magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today
magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today
magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today
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ASTRONOMY<br />
TECHNOLOGY TODAY<br />
Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment<br />
CELESTRON SKYPRODIGY AT CES • TMB-92L SIGNATURE SERIES • A 3D CAD PRIMER<br />
AG OPTICAL SYSTEMS 18-INCH NEWTONIAN ASTROGRAPH • ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
THE “HOME DEPOT” SCOPE • PROTOSTAR’S NEW FLOCKING BOARD • IS YOUR OBSERVATORY ON VIDEO<br />
A Pleasing Visual and<br />
Imaging Performer!<br />
Volume 5 • Issue 1<br />
Jan. - Feb. 2011 $5.00 US
We Stock More<br />
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Different<br />
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& Accessories!<br />
Spring is Around the<br />
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Factory direct, Used and New (FUN)!<br />
Scores of New and Used Scopes,<br />
Optics, Parts and Hard to Find Items!<br />
Below are Just a Few of the 100’s of<br />
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• Nikon 80mm F/15 Refractor on Original<br />
EQ Mount. Excellent Condition! $2,000<br />
• Carl Zeiss Jena Binoctem, 7x50,<br />
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• Oculus Hoya, 12x50, Rare to See<br />
the Hoya Glass Maker Name on its<br />
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• Zeiss Telemator 1990s 63mm, F/13.3<br />
Refractor Made in Jena Germany. T-M<br />
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• Kalimar 60mm Refractor, Antique<br />
Made in Japan by Nihon Seiko (maker<br />
of Unitron) in the 1950s. Excellent<br />
Condition! $200<br />
• 6.5" Aero Tesser by Pacific Optical.<br />
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• In-House Testing<br />
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Zeiss, Meade, Celestron, Takahashi, Stellarvue, Vixen, Lumicon, Denkmeier,<br />
Vernonscope, Lunt, GTO, Thousand Oaks, JMI, Pentax, Sky Instruments, Proxima,<br />
Skywatcher, Coronado, Orion, Explore Scientific, Farpoint Labs and Many More!
Contents<br />
Cover Story: Pages 35 - 38<br />
Shown on the cover is the William Optics Megrez 120-mm Refractor reviewed<br />
by Dr. James Dire who used the scope to produce the cover image of the double<br />
cluster in Perseus. The image demonstrates stars with colors across most of the<br />
visible spectrum and shows the imaging capabilities of the scope with stars that<br />
are perfectly round across the entire field of view,<br />
with many blue, yellow and red stars scattered<br />
throughout the image. Dr. Dire used an SBIG<br />
ST-2000XCM single-shot color camera with the<br />
onboard guide chip which eliminated the need for<br />
a guide scope. The exposure time was 10-minutes.<br />
Dr. Dire reports that the transparency that night<br />
was excellent, but the seeing was no better then<br />
than 3 arcsec. To shorten exposure times, he used<br />
a William Optics adjustable focal reducer set at<br />
0.75 which resulted in an effective 675-mm focal<br />
length at f/5.6.<br />
In This Issue<br />
12 Editor’s Note<br />
The Best Telescope<br />
By Gary Parkerson<br />
35 The William Optics Megrez<br />
120-mm Refractor<br />
A Pleasing Visual and Imaging<br />
Performer!<br />
By James R. Dire, Ph.D.<br />
39 Celestron SkyProdigy Stands Out<br />
at International Computer<br />
Electronics Show<br />
The Beauty of a SkyProdigy<br />
Telescope, in My Opinion, is that it<br />
Takes Another Giant Whack at<br />
Opening Up the Hobby of <strong>Astronomy</strong><br />
to the Public at Large by Lowering<br />
the Intimidation Factor<br />
By Penny Distasio<br />
41 Field Testing the TMB-92L<br />
Signature Series<br />
A True Gem of an Apo!<br />
By Klaus Brasch<br />
45 AG Optical Systems 18-Inch<br />
Newtonian Astrograph<br />
I Was Sorry to See the Telescope<br />
Leave My Observatory!<br />
By Mark Manner<br />
In This Issue<br />
49 Astro-Tech 8-Inch Imaging Newtonian<br />
All in All, I Judge the AT8IN a Winner<br />
– Especially at its Price Point!<br />
By Rick Saunders<br />
57 A 3D CAD Primer<br />
From Papyrus to 3D Animation – A<br />
Boon for ATM Enthusiasts!<br />
By Art Bianconi<br />
63 The “Home Depot” Scope<br />
Keeping it Simple!<br />
By Jack Fenimore<br />
67 To Build a Better Light Trap:<br />
Protostar’s New FlockBoard<br />
Great News for Amateur Telescope<br />
Makers and, Perhaps Especially,<br />
Owners of Poorly-Flocked<br />
Commercial Newtonians!<br />
By Doug Reilly<br />
72 Astro Tips, Tricks & Novel Solutions<br />
Is Your Observatory on Video<br />
By Wayne Parker<br />
Industry News<br />
15 VAN SLYKE INSTRUMENTS<br />
Rummaging Through Pack Rat<br />
Paul’s List<br />
15 SKYSHED OBSERVATORIES<br />
Releases 3D CAD Images of POD MAX<br />
16 ENTHUSIASTS’ EFFORTS TO<br />
BRING TO FRUITION AN<br />
11-YEAR-OLD’S DREAM<br />
Efforts to Help Deployed Soldier’s Son<br />
Attend NEAF<br />
17 ISTAR OPTICAL<br />
New Company Introduces Exotic<br />
Offerings<br />
18 LUNÁTICO ASTRONOMÍA<br />
New How-to Video, Driver Release,<br />
and Observatory Control Box<br />
19 PRECISE PARTS<br />
Offers Online Build-An-Adapter Service<br />
20 STARIZONA<br />
Adds HyperStar 3 Lens for Celestron<br />
9.25 Edge HD<br />
21 SIERRA STARS OBSERVATORY<br />
NETWORK<br />
Partners with Mt. Lemmon Sky Center<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 9
Contributing Writers<br />
Art Bianconi’s first experience of Saturn was when he was 5. According to Art he said<br />
“Daddy! It has RINGS! Mom says I got so excited and yelled so loud that 2 NYC cops came<br />
running!” All these decades later, when it comes to telescopes he’s still a kid and just as<br />
excited. Art lives in rural New Jersey in the Delaware River Valley. He’s a successful<br />
Mechanical Designer in a variety of engineering disciplines from composite aircraft to fusion<br />
reactors.<br />
Klaus Brasch, Ph.D., is a retired biology professor living in Arizona. Getting hooked on<br />
astronomy as a teenager through the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the A.L.P.O.,<br />
he took his first grainy moon pictures in 1957 and has pursued astrophotography ever since.<br />
He has been widely published in books and magazines, and translated Urban <strong>Astronomy</strong>,<br />
Great Observatories of the World and New Atlas of the Moon from French into English. Klaus<br />
frequently lectures on topics ranging from astro-imaging to life in the universe to students,<br />
clubs and the public.<br />
Dr. James Dire has an M.S. degree in physics from the University of Central Florida and M.A.and Ph.D.<br />
degrees from The Johns Hopkins University, both in planetary science. He has been and a professor of physics<br />
and astronomy at several colleges and universities. Currently he is the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs<br />
at Kauai Community College in Hawaii. He has played a key role in several observatory projects including the<br />
Powell Observatory in Louisburg, KS, which houses a 30-inch (0.75-m) Newtonian; the Naval Academy<br />
observatory with an 8-inch (0.20-m) Alvin Clark refractor; and he built the Coast Guard Academy Astronomical<br />
Observatory in Stonington, CT, which houses a 20-inch (0.51-m) Ritchey–Chrétien Cassegrain telescope.<br />
Penny Distasio has worked for Meade Instruments as a dealer support rep, and even did a<br />
stint at the McDonald Observatory Visitor's Center in Fort Davis, Texas, but her main connection<br />
in the world of astronomy continues to be Oceanside Photo & Telescope, where she has<br />
worked for the past twenty two years.<br />
Contents<br />
New Products<br />
22 SCOPESTUFF<br />
NewStuff from ScopeStuff<br />
25 JMI TELESCOPES<br />
Announces New RBX Reverse<br />
Binocular Telescopes and<br />
MicroFocus Dual-Speed Focus Knob<br />
for SCTs<br />
26 ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS<br />
Several New Offerings<br />
Jack Fenimore is a retired Air Force pilot whose assignments included arctic operations<br />
and combat rescue. He served as Adjutant General of the State of New York, and consultant<br />
to the Defense Science Board. <strong>Astronomy</strong> has been his favorite pastime since elementary<br />
school in Albany, NY.<br />
Mark Manner’s interest in astronomy started at age 11 when his father showed him the<br />
moon in a surveyor's transit. As he got older, he was primarily interested in cosmology. As<br />
computers, mounts and optics improved, he became very interested in CCD imaging. He<br />
now images with a 16-inch RC and a 6-inch apochromat on most clear nights. He also works<br />
