Right Angle Finder

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 13:47:23 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 13:47:23 GMT -6

Look at what I did today.

The component parts.

I used an objective from a pair of old 10x50 binoculars that have a broken focuser, some pvc couplers, a diagonal, and the odd ball eye piece that I picked up at American Science and Surplus.

The view through it looks good. I may have to shorten the main body a bit to get a little more focus range.

The whole thing is about 8" long and weighs 12.9 oz.

I'll see what I can do to figure out the focal length and FOV.

Last Edit: Oct 14, 2011 15:39:08 GMT -6 by erikruud

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 15:50:28 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 15:50:28 GMT -6

These are not the best shots because I haven't done much with a webcam yet and I don't quite know how to tweak the settings. They do show the difference in FOV.

This is through the 130mm ARES
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 4_08_44 PM.png[/img]

This one is through the 60mm Refractor.
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 4_21_52 PM.png[/img]

And this is through the new finder.
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 4_28_20 PM.png[/img]

RobbW Tenured Chicago Astronomer To Preserve & Promote our Dark Night Skies Posts: 591	Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 15:59:22 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by RobbW on Oct 14, 2011 15:59:22 GMT -6 You will fit in just fine with this crew, young padawan!
	www.OneDarkSky.com I pledge reverence to the stars and to all the wonders of the universe and to the firmament in which they shine, One Dark Sky overhead, clearly visible, unspoiled, and accessible to all. -RobbW

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 16:03:26 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 16:03:26 GMT -6 Thanks! But I am older than you.

Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe
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Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 16:26:26 GMT -6

Quote

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 14, 2011 16:26:26 GMT -6

Erik,

I have one just about exactly like that that I used as my main finderscope on the 4.5" reflector for quite a while.

Good optics, wide filed...and best of all....handmade!

I included a focuser from a 60mm cheapo refractor in line and worked beautifully. Still have it...just in case.

PVC...is there anything that it cannot do?

Last Edit: Oct 14, 2011 16:28:34 GMT -6 by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe

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erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 16:39:54 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 16:39:54 GMT -6

I wasn't able to do the suspension lift on my camper with PVC, but other than that I can't think of anything.

I don't have any spare focusers laying around, so for now I am relying on being able to slide the diagonal in and out a bit, and I can slide the eyepiece in and out a bit. It's pretty much set at infinity with everything pushed in all the way. That should be good for use as a finder.

Next I have to paint it and rig up some cross hairs.

Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe Administrator Administrator/Chief Astronomer Astronomer for: After School Matters - Chicago Park District - 606 Trail Posts: 7,623	Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 18:18:14 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 14, 2011 18:18:14 GMT -6 How will you attach the finder to the OTA?
	Chicago Astronomer Joe Founder, Administrator and Chief Astronomer After School Matters Astronomy Instructor - Gallery 37 Resident Astronomer Chicago Park District Nature Oasis/Night Out in the Parks/ 606 Trail JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador Telescope/Observatory Docent Facilitator (RET) Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 19:08:18 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 19:08:18 GMT -6 Duct Tape! Actually that part of the design is still under consideration.

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Oct 14, 2011 22:35:48 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 22:35:48 GMT -6

Ok, I battled with the clouds and the wind and got a few pictures through the finder.

This was the first shot. Not quite in focus.
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 10_08_01 PM.png[/img]

www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 10_08_02 PM.png[/img]

I am not sure how much of this is the software and how much is aberration from the lens
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 10_08_15 PM.png[/img]

Somewhat different settings on this one.
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 10_16_06 PM.png[/img]

This last one is through the 130mm ARES.
www.a-ruud-awakening.com/NewScope/Capture 10_14_2011 10_37_26 PM.png[/img]

I am going to have to get the higher res web cam that I have, set up for this.

Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe Administrator Administrator/Chief Astronomer Astronomer for: After School Matters - Chicago Park District - 606 Trail Posts: 7,623	Right Angle Finder Oct 15, 2011 0:35:39 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 15, 2011 0:35:39 GMT -6 I think these are good first practice images on the finder. Using a USB webcam? Duct tape is a wonderful gift from the gods.
	Chicago Astronomer Joe Founder, Administrator and Chief Astronomer After School Matters Astronomy Instructor - Gallery 37 Resident Astronomer Chicago Park District Nature Oasis/Night Out in the Parks/ 606 Trail JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador Telescope/Observatory Docent Facilitator (RET) Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Oct 15, 2011 5:01:28 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Oct 15, 2011 5:01:28 GMT -6 Yes, a USB webcam on loan from Rich and using SharpCap. I have captured some video from the session as well.

