|
Re: M57 and Bright Moon
Jason Tackett
Well done! I really like the contrast in this image.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Jason
--- In backbayastro@..., "uwicb" <ian@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Rays of Tycho
preciousmyprecious
Best I can do are the maria. Especially last night. Carpe Noctem Bill McLean
From: nranderson_deepskyobserver To: backbayastro@... Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 8:31 PM Subject: [backbayastro] Rays of Tycho Months ago I had read that the lunar rays of Tycho can actually be seen with the unaided eye by observers with acute eyesight. Has anyone in the club attempted/done this before? It sounds like a fun long-term challenge and we have a supermoon this month. Anyone have any other naked eye lunar feats they've accomplished?
-Nick Anderson
|
|
|
|
Rays of Tycho
Nick Anderson
Months ago I had read that the lunar rays of Tycho can actually be seen with the unaided eye by observers with acute eyesight. Has anyone in the club attempted/done this before? It sounds like a fun long-term challenge and we have a supermoon this month. Anyone have any other naked eye lunar feats they've accomplished?
-Nick Anderson
|
|
|
|
Re: Annual BBAA Picnic in JULY
Jim Tallman
And Kent...I'd prefer your first choice :)
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Jim
--- In backbayastro@..., "UsnRet2001" <jctallman@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Annual BBAA Picnic in JULY
Jim Tallman
All,
The annual BBAA Picnic is 21 July, which is a Sunday and will be at the large pavilion at Northwest River Park. I'd like to get a good head could of who will be coming so we can plan for the food we need to pick-up. Please visit the BBAA Group Database area and sign up. Here is the link to get there. Make sure you copy the entire link. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/backbayastro/database?method=reportRows&tbl=870 You can also get to the database via the yahoo group by selecting "Database" at the left and open the link for the 2013 Picnic. Please sign up even if you are not sure. Thanks Jim Tallman
|
|
|
|
M57 and Bright Moon
uwicb
Here's a shot of M57 done with a 7nm Ha filter last night under nearly a full moon. Central star doesn't show up I guess because the star is basically exhausted and just a hot dwarf. Did I mention I love narrowband!
Cheers Ian http://ianstewart.zenfolio.com/p59901274/h68e0461d#h68e0461d
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
Has anyone brought up Ted Forte's instructions in the Database yet.
Has worked for me from day one as Mother Nature messed it up soon after I took ownership of the 12.5" Dob in Chiefland, FL. Mirrors over 10" are hard to handle and immersion can be hazardous. But laying it level after first rinsing it off with 'a garden hose' while vertical and then laying flat on towels, pooling your distilled water with one drop of Dawn in one liter on the upright mirror surface - keep wet and repeat, repeat...........Drag clean wet cotton balls thru areas of tough spots (do not push - drag wet cotton while soap solution is pooled), almost floating the cotton ball across (NO rubbing permitted). The elevate mirror tilted on towels at about 30-45 degrees and rinse with fresh distilled water repeatedly (get two liters). Brick patio and side of house with thick bath towels works great. Watch out for the sun's reflection!!! Wick remaining droplets off with clean J&J medical grade cotton balls - never use same side twice. Reserve 90+% medical grade propanol or ethanol for severe spots and wet a cotton ball with the alcohol and let it sit on dirty spot for a few minutes. Rinse again and let air dry with occasional cotton ball wicking. Yes its all scary................but it works! I have washed three times in 6 years. Now you can breath! Doc Bruce
|
|
|
|
nice graphic comparing
preciousmyprecious
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
gerlach.mark
With all due respect to the knowledge and experience of Mark Ost:
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
If you are sure it is just dust, air is fine. If there is a chance that the stuff on the mirror is pollen, I would strongly recommend against compressed air. Pollen is sticky and often has tiny sharp points. The effect would be like sandblasting your mirror. /\\ark 2
--- In backbayastro@..., Mark Ost <jimcoble2000@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
George Reynolds
Yeah, salt-laden air and sand from the oceanfront are bad on optics, and should be cleaned off. George George Reynolds "Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA) http://www.backbayastro.org
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
Roy Ehmke
Actually, I'm looking forward to a mirror and optics cleaning workshop. This could be really useful. ~Roy Ehmke
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
jimcoble2000
you won't see any difference unless it is really cruddy
From: LeighAnne <lalagoe@...> To: backbayastro@... Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 12:59 PM Subject: [backbayastro] Re: Swiffer my primary mirror I've had my telescope for less than 3 years. Today, I noticed some specks of dust/dirt on it and got very concerned that I'd have to take it apart. I haven't noticed a difference in optics at all (but haven't been using it for the past several months either).
