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I wanted to let everyone know about my flickr account.   The images for this site are there now.   There are images there that don't make the site.   So please check out the flicker pages to expand on what is on the site.   Though check the site out to get in depth details on the images. 
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Scope issues PDF Print E-mail
Written by DeadGekko   
Saturday, 13 June 2009 21:37

Well I figured out tonight what was up with my scope.  I pinched my main mirror when I put the mirror back in the holder.  I had collimated it correctly twice.  After searching the net by images I found some that looked like what I was seeing.  This lead to the explanation of pinched optics.  I've read many articles on cleaning a mirror and collimating.  I don't remember anything warning about pinched optics.  This seems a great oversight.  So here is my warning, be careful about how tight you fasten down your primary.  I don't have any images to show.  Though I can say that the heart shaped out of focus image  is the tell tail sign. 

This site has a great collimation how to and includes an image of pinched optics.  Wish me better luck next time.   Hopefully tomorrow I'll get everything right.
Last Updated on Sunday, 14 June 2009 00:07
 
Second Astronomical Society Meeting PDF Print E-mail
Written by DeadGekko   
Friday, 12 June 2009 23:56

We had the second meeting of our new club.  It was a good meeting.  I showed off the charts and books I have.  Also we caught a little break in the clouds and tried to see some sites.  Well that didn't turn out so great.  I had collimated my scope after cleaning.  Seems I did a terrible job of it. 

When we got it outside I did a star test and it was way off.   Seems the secondary is out of whack.  I have to find a better way to collimate inside during the day.  I don't have a laser collimator so have to do a better job with the chessire I have.  Here is a link to a great place to explain collimation.

 

The next meeting we should have a new scope to check out and mine will be in new conditon too.

Last Updated on Saturday, 13 June 2009 11:14
 
Catch up PDF Print E-mail
Written by DeadGekko   
Friday, 12 June 2009 00:20
Well, I have had an astronomy thing for a while.  My parents got me a eBay scope back before 2003.  I tuned and tweaked that till I got my 10" dob for mars in 2003.  I have pretty decent notes of observations up till 2006.  I've observed since but not as seriously due to work.  Well that is now going to change.  I spent 3 hours cleaning my scope the other night.  Now we are getting a astronomy club started.  Ill be updating these pages for the astronomy club and astronomy it's self.  The weather page has some info for observing.  I hope to add some widgets to this page also.
Last Updated on Friday, 12 June 2009 00:31