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Oct 15, 2011 5:03:57 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Oct 15, 2011 5:03:57 GMT -6 This one shows what the conditions were like most of the evening.
	Last Edit: Oct 15, 2011 5:05:28 GMT -6 by erikruud

Paulie pchris00 God Posts: 2,131	Right Angle Finder Oct 15, 2011 7:28:44 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Paulie pchris00 on Oct 15, 2011 7:28:44 GMT -6 That's a heckuva finder scope, though I'm not fond of right angles. Dummy me gets lost if I can't look straight through.
	"Just a boy, just an ordinary boy, but he was looking to the sky." -Vanessa Carlton

Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe Administrator Administrator/Chief Astronomer Astronomer for: After School Matters - Chicago Park District - 606 Trail Posts: 7,623	Right Angle Finder Oct 15, 2011 9:49:54 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 15, 2011 9:49:54 GMT -6 That black and white one.... I expect a lighting bolt and a shout of..."It's alive!"
	Chicago Astronomer Joe Founder, Administrator and Chief Astronomer After School Matters Astronomy Instructor - Gallery 37 Resident Astronomer Chicago Park District Nature Oasis/Night Out in the Parks/ 606 Trail JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador Telescope/Observatory Docent Facilitator (RET) Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Oct 15, 2011 16:37:25 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Oct 15, 2011 16:37:25 GMT -6

Oct 15, 2011 7:28:44 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

That's a heckuva finder scope, though I'm not fond of right angles. Dummy me gets lost if I can't look straight through.

The right angle is almost mandatory to be usable on the ARES 5, so I don't have to squat down to use it.

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Oct 17, 2011 6:53:13 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Oct 17, 2011 6:53:13 GMT -6 Here is another video through the finder. It's hard to judge the focus while looking at the laptop screen.

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Oct 17, 2011 6:55:41 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Oct 17, 2011 6:55:41 GMT -6 These two videos are from the ARES 5 for comparison. The jitter in this one is due to the wind.

Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe Administrator Administrator/Chief Astronomer Astronomer for: After School Matters - Chicago Park District - 606 Trail Posts: 7,623	Right Angle Finder Oct 17, 2011 7:04:15 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 17, 2011 7:04:15 GMT -6 Erik, This is very promising. I like the crisp detail the cam is getting. Try a eyepiece filter to knock off the over-exposed parts.
	Chicago Astronomer Joe Founder, Administrator and Chief Astronomer After School Matters Astronomy Instructor - Gallery 37 Resident Astronomer Chicago Park District Nature Oasis/Night Out in the Parks/ 606 Trail JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador Telescope/Observatory Docent Facilitator (RET) Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Feb 29, 2012 13:25:17 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Feb 29, 2012 13:25:17 GMT -6

I got a chance to mess around with the finder some more.

I switched the objective to one from a pair of 7x35 binoculars. The 50mm set up was going to be too heavy to use on the Ares 5 scope.

I also switched to using the tubing from the ridiculus 1.5x Balow/Erecting eyepiece that came with my 70mmx800mm refractor instead of the PVC.

The coolest part is that I found the correct spot to add a reticle! I made my own reticle using Inkscape and printing the design onto an overhead transparency film. It's not the best, but I really wanted something that I could use to estimate the field of view.

These pictures were taken afocally using a Canon Powershot 230 HS at different levels of zoom.

When I tried it outside and looked at the moon, it was just about the same size as the center circle. Base on that I am getting about a seven degree FOV.

I have to make a bracket for it so I can try it out on the 102 Mak.

patrickm God Posts: 1,621	Right Angle Finder Feb 29, 2012 18:35:18 GMT -6 via the ProBoards App Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by patrickm on Feb 29, 2012 18:35:18 GMT -6 MacGyver, I salute you, sir. You are rad.
	@pkmonaghan

-=CROMAN=- Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 683	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 6:10:04 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by -=CROMAN=- on Mar 1, 2012 6:10:04 GMT -6 Put a fricken laser on it - dr evil
	www.iskywatch.com @iskywatch

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 7:44:46 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 7:44:46 GMT -6

I have a laser, they don't help when locating things that aren't naked eye visible. When I make the bracket for the finder, I'll include a mount for the laser.

