Macavity

Not a lot new from NASA? But there is the "anomaly" in the light curve?!? https://phys.org/news/2018-12-horizons-scientists-puzzled-lack-kuiper.html And it will be going significantly closer in than the previous "safer" distance. https://phys.org/news/2018-12-horizons-spacecraft-ultima-thule.html Just noted that should the (US) Govt. shutdown continue(?) there will be no NASA TV, but live coverage will be available on: John Hopkins APL Youtube. See pluto.jhuapl.edu for (not secure?) link? ?

Yes, sorry to muddy the waters on that one. Relative simplicity of ED doublets, knowledge of my limitations (+price!), a clincher re. my small non-Achromats. ?

If the plastic pins don't (quite) match the Vero-Holes, I "drill out" the nearest vero holes to fit them? If that doesn't look promising, I snip off the plastic pins from socket, enlarge for, and SOLDER the solder pins. Add a bit of (Super?) Glue to available flat surfaces on socket/board... ?

Quite strange... Looks almost like a crossed thread. But I'm reminded of the "no-meddle" rule, which I should often have observed in the past! ? I found real interest in articles re. "fixing" Apochromatic (Triplet) cells! Optical bench + Genuine Expertise - Both fascinating & terrifying? NOT one for the uninitiated though! On the plus side, the lens elements did seemed capable of significantly better things... One lives in hope etc. ?

Well, the first set I bought turned out well. I need a (slightly different) second set to do the precise job I want. A small amount of "judicious bending" too. But I see that as product versatility! Quite why they have to "dome" ONE fence post face? But... ?

Random wibble: I'm often wary re. *substantial* (weight) scopes on "side-mounted" alt-azimuth dovetail clamps. Many here may well be stronger than I (lol!), but there seems to be a specific "cringe moment" while ensuring the scope is firmly located in the jaws of the clamp before screwing it home! Me? I use a dovetail etc. "handle"... screwed to the other side of the scope rings for safety. Averted "disaster" once! ? Aside: Although initially disconcerting, one gets used to the "Bobdignagian" Astro World! But my question is often: "How much does it weigh"? Not always stated. ?

My OLD SKOOL used to have a *Railway*! (Didn't everyone's back then?) ? "Post Pubescent Boys" (TM) of ALL ages did stuff like that... Considerably extended after I left? Ironically (talking concrete) the school (background) was totally demolished after a mere 20(?) years! It was discovered it had "Concrete Cancer" (sorry 'bout that) apparently... How things do change! ?

I was itching to ask... But that is so COOL! ?

Any traffic on the cul-de-sac road looks directly into my obsy door. So recently upgraded / raised the screening fence in front of it! ? During the (otherwise painless - I got The Builders in!) process, I broke my little Weather Station (Snapped anemometer cup)! ? The new fence now has Concrete Posts, rather than wood posts, but I am rather WARY of drilling into them to attach my Weather Station mast? It is only lightweight, but *concrete posts* seem a notorious for cracking... have internal reinforcing bar/wire etc. ? Aside: My neighbour used twin-thread "concrete masonry bolts" to hang heavy gates. Despite his confidence... the post cracked! Then I came across: http://www.postfix.f9.co.uk/ (Some available on Amazon etc.) Won't hold TONS of weight? But a few could come in handy for solving these annoying little "How To" DIY conundrums? Not yet ordered... Various configurations... But have Hopes! ?

I sense the colour does make quite a difference. For aesthetics, I paint most things (observatory, fences etc.) Dark Brown... And they all warp quite a bit? The observatory is like a "greenhouse" these days! Thinking of cladding the sun-side with something that is rather less absorptive / more reflective? ?

One positive thing I have learned is... It is possible to get GREAT results with (Lunt) solar scopes... But it CAN take a *long* time to get to this... ? I suppose we pay for being at the (b)leading edge of technology etc. etc. After a significant time spent sweating under the SUN... "clocking" stuff etc. I felt myself crying for "straight-thru" (non-diagonal) Lunt scope! lol Getting "optical alignment right" is crucial? Not claiming any expertise... Just saying don't "give up"! Solar Astronomy is (quite) FUN & dynamic! Lunts can be upgraded (Frankenscopes) with due attention to safety... I concede that the best images I have seen are Quark + (ED) 120 etc. ?

Hmmm... Mine (Lunt 50) is alright. (I hate it when people say that! lol) ? The little dab of "glue" has shrunk away from the filter housing but... I do find myself (occasionally) wondering WHY such things happen? Why are these things (plastic or glass) somehow hygroscopic(!)?!?!? Amused that the more intrepid give them a "quick polish" on their pants... like some fast bowler trying to encourage reverse swing! lol ? N.B. Removed small surface spot on mine using my usual technique. But NOT recommending any of above (or "my own way") to anyone! ?