with several schools in their astronomy programs.<br />
30 INCANUS LTD<br />
Introduces Astro Photography Tool<br />
31 MALLINCAM<br />
Introduces the MallinCam Xtreme<br />
Wayne Parker and his wife Lorelei are the owners of SkyShed Observatories. They both are<br />
avid observers and spend as much time as possible doing so when not filling orders for<br />
PODS. Wayne is also well known as a rock musician with the band Glass Tiger which had<br />
several hits in the 1980’s and still remains one of the most popular bands today in his home<br />
country of Canada.<br />
Doug Riley has 10 years of observational astronomy experience with a number of telescopes,<br />
all of which have passed over his workbench for tweaking and improvement. Doug enjoys<br />
public outreach activities and keeps a blog about outreach and other issues relevant to observational<br />
(amateur) astronomers at punkastronomy.com<br />
Rick Saunders an amateur astronomer, inveterate tinkerer and member of the Royal<br />
Astronomical Society of Canada, London Centre. His passion is DSLR imaging and on<br />
cloudy nights he spends his time designing and building equipment to help further that passion.<br />
32 MAGNILUX<br />
MX-1 Telescope Adapter for Apple<br />
iPhone<br />
32 FARPOINT ASTRONOMICAL<br />
RESEARCH<br />
Introduces New V-Series Saddler<br />
10 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
The Supporting<br />
CAST<br />
The Companies And<br />
Organizations That<br />
Have Made Our<br />
Magazine Possible!<br />
We wish to thank our advertisers without<br />
whom this magazine would not be possible.<br />
When making a decision on your next<br />
purchase, we encourage you to consider<br />
these advertisers’ commitment to you by<br />
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<strong>Astronomy</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Today</strong>.<br />
Apogee Instruments<br />
www.ccd.com<br />
page 6<br />
Astro Hutech<br />
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page 28, 76<br />
Astronomik<br />
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page 64<br />
Astro Physics<br />
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AstroSystems<br />
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Astrozap<br />
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ATIK USA<br />
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Bobs Knobs<br />
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Camera Concepts<br />
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Catseye Collimation<br />
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page 52<br />
Celestron<br />
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page 34, 50<br />
Ceravolo<br />
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page 20, 78<br />
Chronos<br />
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page 69<br />
Dark Skies Apparel<br />
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page 26<br />
Explore Scientific<br />
www.explorescientific.com<br />
page 44, 74<br />
Farpoint Astronomical Research<br />
www.farpointastro.com<br />
page 51<br />
Finger Lakes Instrumentation<br />
www.flicamera.com<br />
page 75<br />
Foster Systems<br />
www.fostersystems.com<br />
page 27<br />
Garrett Optical<br />
www.garrettoptical.com<br />
page 31<br />
Glatter Collimation<br />
www.collimator.com<br />
page 30<br />
Great Red Spot <strong>Astronomy</strong><br />
www.greatredspot.com<br />
page 54<br />
Hands On Optics<br />
www.handsonoptics.com<br />
page 5<br />
iOptron<br />
www.ioptron.com<br />
page 7<br />
ISTAR Optical<br />
www.istar-optical.com<br />
page 18<br />
Jack’s Astro Accessories<br />
www.waningmoonii.com<br />
page 29<br />
JMI Telescopes<br />
www.jmitelescopes.com<br />
page 14<br />
Knightware<br />
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page 18<br />
Lumicon<br />
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page 16<br />
Lunatico Astronomia<br />
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page 70<br />
Magnilux<br />
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page 36<br />
Mathis Instruments<br />
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page 53<br />
Meridian Telescopes<br />
www.meridiantelescopes.com<br />
page 55<br />
Obsession Telescopes<br />
www.obsessiontelescopes.com<br />
page 66<br />
Oceanside Photo and Telescope<br />
www.optcorp.com<br />
page 40, 58<br />
Officina Stellare<br />
wwwofficinastellare.com<br />
page 46<br />
Optec<br />
www.optecinc.com<br />
page 65<br />
Optical Mechanics<br />
www.opticalmechanics.com<br />
page 30<br />
Optical Supports<br />
www.opticalsupports.com<br />
page 59<br />
Orion Telescopes and Bionoculars<br />
www.oriontelescopes.com<br />
page 77, 80<br />
Optic-Craft Machining<br />
www.opticcraft.com<br />
page 56<br />
Ostahowski Optics<br />
www.ostahowskioptics.com<br />
page 43<br />
Precise Parts<br />
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page 21<br />
ProtoStar<br />
www.fpi-protostar.com<br />
page 43<br />
Quantum Scientific Imaging<br />
www.qsimaging.com<br />
page 4<br />
Rigel Systems<br />
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page 25<br />
ScopeGuard<br />
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page 17<br />
ScopeStuff<br />
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Shrouds By Heather<br />
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TO ADVERTISE CONTACT advertise@astronomytechnologytoday.com<br />
Sierra Stars Observatory Network<br />
www.sierrastars.com<br />
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Skyhound<br />
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page 71<br />
SkyShed Observatories<br />
www.skyshed.com<br />
page 62<br />
Southern Stars<br />
www.southernstars.com<br />
page 61<br />
Starizona<br />
www.starizona.com<br />
page 3<br />
Starlight Instruments<br />
www.starlightinstruments.com<br />
page 37, 50<br />
Stark Labs<br />
www.stark-labs.com<br />
page 27<br />
Stellar Software<br />
www.stellarsoftware.com<br />
page 19<br />
Stellar Technologies International<br />
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page 43<br />
Tele Vue Optics<br />
www.televue.com<br />
page 8, 73<br />
Unihedron<br />
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page 59<br />
Van Slyke Instruments<br />
www.observatory.org<br />
page 33, 52<br />
William Optics<br />
www.williamoptics.com<br />
page 2<br />
Wood Wonders<br />
www.wood-wonders.com<br />
page 52<br />
Woodland Hills Telescopes<br />
www.telescopes.net<br />
page 24
ASTRONOMY<br />
TECHNOLOGY TODAY<br />
Volume 5 • Issue 1<br />
Editor’s Note<br />
Jan. - Feb. 2011<br />
Publisher<br />
Stuart Parkerson<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Gary Parkerson<br />
Gary Parkerson, Managing Editor<br />
Associate Editors<br />
Russ Besancon<br />
Art Director<br />
Lance Palmer<br />
Staff Photographer<br />
Craig Falbaum<br />
Web Master<br />
Richard Harris<br />
3825 Gilbert Drive<br />
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104<br />
info@astronomytechnologytoday.com<br />
www.astronomytechnologytoday.com<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Today</strong> is published bi-monthly<br />
by Parkerson Publishing, LLC. Bulk rate postage paid<br />
at Dallas, Texas, and additional mailing offices.<br />
©2010 Parkerson Publishing, LLC, all rights<br />
reserved. No part of this publication or its Web site<br />
may be reproduced without written permission of<br />
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info@astronomytechnologytoday.com.<br />
THE BEST TELESCOPE<br />
The column that appeared here two<br />
issues ago, An ATM Line in the Sand,<br />
snared a surprising number of ATMrelated<br />
article submissions, so those of<br />
you who have as I been clamoring for<br />
even more ATM and DYI coverage, will<br />
have much to enjoy in this and future<br />
issues of ATT.<br />
What’s a publication that’s very<br />
name declares it a technology magazine<br />
doing covering old-school ATM projects<br />
Well, not everything ATM is old<br />
school; witness Art Bianconi’s 3D-CAD<br />
primer; ditto Doug Reilly’s demonstration<br />
of ProtoSar’s latest word in flocking<br />
options. But for those of us who’ve<br />
missed coverage of more traditional<br />
ATM projects, Jack Fenimore is sure to<br />
satisfy with his report on an easy-to-construct,<br />
lightweight, and stable 3-truss<br />
Dob assembled primarily from materials<br />
found at his local Home Depot.<br />
But that’s not to say that this issue<br />
was designed solely for the satisfaction of<br />
ATM fans. Indeed, ATT’s tradition of<br />
covering the latest that the astro-tech<br />