Good to know I can just let it go for a while. I do keep the cover on it at all times. I guess it's not as bad as I originally thought it was. I'm glad I asked first before taking it apart. Thanks everyone! :)
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
jimcoble2000
I soft camel hair brush will also work fine after the air
From: LeighAnne <lalagoe@...> To: backbayastro@... Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 11:08 AM Subject: [backbayastro] Swiffer my primary mirror Is there a quick and easy way to dust off the primary mirror?
The instructions for my Orion XT8 classic dob tell me to remove the primary mirror and soak it soapy water and alcohol and wipe clean with cotton balls. Sounds like too opportunities to screw up, scratch and/or drop my mirror. I'm scared. Isn't there a Swiffer for primary mirrors? HA!
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
jimcoble2000
The best way is with compressed air. Now if it requires cleaning that is something different. Not hard but if ti comes to that I can tell you how to do it more or less easily.
From: LeighAnne To: backbayastro@... Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 11:08 AM Subject: [backbayastro] Swiffer my primary mirror Is there a quick and easy way to dust off the primary mirror?
The instructions for my Orion XT8 classic dob tell me to remove the primary mirror and soak it soapy water and alcohol and wipe clean with cotton balls. Sounds like too opportunities to screw up, scratch and/or drop my mirror. I'm scared. Isn't there a Swiffer for primary mirrors? HA!
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
Nick Anderson
Oh gee...now that's a somewhat controversial question in the amateur astronomer community! Around the time when I joined the BBAA this was one of my first questions to this forum, and I learned that there are incredibly varied opinions. While your Orion telescope manual specifically recommends cleaning your mirror once a year, it's nothing absolute. In my case, my first 3 months observing the Messier objects primarily from Sandbridge took an immense toll on my primary. In that short amount of time (although it's true I was averaging around an obsessive 15 observations a month that summer) the saltwater in the air over time managed to form a film on the primary, which fogged up the optics. Since then I've been a lot more careful about my scope and I think I've only cleaned the mirror again once. Dust alone is not something to be worried about! You should be fine for a while.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
-Nick Anderson
--- In backbayastro@..., "LeighAnne" <lalagoe@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
George Reynolds
Paul wrote: "maybe we could even turn it into a workshop where everyone could learn the proper way to clean a mirror." That sounds like a good idea! If we can schedule such a workshop, I'll volunteer to bring my scope for the demo. (That's "demo" for "demonstration", not "demolition", as they use the term on HGTV.) George George Reynolds "Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA) http://www.backbayastro.org
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
George Reynolds
That's right, Leigh Anne. There is no need to clean your mirror routinely. Only if it gets so dirty or spotted that it is interfering with the views at night should you attempt to wash it. Bill is right. I have had my 10-inch Dob for 8 or 9 years and have yet to clean the mirror. One of these days I'll get around to it. George George Reynolds "Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA) http://www.backbayastro.org
|
|
|
|
Boardwalk Astronomy
I will be there between 7-7:30 PM Thursday.
Kent Blackwell
|
|
|
|
Re: BoardWalk, 6/18/2013, 5:30 pm
gerlach.mark
I will be there. Save me a parking space.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Fair Warning: I am bringing the twins! We will have only their 6" scope; not enough room in the Camry for mine, too. If I could get a parking spot on th BW for my van, I could set up 2 or 3 scopes. /\\2
--- In backbayastro@..., "Stargazer" <vbstargazer@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Swiffer my primary mirror
preciousmyprecious
Jim, I think we have the beginnings of a dirty mirror contest or AL program. Carpe Noctem Bill McLean
From: Jim Tallman To: backbayastro@... Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 1:37 PM Subject: RE: [backbayastro] Swiffer my primary mirror Actually I think Courtney is the winner for dirtiest mirror. Jim From: backbayastro@... [mailto:backbayastro@...] On Behalf Of William McLean Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 12:32 PM To: backbayastro@... Subject: Re: [backbayastro] Swiffer my primary mirror That is good!-Isn't there a Swiffer for primary mirrors? HA! Unless it's real bad I can't tell a clean from a dirty by use. George has the dirtiest mirror in the club and I defy anyone to see a difference, on the same object- side by side with a clean mirror scope. Carpe Noctem Bill McLean From: LeighAnne <lalagoe@...> To: backbayastro@... Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 11:08 AM Subject: [backbayastro] Swiffer my primary mirror Is there a quick and easy way to dust off the primary mirror? The instructions for my Orion XT8 classic dob tell me to remove the primary mirror and soak it soapy water and alcohol and wipe clean with cotton balls. Sounds like too opportunities to screw up, scratch and/or drop my mirror. I'm scared. Isn't there a Swiffer for primary mirrors? HA!
|
|
|