Well, I wasn't exclusively considering "many hours" of classical (night time) imaging. But I have struggled to get even ONE minute gaps in the clouds for SOLAR imaging... P.S. In similar whimsy, I have to admit I haven't yet tried *Radio Astronomy* -- But!

Take up Astro IMAGING of some kind... Multiply the brief time of frenetic outdoor activity by an order of magnitude, endlessly processing & reprocessing the data? Get into modifying & customising stuff, you're rarely at a loose end from then on! (You may NEVER get to actually try out the result, but why worry about details?) But there are so many different AREAS of Astronomy to try out... Try something you *don't* think you'll like? You don't have to be an expert! Later, who knows?

I seem to remember the slightly more WITTY version? As ever, I tend to do a bit of a "background check" ... The top domain of this web link is: http://www.chuckhawks.com/ Hey, "I'm saying nothing"! lol. [teasing]! But seriously, I often find that people who are "outspoken" on ONE issue tend to be so on QUITE a few others as well? We live in interesting times. But I don't always have to agree with someone (in other areas) and it is possible for such to make a useful contribution to debate? <ducking> The Web allows us to surround ourselves with (only) the like minded? (Reading & commenting does not necessarily make one an "apologist")

NOW they tell me! Just bought this. But occasional "polemics" can have a point? I see no harm in "tweaking the tail" of the more... sectarian (of ANY "side"!). FWIW, I have chosen the above to be part of a Solar "Frankenscope". From my own experiments, the *simplicity* of a lens-based system (over a "CAT") may give rise to fewer potential problems of internal reflections... Probably! On the other hand, my refractor (telescope) purchases are unlikely to "excite" those on (as someone once said) a more "open ended" budget. [teasing]

Thanks Garry, that's some really useful information / confirmation here!

So that's the view of the sharp end of a Lunt80?! (I don't frequent these parts!) Despite the reflection teasing me (lol), do I see letters "ED" by any chance? I too have asked the question whether an ED doublet would be "better" than (even a FAST f/5) Acromat. But no one ever answers! lol Like @Stu I'm pretty certain... E.g. if I stop my ST120 down to f/7 it won't be "great" in the FAR Red spectrum. I also believe in more general "better build quality" arguments re. ED APOs too! I did TRY comparative measurements with WL + NB (HA, O3, CaK!) filters and it seemed to confirm that idea. But then, as ever, "clouds got in my way"... [JM] To echo the above, I suspect adapting a slower (f/10+) Achromat is reasonable. I won't show the ST120 Frankenscope here, because it's on test and until it's both proven optically *AND* mechanically, I won't be using it visually! Although I have a 90mm ERF + my Lunt50 Etalon, I want to TRY the established ED80 doublet. It's always good to find out what the "opposition" (VIS/IMG) are doing anyway!

Oops! ("Good old" Google... Or even Yahoo News to the rescue) https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-reschedules-soyuz-launch-failure-blast-off-101640554.html (Anyway)

And, of course, it's also "telecentric" too? But came across this image: The back-focus of a Canon lens is about 40mm (IIRC!) so maybe it is a better clue than an "unknown" telescope? "I'm out" as they say on Dragon's Den. lol. But I hope you find a solution that works for you.

To a first approximation, once you have a working setup optically (visually), take a steel ruler or tape and measure the *optical path* as best you can. It's never easy to "get the right adapters" (at first go?) but it is possible...

Is it not possible to place a Quark *inline* with the telescope (perhaps after added extension tubes) and then introduce the diagonal / eyepiece after it [the Quark]? Looking at a weighty (and expensive!) optical "edifice" at right angles to the scope reminds me of past experiences of things hitting the deck... In fact, rather like this... Image of Sky Scout "dedicated Solar scope" (incorporating Quark)! P.S. See also: http://astronomynow.com/reviews/daystar_quark/tablet/index.html for a discussion of the possibilities...

While "researching" (lol) my Comedy Thread, I was reminded of one early childhood Laugh: Will Hay in "Oh Mr. Porter!". As Sir Patrick reminded us, a noteworthy Amateur Astronomer (Discoverer of a "White Spot on Saturn" way back in 1933!) A sucker for anything featuring *Historic Telescopes* me... Nowt to do with me! The Credits within the Youtube Video.

I finally understand now! (Long years of "wondering about such things" are now resolved)

Recalling days when folks used to build (tuned) *fireplace* chimney Horns?! I have to admit I have never understood how anything beyond "Class B" (push-pull) can successfully reproduce a *whole* audio SINE wave, but... Have fun with the Organ Music! If you haven't already bought/considered it: Widor's Toccatta and Fugue in F should "Blow the dust out" of things!