industry has to offer continues with Dr.<br />
James Dire’s report on the William<br />
Optics Megrez 120, Klaus Brasch’s<br />
impressions of the TMB-92L, Mark<br />
Manner’s take on AG Optical’s new<br />
large-aperture Newtonian Astrograph,<br />
and Rick Saunders’ judgments on the<br />
Astro-Tech AT8IN imaging Newtonian.<br />
And speaking of high-tech, Penny<br />
Distasio attended CES 2011 and reports<br />
on the new technology that won<br />
Celestron two prestigious awards there.<br />
And forcing my own hand by declaring<br />
personal ATM resolutions in print<br />
had the desired effect: I’ve actually started<br />
the long-delayed project of building a<br />
completely new scope around the 10-<br />
inch f/5.6 Zambuto primary that I’ve<br />
enjoyed for so many years. So I’ve dismantled<br />
my favorite Newt and mount<br />
and replaced them temporarily with a<br />
scope of far-less reach, but excellent<br />
optics – a 6-inch Schmidt Newt that’s<br />
been in the family for quite awhile.<br />
One of the reasons I’ve been putting<br />
off that project was aperture anxiety. The<br />
old 10-inch Newt was the largest I could<br />
use in German-equatorial mode (the<br />
configuration with which I’m most comfortable)<br />
within the confines of my home<br />
observatory and I knew that whatever<br />
replaced it was likely to be of smaller<br />
aperture. But, then I spent a few nights<br />
with the little SN and before I knew it<br />
was once again so engaged by the views<br />
and images it produced that I forgot to<br />
worry about its relative aperture and felt<br />
even more foolish for delaying rehabilitation<br />
of my old 10-inch Newt for so long.<br />
Indeed, as I reflect on the list of telescopes<br />
that I’ve had the pleasure of<br />
using in my short astro-enthusiast career,<br />
one thing remains crystal clear: from 60-<br />
mm achromatic refractor to the largest<br />
Dob, all have provided life-changing<br />
views of the heavens. The best telescope<br />
12 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
For me, after viewing through many hundreds<br />
and counting, I realize that it’s<br />
whichever scope I have the privilege of<br />
using on any given night.<br />
While on the-best-scope-is-in-the-eyeof-the-beholder<br />
subject, I’ll leave you with<br />
images of another beholder’s unique perspective.<br />
Jim Fly, of Catseye Collimation,<br />
discovered the following images after they<br />
were posted by “Euan” in the Stargazers<br />
Lounge forums and we couldn’t resist sharing<br />
them here.<br />
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CHECK THE WHAT'S NEW<br />
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for quality, reliability and<br />
service throughout the<br />
world. Many of our products<br />
can be used with telescopes<br />
and mounts that you may<br />
already own. Please check<br />
our website for a list of<br />
products that have universal<br />
appeal. Bring a little<br />
Astro-Physics to your<br />
observing sessions tonight.<br />
www.astro-physics.com • 815-282-1513<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 13
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
VAN SLYKE INSTRUMENTS<br />
Rummaging Through Pack Rat Paul’s List<br />
Old telescopes never die; they just fade<br />
to consignment in spare bedrooms, closets,<br />
and garages that overflow with hoards of<br />
astro gear. At least that’s the habit that<br />
blights a few of us. But don’t you wish you<br />
could spend some quality time rummaging<br />
through those stacks of treasures Well, you<br />
can – at least through a collection amassed<br />
by one of the most prolific astro pack rats<br />
we’ve encountered. We’re describing, of<br />
course, “Pack Rat Paul” Van Slyke of Van<br />
Slyke Instruments (VSI) and the amazingly<br />
diverse result of a lifetime of astro-stuff<br />
acquisition – much of which is truly one of<br />
a kind.<br />
Most of you know Paul as the master<br />
designer and craftsman behind VSI’s lines<br />
of extreme-capability telescope components<br />
and accessories. Need a turret that<br />
accepts six 2-inch eyepieces and has a slot<br />
for easy insertion and removal of 2-inch filters<br />
as well VSI makes those. Need an<br />
ultra-fine-focus 3-inch<br />
low-profile focuser with<br />
stepper and servo control,<br />
and temperature compensation,<br />
and that looks like<br />
it could move literal<br />
mountains of astro gear<br />
VSI makes those too. But<br />
those are examples of<br />
what is on the front-room<br />
store shelves. The stuff<br />
that has collected in Paul’s garage-sale room<br />
is just as intriguing!<br />
Need a million-volt Tesla Coil that can<br />
be powered from a 120-volt AC, 20-am<br />
recepticle Yes, there’s one on Paul’s List.<br />
Need a Fluke frequency counter Ditto.<br />
Need a 20-inch Plasma Disc Yep! Need a<br />
4-inch, 6-jaw scroll lathe chuck There<br />
were two; now there’s one. Need a 6-inch<br />
diameter first-surface optical flat There<br />
were three; now there is two. How about a<br />
A million-volt Tesla Coil powered by a 120-volt, 20-amp AC<br />
outlet Shocking<br />
Swiss-made 24-inch digital height gage It’s<br />
in there. DC gear-reduced servo motors<br />
There’s a bunch of them.<br />
But the collection isn’t nearly as large<br />
as it was the last time we mentioned it in<br />
this column a couple of years ago, so you<br />
had best hurry. That last photo-sensor<br />
tachometer for detecting RPM without<br />
contact is looking awfully tempting to us.<br />
Visit www.observatory.org/paulist/htm<br />
before we do!<br />
SKYSHED OBSERVATORIES<br />
Releases 3D CAD Images of the SkyShed POD MAX<br />
Production models of SkyShed<br />
Observatories’ record-selling POD<br />
(Personal Observatory Dome) had hardly<br />
begun to ship before rumors of an even<br />
larger version began circulating. That larger-<br />
POD rumor transformed to POD-MAX<br />
fact with the recent release by SkyShed of<br />
3D CAD images of its new 12.5-foot-plus<br />
observatory system.<br />
The 12.5-foot-plus designation derives<br />
from the fact that POD MAX will, as does<br />
the standard POD, feature the option of<br />
adding bays – up to six in the case of the<br />
POD MAX – that will extend its working<br />
diameter to almost 18 feet.<br />
POD MAX is designed primarily for<br />
serious astro-photographers who image<br />
with large equipment, schools and public<br />
institutions, and for corporate research. In<br />
comparison with the popular<br />
8-foot POD, POD MAX will<br />
feature higher, thicker walls, a<br />
tall steel door with deadbolt,<br />
motorization, and Internet<br />
interfacing from the ground<br />
up. Because its primary focus<br />
will be astrophotography and<br />
research, the dome design will<br />
employ a more traditional opening.<br />
Shown is an interior view of the POD<br />
MAX with a scaled model of PlaneWave<br />
Instruments’ 0.7-meter CDK700 Alt-Az<br />
Telescope System. The adult manikins are<br />
scaled to 5 foot 9 inches tall.<br />
The mobility concept that has helped<br />
make the original POD so popular will be<br />
built into the much larger POD MAX –<br />
you won’t need a crane to lift it; just a friend<br />
or two. As noted, the POD MAX dome<br />
spans 12.5 feet and provides and internal<br />
clearance of approximately the same height.<br />
The walls are 6 feet 4 inches high and 5<br />
inches thick. The door is 32 inches wide<br />
and the design allows installation of two<br />
doors should the user want to “file ‘em in<br />
and out.” The dome is single-walled and<br />
black-lined, as are the bay and wall sections.<br />
For more information, follow<br />
www.skyshedpod.com.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 15
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
ENTHUSIASTS’ EFFORTS TO BRING TO FRUITION AN 11-YEAR-OLD’S DREAM<br />
Efforts to Help Deployed Soldier’s Son Attend NEAF<br />
You’ve found yourself in another country,<br />
far away from all you know. You’ve left behind<br />
a wife and son to fight in Iraq for the country<br />
which protects them. You do all you can to keep<br />
in touch with them, but when you find your<br />
son’s dreams staring at you through the speaker<br />
of a telephone, how do you find a way to make<br />
those dreams come true… from an ocean away<br />
The father of Hudson Kendell, age 11 of<br />
Ogden, Utah, made one of his son’s dreams<br />
possible when he arranged for Hudson to<br />
attend the U.S. Science Festival in Washington<br />
D.C. last fall. Hudson was able to attend a star<br />
party, visit with NASA officials, and meet<br />
Caroline Moore, who he had heard about<br />