My plan is to put enough finders on the Mak so that it looks like the mini-me of Joe's C11. ;D

Paulie pchris00 God Posts: 2,131	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 15:07:16 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Paulie pchris00 on Mar 1, 2012 15:07:16 GMT -6 That's a huge FOV. Nice. The reason I don't have a laser attached as a finder is because I don't want the aliens to think I'm firing a weapon at them. I'd hate to see the laser they fire back at me.
	"Just a boy, just an ordinary boy, but he was looking to the sky." -Vanessa Carlton

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 15:12:00 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 15:12:00 GMT -6 Read Joe's other post. The aliens would think your laser was "Quaint". ;D

Paulie pchris00 God Posts: 2,131	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 15:15:32 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Paulie pchris00 on Mar 1, 2012 15:15:32 GMT -6 Just read. LMAO!
	"Just a boy, just an ordinary boy, but he was looking to the sky." -Vanessa Carlton

Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe Administrator Administrator/Chief Astronomer Astronomer for: After School Matters - Chicago Park District - 606 Trail Posts: 7,623	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 17:42:40 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Mar 1, 2012 17:42:40 GMT -6 Giggle.... #bow2#
	Chicago Astronomer Joe Founder, Administrator and Chief Astronomer After School Matters Astronomy Instructor - Gallery 37 Resident Astronomer Chicago Park District Nature Oasis/Night Out in the Parks/ 606 Trail JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador Telescope/Observatory Docent Facilitator (RET) Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 19:14:54 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 19:14:54 GMT -6 I should add that I am VERY careful with my GLP, especially at home because I am very close to DuPage Airport and I don't want have any unfortunate incidents.

erikruud Tenured Chicago Astronomer Posts: 538	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 19:50:43 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 19:50:43 GMT -6 Here are some pictures of the slimmed down finder.

Paulie pchris00 God Posts: 2,131	Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 21:27:26 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Paulie pchris00 on Mar 1, 2012 21:27:26 GMT -6 Very nice.
	"Just a boy, just an ordinary boy, but he was looking to the sky." -Vanessa Carlton

erikruud
Tenured Chicago Astronomer

Posts: 538

Right Angle Finder Mar 1, 2012 21:49:19 GMT -6

Quote

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 21:49:19 GMT -6

Tonight I used some scrap walnut to create a dovetail base for the finder. I have to decide what to use for the stalk. I also used some of the walnut to make a new dovetail rail for the Mak. The square piece of oak wasn't quite secure enough.

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Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 13:47:23 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 15:50:28 GMT -6

Post by RobbW on Oct 14, 2011 15:59:22 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 16:03:26 GMT -6

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 14, 2011 16:26:26 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 16:39:54 GMT -6

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 14, 2011 18:18:14 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 19:08:18 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 14, 2011 22:35:48 GMT -6

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 15, 2011 0:35:39 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 15, 2011 5:01:28 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 15, 2011 5:03:57 GMT -6

Post by Paulie pchris00 on Oct 15, 2011 7:28:44 GMT -6

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 15, 2011 9:49:54 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 15, 2011 16:37:25 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 17, 2011 6:53:13 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Oct 17, 2011 6:55:41 GMT -6

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 17, 2011 7:04:15 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Feb 29, 2012 13:25:17 GMT -6

Post by patrickm on Feb 29, 2012 18:35:18 GMT -6

Post by -=CROMAN=- on Mar 1, 2012 6:10:04 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 7:44:46 GMT -6

Post by Paulie pchris00 on Mar 1, 2012 15:07:16 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 15:12:00 GMT -6

Post by Paulie pchris00 on Mar 1, 2012 15:15:32 GMT -6

Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Mar 1, 2012 17:42:40 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 19:14:54 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 19:50:43 GMT -6

Post by Paulie pchris00 on Mar 1, 2012 21:27:26 GMT -6

Post by erikruud on Mar 1, 2012 21:49:19 GMT -6