Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on May 18, 2004 12:31:11 GMT -6
Fellow Chicago Astronomers...
I use a Meade - Polaris 4.5" Newtonian reflector with a homemade 50mm finder scope riding piggyback. In my arsenal I have a few 60mm refractors that offer pretty good views. From time to time, I attach a 60mm to the tube of the 4.5", but it makes it a bit cumbersome.
The telescope and tripod fits snugly in a hard shelled military-like vertical trunk as one unit. I attached wheels, padding, pockets, weather gauges and a small weather radio. The whole assembly fit's comfortably in the back seat of my 1968 Chevelle.
Various eyepieces ranging from 25mm to 4mm are used throughout an observational session. Also in use are 10X and 7X wide field binocular eyepieces salvaged and retrofitted for use. Excellent performance, and better than the stock eyepieces that came with the 4.5"! I have a 2X Barlow, a zoom Barlow, various filters and camera adapter. I have used a digital camera with the 4.5" and binoculars with good success.
Handy are my 10X50 Bauch binoculars with a wide-field and optional tripod stand - (Shaky hands in cold weather... not good!) They are good for sweeping the skies and locating various objects before using the telescope. Smaller 7X20 bino's and a monocular are pressed into service when desired.
I make use of a small fold up movie reflector screen that sits on top of the telescope case for safe projected solar observations. In this way, many can view the sun's surface at the same time, as opposed to the one person-one view of direct observation. And besides, I am cautious about the public viewing the sun thru the eyepiece. Galileo did it...and went blind!
Usually I set up by the Adler Planetarium as the locale is rich with people interested in astronomy. They often stop by my set-up to take a peek thru the telescope and discuss astronomy. That is how I have had the pleasure in meeting most of you. Views of the Moon, the rings Saturn and Moons of Jupiter have impressed most people. When Mars maddness was the rage in 2003, I had people waiting in lines for over an hour to grab a 20 second peek! A week later, they could have sauntered up to the eyepiece and seen vitually the same Mars image at their leisure. I don't have a regular schedule when I do set-up, that's controlled by weather, time and motivation. I do appreciate those of you who have taken the time to meet up with me by the lake and shared an observation session.
The 4.5" serves me well, as it is rather easy to transport and quick to set-up, but in astronomy...bigger is always better. A 10" to 14" inch reflector is on my wish list, but there are bills to pay and gallons of gasoline to burn.
In discussions with many of the readers of the Chicago Astronomer Newsletter, I know that some of you have telescopes new and old.
Now...Tell us a bit of what you have.
Joe
[glow=blue,4,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]
I use a Meade - Polaris 4.5" Newtonian reflector with a homemade 50mm finder scope riding piggyback. In my arsenal I have a few 60mm refractors that offer pretty good views. From time to time, I attach a 60mm to the tube of the 4.5", but it makes it a bit cumbersome.
The telescope and tripod fits snugly in a hard shelled military-like vertical trunk as one unit. I attached wheels, padding, pockets, weather gauges and a small weather radio. The whole assembly fit's comfortably in the back seat of my 1968 Chevelle.
Various eyepieces ranging from 25mm to 4mm are used throughout an observational session. Also in use are 10X and 7X wide field binocular eyepieces salvaged and retrofitted for use. Excellent performance, and better than the stock eyepieces that came with the 4.5"! I have a 2X Barlow, a zoom Barlow, various filters and camera adapter. I have used a digital camera with the 4.5" and binoculars with good success.
Handy are my 10X50 Bauch binoculars with a wide-field and optional tripod stand - (Shaky hands in cold weather... not good!) They are good for sweeping the skies and locating various objects before using the telescope. Smaller 7X20 bino's and a monocular are pressed into service when desired.
I make use of a small fold up movie reflector screen that sits on top of the telescope case for safe projected solar observations. In this way, many can view the sun's surface at the same time, as opposed to the one person-one view of direct observation. And besides, I am cautious about the public viewing the sun thru the eyepiece. Galileo did it...and went blind!
Usually I set up by the Adler Planetarium as the locale is rich with people interested in astronomy. They often stop by my set-up to take a peek thru the telescope and discuss astronomy. That is how I have had the pleasure in meeting most of you. Views of the Moon, the rings Saturn and Moons of Jupiter have impressed most people. When Mars maddness was the rage in 2003, I had people waiting in lines for over an hour to grab a 20 second peek! A week later, they could have sauntered up to the eyepiece and seen vitually the same Mars image at their leisure. I don't have a regular schedule when I do set-up, that's controlled by weather, time and motivation. I do appreciate those of you who have taken the time to meet up with me by the lake and shared an observation session.
The 4.5" serves me well, as it is rather easy to transport and quick to set-up, but in astronomy...bigger is always better. A 10" to 14" inch reflector is on my wish list, but there are bills to pay and gallons of gasoline to burn.
In discussions with many of the readers of the Chicago Astronomer Newsletter, I know that some of you have telescopes new and old.
Now...Tell us a bit of what you have.
Joe
[glow=blue,4,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]