through media stories covering her discovery of<br />
a supernova at the young age of only fourteen.<br />
All of this was a surprise to Hudson, who with<br />
his mother Keli safely made it from Utah to<br />
Washington D.C., and back again.<br />
Caroline and her father Bob are very<br />
involved with NEAF, and after meeting<br />
Hudson, and hearing about Hudson’s dream to<br />
become an astronaut, Bob and Caroline realized<br />
they had a unique opportunity to help him live<br />
another dream. Learning that NEAF organizors<br />
have scheduled the appearance of a NASA<br />
astronaut for this year’s event (we were unable to<br />
determine the astronaut’s identity by press time)<br />
spurred Bob and Caroline to start working to<br />
raise funds to bring Hudson and his mom to<br />
NEAF. Their goal is to raise the approximately<br />
$1,500 it will take to fly Hudson and his mom<br />
to NEAF, where they would stay at the NEAF<br />
host hotel.<br />
When he learned of the efforts to bring<br />
Hudson to NEAF, his dad, Jason, sent Bob the<br />
following note, “I wanted to thank you for the<br />
time you have taken to assist Hudson with his<br />
dreams of becoming an astronaut. I’m sorry I<br />
could not write sooner. Thank you also for the<br />
work you have done to secure a spot for<br />
Hudson and Keli at the convention in New<br />
York. That will not only be a thrill for Hudson,<br />
but for Keli as well. She has been wanting to get<br />
back to New York for many years. Hudson is<br />
beside himself with excitement, thanks to all of<br />
these new opportunities since his trip to DC. It<br />
is people like yourself and your daughter that<br />
make my service in the military such fulfilling<br />
work. I love our country and the freedom it<br />
gives us to chase our dreams, even when those<br />
dreams are as far away as the stars and as big as<br />
the universe. Please thank Celestron Telescopes<br />
for their part in helping Hudson’s dreams along.<br />
Thank you again for your interest in Hudson<br />
and I hope to meet you someday after I return<br />
home.”<br />
Anyone interested in assisting Bob and<br />
Caroline’s efforts on behalf of this deserving<br />
young man and family may do so by contacting<br />
Bob at n2ixa@optonline.net. If you are unable<br />
for any reason to reach Bob at that address, just<br />
drop the ATT team an email at subscribe@astronomytechnologytoday.com,<br />
and<br />
we’ll make sure he gets it.<br />
16 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
ISTAR OPTICAL<br />
New Company Introduces Exotic Offerings<br />
Many of you have noticed recent ads in<br />
ATT by a new company, ISTAR Optical. The<br />
company, started by Ales Krivanek of the<br />
Czech Republic, is developing a solid international<br />
reputation for the exceptional qualityto-price<br />
ratio of its astronomy-related optical<br />
components and complete telescope assemblies.<br />
Ales started ISTAR Optical in the middle<br />
of a challenging economic crisis and overall<br />
market downfall after two years of market<br />
research, price comparisons, and glass sourcing.<br />
He felt that despite the economic climate,<br />
there was an opportunity to create an<br />
effective niche by offering a wide variety of<br />
large-aperture achromatic objective lenses and<br />
finished refractors, as well as medium- to<br />
large-aperture Apos, super Apos and astrographs.<br />
Ales put together a group of experts<br />
including a master optician, all interested in<br />
amateur astronomy, with the goal to design<br />
and produce a new line of high-quality refractors<br />
at affordable prices.<br />
Production of tube assemblies, accessories,<br />
and all related mechanical components<br />
is performed in Europe – specifically in the<br />
Czech Republic and Austria. Each ISTAR<br />
lens assembly is crafted to exacting standards<br />
and each element is hand figured and precision<br />
coated. The company uses the highestgrade<br />
magnesium alloys and each component<br />
is precision CNC-machined to strict tolerances<br />
and perfect fit and finish. Powder coating,<br />
silver plating, nickel plating, and anodizing<br />
are performed by several highly-specialized<br />
companies and final assembly of each<br />
component and optical tube assembly is performed<br />
in house.<br />
Each lens assembly, accessory, and completed<br />
telescope is designed by ISTAR<br />
Optical from scratch. Its experts have<br />
designed and tested a wide variety of products,<br />
from achromatic doublets to apochromatic<br />
triplets, super apos, multi-element<br />
Pezval-style astrographs, as well several versions<br />
of correctors/reducers for SCT telescopes,<br />
Schmidt-<br />
Newtonians, and<br />
achromatic refractors,<br />
with plans to introduce a<br />
number of these newly-designed<br />
products to the international market<br />
within next few years.<br />
ISTAR reports that its achromaticdoublet<br />
designs achieve an approximately<br />
35 percent reduction in chromatic<br />
aberration and 30 percent smaller<br />
spot size compared to more common designs.<br />
Currently, the company produces a line of 6-<br />
inch achromatic refractors under the series<br />
name “Perseus,” that includes the AT 150-8,<br />
AT 150-10, AT 150-12 and AT 150-15. The<br />
first number of each product designation corresponds<br />
with its clear aperture (lens diameter)<br />
and the second number (behind the<br />
dash) represents the focal ratio.<br />
The company has also designed a<br />
“comet-hunter” achromatic-refractor line<br />
under the series name “Phoenix,” the first<br />
production model of which is the WFT 150-<br />
5. For 2011, ISTAR is scheduled to offer<br />
additional achromatic models, including the<br />
Perseus AT 127-12, Perseus AT 127-8,<br />
Perseus AT 210-12, and comet-hunter<br />
Phoenix 127-5.<br />
Its line of apochromats currently<br />
includes the Philotes 177-8 Triplet, Forfax<br />
180-12 Super Apo, and Phantom 152-8<br />
Get Yours<br />
<strong>Today</strong>!<br />
CaF2 Pure-Fluorite Triplet. Later this<br />
year, ISTAR will introduce the Phoebe SAA<br />
180-5, a Sextet Petzval-style super-apochromatic<br />
system designed specifically for astroimaging,<br />
with 6 elements in 2 groups.<br />
The company also has plans to offer a<br />
line of chromatic-aberration correctors for<br />
achromatic refractors, the first production<br />
models of which will be specifically designed<br />
to match its existing line of achromatic lenses<br />
and achromatic telescopes.<br />
ISTAR’s SCT-corrector/reducer line<br />
employs a 5-element design and is formulated<br />
to transform the ubiquitous f/10 SCT into<br />
a high-quality, fast f/5 astrograph.<br />
ISTAR also offers an extensive line of<br />
accessories, including telescope tubes, baffles,<br />
lens caps, and more, and is equipped to produce<br />
custom accessories to user specifications.<br />
For more information please visit www.istaropitcal.com.<br />
Let us custom build you<br />
the best, strongest, most<br />
well constructed scope<br />
transport case available!<br />
www.scopeguard.com<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 17
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
LUNÁTICO ASTRONOMÍA<br />
New How-to Video, Driver Release, and Observatory Control Box<br />
ATMers delight! Lunático<br />
Astronomía has recorded a short and<br />
very sweet instructional video that<br />
demonstrates just how easy it is to control<br />
one of the affordable DC motors<br />
with the SeleTEK Armadillo.<br />
What can you do with a DC motor<br />
Well, consider William Rison’s ATM<br />
focus-motor project from the<br />
November/December 2010 issue of ATT<br />
using a simple $13 DC gear-head motor<br />
– just one example of what inventive<br />
ATMers can do with the little old-school<br />
devices.<br />
Too often we assume that high-tech<br />
digital control of various motorized telescope<br />
functions is limited to stepper- and<br />
servo-motor applications. But, as the<br />
subject video demonstrates, the SeleTEK<br />
Armadillo can be<br />
used to<br />
command a DC motor as if it<br />
was a stepper – while also controlling<br />
temperature – and dewcontrol<br />
functions, filter wheels,<br />
and other critical automatable scope<br />
functions.<br />
The how-to video includes instruction<br />
for cobbling the necessary cable<br />
connections, or the user can simply purchase<br />
the necessary cable in ready-made<br />
form from Lunático Astronomía.<br />
ATMers will also appreciate that the<br />
company’s website offers plans for construction<br />
of a simple handpad for focusmotor<br />
control (the website is well worth<br />
