@[192.168.1.6]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Chuck either way HAVE FUN!!!! Aloha Rob ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ 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 End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 87, Issue 54 **********************************************