exploring!).<br />
In other SeleTEK Armadillo news, a<br />
new driver release is now available that<br />
not only includes some minor bug fixes,<br />
but that also streamlines automatic<br />
recognition of the drivers by Windows,<br />
from XP to (32 and 64 bit), when the<br />
SeleTEK is plugged. Also now available<br />
is a beta (but working!) version<br />
of the Rotator software for<br />
both the Main and EXP ports<br />
that has been tested with<br />
MaximDL 5.07 and, of<br />
course, in stand-alone mode.<br />
Lunático Astronomía<br />
has also introducted the observatory<br />
control box “Firefly,” a<br />
Seletek Armadillo add-on designed<br />
to provide remote control of all<br />
common observatory<br />
devices, from powering<br />
computers, mounts, CCDs and other<br />
equipment, to check the position of the<br />
mount or the status of the roof.<br />
The box includes control over 8<br />
relays (4 of them double, normally closed<br />
and normally open), operating either as<br />
switches or pushbuttons, and 8 inputs,<br />
and incorporates heavy noise reducing<br />
circuitry, to avoid the so common USB<br />
drops found on other, general purpose,<br />
relay control kits. It will also monitor the<br />
status of up to 8 sensors (contact switches,<br />
magnetic, optical ones, etc) to be<br />
attached to any moving part of your<br />
observatory as limit switches or position<br />
indicators. Current software allows the<br />
remote control and display of every<br />
device, with ASCOM automation support<br />
coming soon.<br />
For more information on Lunático<br />
Astronomía’s Seletek Armadillo, as well<br />
as its AAG Cloud Watcher, Zero Dew<br />
dew-heater system, adaptor plates, and<br />
Newtonian-transport bags, please visit<br />
www.lunaticoastro.com. Oh, and be sure<br />
to watch the how-to video while you’re<br />
there!<br />
18 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
PRECISE PARTS<br />
Offers Online Build-An-Adapter Service<br />
Precise Parts is well<br />
know for its services in<br />
designing and machining<br />
one-of-a-kind telescope<br />
accessories in aluminum,<br />
stainless steel, brass,<br />
bronze, titanium, and<br />
Teflon. All of their products<br />
are custom made.<br />
The company fabricates<br />
hard to find replacement<br />
parts for vintage telescopes<br />
and can replicate a<br />
part based either on an<br />
existing unit, a picture, an<br />
engineering drawing, or<br />
even a simple sketch.<br />
Precise Parts can also<br />
design an entirely new part<br />
to fulfill a specific need.<br />
The company specializes<br />
in fabricating high-quality<br />
custom adapters, with fast<br />
turn around, for astronomy<br />
and astrophotography applications,<br />
although it also make parts for other fields as<br />
well.<br />
To make designing and ordering your<br />
custom precision adapter even simpler,<br />
Precise Parts has created the automated<br />
Build-An-Adapter online ordering system.<br />
With its extensive knowledge base of<br />
telescope, camera and accessory specifications,<br />
the Build-An-Adapter tool can quickly<br />
determine sizes, threads, diameters and<br />
finish required to create a custom adapter<br />
to match most instrument and accessory<br />
combinations.<br />
The Build-An-Adapter tool is surprisingly<br />
simple to use. Steps are clearly defined<br />
throughout the process and there is a comprehensive<br />
FAQ section to help with the<br />
process. And at any time in the process, you<br />
can contact Precise Parts directly if you have<br />
any questions. Shown is a screen shot of the<br />
process<br />
We decided to test the range of the<br />
Built-An-Adapter service by asking it to configure<br />
an adapter for an unlikely application:<br />
using a Questar Standard 3.5 as a guidescope.<br />
Hey, it could happen! To further stress the<br />
system, we specified that the adapter must<br />
mate an autoguider (in our case an Orion<br />
StarShoot Autoguider) to the axial port of the<br />
Questar 3.5. The result With only five<br />
mouse clicks we had designed a custom<br />
adapter that fit the bill. Another click added<br />
the custom designed and fabricated, blackanodized<br />
aluminum adapter, with internal<br />
anti-reflection treatment and dust caps, to<br />
the Precise Parts shopping cart – and at a very<br />
reasonable price.<br />
We were very impressed with the<br />
simplicity of the comprehensive Build-<br />
An-Adapter service and are satisfied that it<br />
provides a great resource for astro-imagers by<br />
providing precise adapters for any application<br />
– even those as unlikely as that of our test<br />
application. For more information, please<br />
visit www.preciseparts.com.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 19
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
STARIZONA<br />
Adds HyperStar 3 Lens for Celestron 9.25 Edge HD<br />
Starizona has completed design and<br />
started production of a HyperStar Lens<br />
specifically formulated for Celestron’s<br />
new 9.25-inch Edge HD. The HyperStar<br />
lens easily replaces the stock secondary<br />
mirror in the telescope – no tools<br />
required – allowing a camera to be placed<br />
in front of the telescope and thus converting<br />
the f/10 visual observing tool to<br />
an ultra-fast f/2.3 astrograph.<br />
That f/2.3 is 18 times faster than the<br />
telescope’s stock configuration; fast<br />
enough that users can capture deep-sky<br />
images without guiding and without<br />
adding an equatorial wedge. The<br />
HyperStar shortens the effective focal<br />
length of the telescope, yielding a much<br />
wider field of view, and allowing far<br />
greater tolerance of tracking errors. The<br />
net result is that breathtaking deep-sky<br />
images can now be captured in altazimuth<br />
mode without guiding.<br />
The new HyperStar 3 Edge HD<br />
9.25 Lens is compatible with a variety of<br />
cameras, including both CCDs and<br />
DSLRs, and as does the other<br />
HyperStar models, the Edge HD<br />
9.25 version covers up to a 27-mm<br />
(APS-size) sensor.<br />
Specifications include: focal<br />
ratio of f/2.5; focal length of 540<br />
mm; field of view with 27-mm sensor<br />
of 2.8 degrees; camera adapter<br />
is threaded for 2-inch (48-mm) filters;<br />
backfocus (from mounting<br />
thread to focal plane) is 60 mm (2.36<br />
inches); length without camera adapter<br />
is 4.3 inches; diameter is 4.0 inches;<br />
weight is 1.8 pounds.<br />
Pre-orders are now being accepted<br />
for the new HyperStar 3 Edge HD 9.25<br />
Lens, with shipment anticipated within<br />
the first quarter of 2011. For more information,<br />
visit www.starizona.com.<br />
20 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
INDUSTRYNEWS<br />
SIERRA STARS OBSERVATORY NETWORK<br />
Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Partners with the Sierra Stars Observatory Network<br />
The University of Arizona (U of AZ)<br />
and the Sierra Stars Observatory Network<br />
(SSON) have announced an agreement to<br />
provide access to the 32-inch telescope of the<br />
Mt. Lemmon Sky Center (MLSC) through<br />
the services of the Sierra Stars Observatory<br />
Network.<br />
MLSC recently completed installation<br />
of the Schulmann 32-inch telescope at its<br />
facility atop Mt. Lemmon. This telescope is<br />
used for the Sky Center’s nightly citizen<br />
observing program (SkyNights) and all-night<br />
programs (<strong>Astronomy</strong>Nights) as well as<br />
being an integral part of several educational<br />
programs for University classes and special<br />
workshops for amateurs interested in learning<br />
more about astro-imaging.<br />
Anna Spitz, Program Manager of the<br />
MLSC, appreciates the potential of the partnership<br />
with SSON. “Magnificent instruments<br />
like the Schulman telescope should<br />
never be idle, and when our normal evening<br />
programs were over, we wanted to find a way<br />
to provide access to other users who have a<br />
need for the aperture, superior optics, firstrate<br />
camera, and steady skies that makes this<br />
such an important facility.”<br />
Ms. Spitz goes on to say, “Rather than<br />
try to develop the infrastructure to support<br />
this kind of access, we decided to partner<br />
with Sierra Stars Observatory Network.<br />
SSON has a unique offering, providing its<br />
users to an ever-expanding worldwide network<br />
of quality telescopes.”<br />
The Sierra Stars Observatory Network<br />
(SSON) is a partnership among professional<br />
observatories that provides its users with<br />
affordable high-quality calibrated image<br />
data. The goal of SSON is to serve the needs<br />
of science-based projects and programs.<br />
Colleges, universities, institutions and individuals<br />
use SSON for their education and<br />
research projects. The mission of SSON is to<br />
promote and expand the use of its facilities<br />
among the thousands of colleges and schools<br />
worldwide that do not have access to professional-quality<br />
automated observatory systems<br />
to use for astronomy education and<br />
research.<br />
Ed Beshore, Faculty Advisor for the<br />
MLSC and Director of the Catalina Sky<br />
Survey, was instrumental in putting together<br />
the partnership with SSON. “We chose to be<br />
part of SSON’s network, because it represented<br />
a great opportunity for MLSC to be<br />
part of an offering that offers great added<br />
value through its support for educational and<br />
research users that could benefit from access<br />
to facilities in both hemispheres.”<br />
Mr. Beshore goes on to say, “We also see<br />
the ability to bundle on-site experiences, online<br />
training, and remote access to a global<br />
network of telescopes as a unique educational<br />
opportunity. Adam Block, the director of<br />
our SkyNights and Astronomer Nights programs,<br />
is a world-renowned astrophotographer.<br />
People wishing to learn from Adam<br />
have traveled thousands of miles to attend<br />
his workshops on Mt. Lemmon. We think<br />
that now, those unable to undertake such a<br />
long journey will still be able to benefit from<br />
Adam’s experience partly through this new<br />
ability to support observations from remote<br />
users. In addition, we are looking at ways to<br />
partner with local businesses and schools to<br />
provide a curriculum that offers an experience<br />
at the telescope coupled with supervised<br />
follow-on projects that rely on students conducting<br />
their own observing projects using<br />
the 32-in telescope.”<br />
Rich Williams, founder and CEO of<br />
SSON, appreciates the quality and professionalism<br />
that the staff at the MLSC brings<br />
to SSON. “Our partnership with the<br />
University of Arizona and the Mt. Lemmon<br />
Sky Center adds powerful instruments and<br />
key people to SSON. Their state-of-the-art<br />
new 32-inch telescope will be the largest telescope<br />
so far in our growing global network.<br />
The professional staff also brings decades of<br />
experience working with remote automated<br />
observatory systems. Our users will be<br />
delighted to start using this power instrument<br />
for their education and research projects!”<br />
For more information about SSON and<br />
its partnership with the University of<br />
Arizona Mt. Lemmon Sky Center, visit<br />
www.sierrastars.com.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 21
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
SCOPESTUFF<br />
NewStuff from ScopeStuff<br />
ScopeStuff has long been known as the<br />
“if you can’t find it anywhere else, check<br />
ScopeStuff before giving up” resource for<br />
practical astronomers. Here are just some of<br />
the new gadgets you’ll find there.<br />
Antares-to-Vixen Finder Rings Adapter<br />
If you have an Atarers F50DTB-type or<br />
a ScopeStuff FRQ8 finder-rings set and<br />
want to attach it to your scope’s Vixen/<br />
Orion/Synta-style finder shoe or base, you<br />
need the ScopeStuff A2VF adapter. It is precision<br />
machined from solid aluminum,<br />
black anodized, and clamps firmly to the<br />
Antares-format dovetail with four stainless<br />
steel setscrews. Price: $19US.<br />
2X 3-Element Barlow for<br />
T-Thread Systems<br />
ScopeStuff’s 2X, 3-element, color-corrected,<br />
multicoated Barlow is designed<br />
specifically for use with T-thread camera<br />
setups. Its male T-threads screw directly into<br />
an SLR T-ring or camera front for the mostsolid<br />
mounting possible. The Barlow element-to-focal-plane<br />
spacing is adjustable for<br />
optimum performance. The Barlow assembly<br />
comes with three 10-mm spacers that<br />
provide ample adjustment for use with most<br />
focusers.<br />
The Barlow insert should be adjusted so<br />
the magnification is double that of a directprojection<br />
setup. Moving the insert towards<br />
the film or sensor plane will decrease magnification.<br />
After adjustment, tighten the two<br />
set screws to securely hold the insert using<br />
the included Allen wrench. The telescope<br />
will likely focus at a different focuser setting<br />
with the Barlow in the optical train. If<br />
enough out-focus cannot be reached, additional<br />
spacers are available. Price: $129US.<br />
SCT Thread 2-inch<br />
Internal Spacer Washer<br />
This washer performs a very simple, but<br />
critical function: it fits inside a female SCT<br />
2-inch Schmidt-threaded adapter and spaces<br />
an inserted male SCT-thread adapter out by<br />
1/8 inch. The spacer is sometimes required<br />
to make a female collar-ring-style SCT<br />
adapter fit short-length male SCT threads. If<br />
you’ve ever experienced the frustration of<br />
this particular problem, you know exactly<br />
what this washer is for!<br />
It is precision laser cut from black ABS<br />
plastic, measures 1.95-inch OD by 1.80-<br />
inch ID, and is not threaded. Price: $6US.<br />
SCT Schmidt-Thread<br />
Extension Tube/Spacer Ring<br />
Here’s another specialty item that serves<br />
a critical function. This spacer has male SCT<br />
Schmidt threads on one side and female<br />
SCT threads on the other side. Spacing is<br />
1/2 inch, the center opening is 1.77 inch,<br />
and the outside diameter is 2.175 inch. The<br />
spacer is precision machined from solid aluminum,<br />
black anodized, with interior baffles.<br />
The spacer is intended primarily for<br />
adjustment of SCT focal-reducer spacing.<br />
Price: $16US each; $28US for a set of two.<br />
Dovetail Shoe Upgrade for<br />
EQ3-Type Mounts<br />
How many times have we wished we<br />
had one of these ScopeStuff’s dovetail-shoe<br />
upgrade for EQ3-type mounts puts an end<br />
to the frustration of bolting and unbolting<br />
mounting rings from mounts that don’t use<br />
dovetail bars, but that instead have tabs that<br />
mounting rings attach directly to. The<br />
ScopeStuff EQ3D system upgrades such<br />
mounts to accept standard Orion/<br />
Synta/Vixen-style dovetail bars and provides<br />
a sturdy interface for the dovetail.<br />
The upgrade kit works for EQ3-type<br />
mounts with 5.875-inch spacing between<br />
the tab mounting holes. See the accompanying<br />
image for an example of this style of<br />
mount. The upgrade kit includes the bar<br />
with dovetail shoe attached, plus all of the<br />
stainless-steel hardware required to attach<br />
the kit to the mount. Price: $85US.<br />
Compression-Ring Visual Back<br />
for Orion Crayford Focusers<br />
Some original-equipment Orion<br />
Crayford focusers were equipped with<br />
thumb-screw-only visual backs and this<br />
precision-machined compression-ring-style<br />
22 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
but has no threads. It drops into a female T-<br />
thread fitting and is retained by the T-thread<br />
male when screwed in. Black anodized aluminum<br />
and priced at $9US.<br />
visual back replaces the original perfectly.<br />
Not only does the compression ring protect<br />
your eyepieces and accessories from set-screw<br />
dings, but the brass compression ring also<br />
provides far more secure retention for those<br />
eyepieces and accessories.<br />
The replacement visual back is precision<br />
machined from aluminum with brass compression<br />
ring, is black anodized, and includes<br />
nylon thumbscrews. Price: $39US.<br />
1.25-inch Filter Adapter for<br />
T-Thread Capture<br />
This simple ring performs an equally<br />
simple, yet critical function: it allows 1.25-<br />
inch filters to be included in a T-thread<br />
adapter chain. The filter screws into the<br />
adapter and the adapter “sandwiches” in a T-<br />
thread male and female union. The outside<br />
diameter of the filter adapter is 1.61 inch,<br />
SCT Schmidt-Thread<br />
Female-to-Female Adapter<br />
Here’s another simple adapter ring that<br />
performs a critical function. The adapter features<br />
female SCT Schmidt threads all the<br />
way through, allowing it to serve as a<br />
Schmidt-thread nut, locking ring, or a union<br />
to connect two male Schmidt-threaded<br />
accessories. It is formed of machined aluminum<br />
with straight knurling on the outside.<br />
Price: $29US.<br />
Dual-Scope Mounting Plate<br />
It’s easy to mount two scopes side by<br />
side with this sturdy plate. Formed from<br />
black powder-coated aluminum, it measures<br />
3/8 inch thick by 6 inches by 16 inches and<br />
features a hole and slot pattern that is repeated<br />
every inch. All holes and slots accept 1/4-<br />
inch or 6-mm bolts to allow direct mounting<br />
of rings and refractor mounting feet. The<br />
plate weighs 3.3 pounds and accepts<br />
ScopeStuff’s EQD6 Vixen/Orion/Syntastyle<br />
dovetail bar at any position on the plate.<br />
ScopeStuff’s TVD1 dovetail also fits the<br />
mounting plate to allow attachment to G11,<br />
CI-700, CGE, and other mounts with 3<br />
inch saddles. Price: from $84US.<br />
For more information on these and<br />
other unique ScopeStuff products, visit<br />
www.scopestuff.com.<br />
SFL Quantum Finished Telescopes and<br />
SFL Telekit for f/3 - f3.9 optics!<br />
Our SFL Quantum<br />
finished telescope<br />
And SFL Telekit are<br />
full featured, easy<br />
To build, and highly<br />
portable truss<br />
Telescope available<br />
for 10" - 32".<br />
AstroSystems<br />
www.astrosystems.biz<br />
970-284-9471<br />
STATE OF THE ART DESIGN<br />
Specifically for the special<br />
challenges of short focal length<br />
optics. New design features<br />
include finer focus with the<br />
standard Moonlight focuser or<br />
optional Feathertouch focuser.<br />
Finer thread pitch gives precise<br />
Collimation of the secondary<br />
and primary mirrors. Optical<br />
support components have<br />
been stiffened to hold critical<br />
collimation, plus more!<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 23
WE SAID PLAY BIG,<br />
NOT PAY BIG.<br />
No matter if you are into imaging or visual astronomy we promise to offer<br />
the best prices available on astronomy equipment and accessories.<br />
Serving the<br />
astronomical<br />
community for<br />
over 20 years<br />
5348 Topanga Canyon Blvd. • Woodland Hills, CA 91364
JMI TELESCOPES<br />
Announces New RBX Reverse Binocular Telescopes and MicroFocus Dual-Speed Focus Knob for SCTs<br />
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
It has been almost a decade since JMI<br />
introduced the RB-66, the first popularlypriced<br />
production-model reverse-binocular<br />
system, and thereby provided astronomers a<br />
breathtaking, new experience in fullyimmersive<br />
visual observing. <strong>Today</strong> JMI<br />
remains an industry leader of the bigbinoscoping<br />
arts and continues its tradition<br />
of innovation with the recent introductions<br />
of its new RBX-8 and RBX-12.<br />
These newest versions of JMI’s<br />
Newtonian-format reverse binoculars are<br />
lighter than their predecessors and break<br />
down into more manageable parts by permitting<br />
each optical tube to be lifted out of<br />
its respective cradle. The new binos achieve<br />
desired eye spacing by rotating each nose<br />
assembly, a design that allows the system to<br />
retain focus when the interocular<br />
spacing is adjusted from user to user.<br />
The unique reverse-binocular format<br />
of these binoscopes makes viewing<br />
remarkably intuitive. There is no<br />
bulky or complicated mount to contend<br />
with; just look down into the<br />
binocular to see the sky behind you<br />
while using the motorcycle-style foldaway<br />
center handlebars to point the<br />
instrument. Six motors provide for<br />
precise and stable touch-of-a-button<br />
adjustment of interocular spacing,<br />
focusing, and optical-tube alignment.<br />
Each RBX series binoscope employs<br />
JMI’s Modified Reverse-Crayford<br />
Focusers and is compatible with its popular<br />
MAX-series telescope-guiding computers.<br />
The RBX-8 weighs in at a remarkably<br />
light 70 pounds, while RBX-12 is similarly<br />
svelte at just 135 pounds.<br />
On the subject of binoscoping with<br />
JMI’s reverse-binocular system, Tom<br />
Johnston, JMI’s Production Manager,<br />
reports, “I recently had the opportunity to<br />
use the RB-10 for three nights at the Okie-<br />
Tex star party. Dark and clear skies let the<br />
RB-10 show its stuff to the max. Incredible<br />
contrast made Hartley2 jump out against<br />
the background stars of Cassiopeia. I’ve<br />
tried them a few times before, but never<br />
under these skies. WOW! The Red Spot on<br />
Jupiter was also easily seen. M33, M101,<br />
the Veil Nebula – all the low-surface-brightness<br />
stuff exploded into view. I have two<br />
one-eye telescopes of my own and now I’m<br />
not sure I can go back to using them instead<br />
of our binos.”<br />
Users of the ever-popular Schmidt-<br />
Cassegrain Telescopes (SCT) from<br />
Celestron and Meade will be delighted by<br />
JMI’s introduction of a new dual-speed version<br />
of its MicroFocus system. The new<br />
MicroFocus mounts to the telescope in the<br />
same simple manner as JMI’s SCT<br />
MotoFocus units: attach a collar to the<br />
screws at the base of the focus knob and<br />
then the MicroFocus attaches to that. It<br />
goes on and off in seconds and there is no<br />
need to disassemble the focus knob to<br />
install it.<br />
JMI produces a MicroFocus Dual-<br />
Speed Focus Knob to fit most past and present<br />
SCTs from Celestron and Meade –<br />
indeed, the list of compatible telescopes is<br />
too long to reproduce here – and all models<br />
are priced at $189US.<br />
For more information on both new<br />
JMI product lines, please visit<br />
www.jmitelescopes.com.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 25
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS<br />
More New Offerings<br />
As we have come to expect, Orion has<br />
issued yet another round of new astronomy<br />
products, the breadth and depth of which<br />
are impressive.<br />
Orion 1.25-inch Telescope Accessory Kit<br />
Orion’s pre-configured 1.25-inch<br />
Telescope Accessory Kit provides a wellthought-out<br />
and affordably-priced assortment<br />
of its most popular accessories. With<br />
this kit you’ll receive seven accessories in a<br />
foam-lined hard-side carry case to help you<br />
get the most out of each evening spent with<br />
your telescope.<br />
The set includes two Sirius Plossl eyepieces<br />
of 20-mm and 7.5-mm focal lengths,<br />
one Shorty 2x Barlow lens that doubles the<br />
magnification of any 1.25-inch eyepiece,<br />
three color eyepiece filters to enhance lunar<br />
and planetary features, and one neutral-density<br />
Moon filter to reduce bright lunar glare<br />
and optimize contrast of craters, highland<br />
mountains, and lowland mare regions.<br />
The two Sirius Plossl eyepieces provide<br />
two different viewing magnification options<br />
and feature four-element optics that are<br />
multi-coated and offer a pleasantly-wide 52-<br />
degree apparent field of view. The included<br />
20-mm eyepiece will provide a relatively<br />
wide field of view in most telescopes, but<br />
with a higher magnification than that provided<br />
by the 25-mm eyepiece that is traditionally<br />
provided with a new telescope. The<br />
7.5-mm Plossl yields a significantly higher<br />
magnification, useful for obtaining a more<br />
close-up view of celestial objects.<br />
The included Shorty 2x Barlow doubles<br />
the magnifying power of any 1.25-inch eyepiece<br />
used with it, providing an easy way to<br />
effectively double the number of magnification<br />
options at your disposal. The Shorty’s<br />
2x amplifier lens is an achromatic glass doublet<br />
that is multi-coated with anti-reflection<br />
coatings to ensure excellent light transmission.<br />
The machined and anodized aluminum<br />
housing is internally baffled to eliminate<br />
unwanted reflections and increase contrast,<br />
and features filter threads to accept any<br />
1.25-inch Orion eyepiece filter.<br />
The Orion Telescope Accessory Kit<br />
includes an aluminum carry case with a diecut<br />
foam interior with cut-outs for each<br />
included accessory. The carry case measures<br />
10.5-inches x 7.5-inches x 3.5-inches and<br />
weighs 2.1 pounds with all the included<br />
accessories stowed safely inside. The kit is<br />
priced at $99.95US.<br />
StarShoot Solar System Color Imager IV<br />
The new Orion StarShoot Solar System<br />
Color Imager IV is Orion’s fourth generation<br />
planetary imaging camera and provides<br />
an affordable way to acquire stunning<br />
images of the solar system. The imager is<br />
equipped with a variety of features that<br />
make it very easy to use. Its 1/3-inch format<br />
CMOS imaging sensor with a 1280 x 1024<br />
pixel layout is capable of capturing sharplydetailed<br />
planetary and lunar images. Each<br />
pixel is a mere 3.6 microns x 3.6 microns in<br />
size for exceptional image resolution in 24-<br />
bit RGB color. Since the 8-bit output<br />
StarShoot Solar System Color Imager IV is<br />
progressive scan, all pixels will be used for<br />
each and every exposure. At full 1280 x<br />
1024 resolution, you can capture up to 15<br />
frames per second and by stacking multiple<br />
exposures to create a single picture, you can<br />
increase image detail significantly.<br />
The imager’s 1.25-inch nosepiece is<br />
threaded for 1.25-inch filters, so you can use<br />
astro-imaging filters and color visual filters<br />
to enhance your shots. The StarShoot Solar<br />
System Color Imager IV features an integrated<br />
IR-cut filter to block both ultraviolet<br />
and infrared light. These wavelengths of<br />
light can degrade image quality, so by block-<br />
26 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
ing them, the IR-cut filter helps to optimize<br />
contrast in all your images.<br />
The included Orion AmCap software<br />
provides the means to capture images in the<br />
popular AVI movie format. Images are<br />
downloaded to your computer through the<br />
camera’s high-speed USB 2.0 connection<br />
with the included 58-inch long USB cable.<br />
Website links are provided in the launcher<br />
to download popular free image processing<br />
software to be used with your AVI files to<br />
further enhance your astro-images. Image<br />
processing software allows you to align and<br />
stack (combine) hundreds of individual<br />
images into a single resultant image and perform<br />
additional image processing to bring<br />
out subtle details or to make the image<br />
appear more pleasing overall. The Orion<br />
StarShoot Solar System Color Imager IV is<br />
priced at $99US.<br />
StarShoot USB Eyepiece<br />
With Orion’s new StarShoot USB<br />
Eyepiece, you can easily view what you see<br />
in your telescope on your laptop or desktop<br />
PC. The USB eyepiece transmits live images<br />
of the Moon, bright planets, Sun (solar filter<br />
required), and terrestrial subjects as seen<br />
through the telescope to your laptop or<br />
desktop PC. Now the whole family, classroom,<br />
or astronomical society can enjoy the<br />
view right along with you, as if you were all<br />
looking through the same telescope.<br />
The StarShoot USB eyepiece fits in any<br />
telescope with a 1.25-inch focuser, or a 2-<br />
inch-to- 1.25-inch step-down adapter. The<br />
StarShoot USB Eyepiece features a CMOS<br />
sensor chip with 8-bit output and RGB 24-<br />
bit color resolution. While not sensitive<br />
enough to capture images of faint deepspace<br />
objects, the USB eyepiece enables you<br />
to share telescopic views of brighter objects<br />
within our solar system like the Moon and<br />
brighter planets. The view transmitted by<br />
the StarShoot USB Eyepiece is comparable<br />
to what you would see using a 3.8-mm eyepiece<br />
and 2x Barlow combination.<br />
The 1.25-inch nosepiece is threaded for<br />
use with any Orion 1.25-inch eyepiece filter,<br />
so you can enhance the view to your liking<br />
by using a Moon filter, light pollution filter,<br />
color planetary filters, and more. You can<br />
also use Orion’s StarShoot 0.5x Focal<br />
Reducer if you'd like to view a wider area.<br />
The included Orion AmCap movie<br />
capture software allows you to save and<br />
process the views transmitted through the<br />
eyepiece. The StarShoot USB Eyepiece can<br />
capture up to 24 frames per second at its<br />
native resolution of 320 x 240 pixels.<br />
Progressive scan imaging means information<br />
from each and every pixel is delivered to<br />
your computer for each frame. The color<br />
CMOS sensor features small 5.6-micron by<br />
5.6-micron pixels for great resolution on<br />
bright targets. All power is supplied to the<br />
StarShoot USB Eyepiece through its USB<br />
connection to your computer. The<br />
StarShoot USB Eyepiece is priced at<br />
$49.95US.<br />
StarShoot Video Eyepiece<br />
The Orion StarShoot Video Eyepiece<br />
takes things a step further by sending live<br />
images seen through the telescope to a TV<br />
set, camcorder, or any other device with an<br />
RCA video input.<br />
The StarShoot Video Eyepiece is also<br />
compatible with any telescope equipped<br />
with a 1.25-inch focuser, or a 2-inch focuser<br />
with a 2-inch-to- 1.25-inch step-down<br />
adapter, and offers a CMOS sensor chip<br />
(Continued on page 28)<br />
Foster Systems<br />
Serving Astronomers and<br />
Observatories Worldwide<br />
FOSTER SYSTEMS is your remote observatory master control and integration headquarters.<br />
Whether it is weather, power, optics security, or automation, we have the solutions that<br />
make your investment more effective, reliable and enjoyable. Our line of AstroMC products<br />
are ASCOM compliant which gives you the assurance of compatibility and reliability.<br />
Next Generation Roll off Roof and<br />
Dome Controllers are now available.<br />
Now is the time to automate your<br />
astrophotography!<br />
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL THE DETAILS! www.fostersystems.com<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 27
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS<br />
(Continued from page 27)<br />
with 8-bit output and RGB 24-bit color resolution.<br />
The view transmitted by the<br />
StarShoot Video Eyepiece is comparable to<br />
what you would see using a 5-mm eyepiece.<br />
The Orion StarShoot Video Eyepiece is<br />
powered by the included AC-to-DC<br />
adapter, which has a long 70-inch cable for<br />
convenient use with your telescope. It is<br />
priced at $59.95.<br />
Orion 10-inch f/3.9<br />
Newtonian Astrograph Reflector<br />
The Orion 10-inch f/3.9 Newtonian<br />
Astrograph Reflector is Orion’s largest reflector<br />
optimized for astro-imaging, offering<br />
10-inch parabolic primary optics with a very<br />
fast f/3.9 focal ratio for exceptional widefield,<br />
deep-space imaging performance.<br />
Even faint galaxies and nebulas exhibit stunning<br />
detail with limited exposure time when<br />
photographed through this large-aperture<br />
astrograph with a CCD imager or DSLR<br />
camera.<br />
Both the 10-inch (254-mm) primary<br />
and secondary mirror feature enhanced<br />
reflectivity (94%) aluminization for bright,<br />
contrast-rich images. The 82-mm minor<br />
axis secondary mirror provides excellent fullfield<br />
illumination with modern CCD<br />
imagers and DSLR cameras, with less than<br />
8-percent light drop-off at the edge of APS-<br />
C sized sensors. The adjustable 4-vane secondary<br />
mirror holder features very thin, 1-<br />
mm thick spider vanes to minimize diffraction<br />
effects in images. A center mark on the<br />
primary mirror and three easy-grip collimation<br />
knobs make optical alignment easy and<br />
precise.<br />
Extended tube length of 7.5-inches in<br />
front of the focuser blocks intrusion of offaxis<br />
light, ensuring optimum image contrast.<br />
The sturdy 2-inch dual-speed (11:1),<br />
low-profile Crayford focuser permits ultrafine<br />
focus and has 38-mm of drawtube travel<br />
and a helpful drawtube lock knob. A steel<br />
reinforcing plate bolted inside the 38.6-inch<br />
long tube directly under the focuser helps<br />
eliminate flexure between it and tube, even<br />
with heavy imaging gear attached.<br />
As with any fast Newtonian, an optional<br />
coma corrector is recommended to<br />
achieve flat-field imaging performance.<br />
Standard accessories include two cast-aluminum<br />
tube rings, a 9x50 finder scope, 2-<br />
inch and 1.25-inch extension adapters, and<br />
a 12-volt DC fan for accelerated primary<br />
mirror cool-down.<br />
Not only should this affordable astrograph<br />
excel as an astro-imaging instrument,<br />
but the 10-inch f/3.9 Newtonian can also be<br />
used as a formidable visual telescope. Its<br />
large 10-inch aperture and fast focal ratio<br />
will provide wondrous views of deep-space<br />
28 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
objects, the planets and Moon, and<br />
sparkling star fields in both 2-inch and 1.25-<br />
inch eyepieces. The Orion 10-inch f/3.9<br />
Newtonian Astrograph Reflector is priced at<br />
$599.95US.<br />
Orion 15x70 Astro-Binocular<br />
Orion’s 15x70 Astro-Binocular is an<br />
affordable astronomical binocular with big<br />
70-mm objective lenses and 15x magnification.<br />
Light transmission through the binoculars<br />
and view contrast is optimized by<br />
virtue of high-quality BAK-4 prisms, fully<br />
multi-coated optics, and internal baffling.<br />
Eyeglass wearers can enjoy the view through<br />
these affordable performers without removing<br />
their corrective lenses, thanks to eye<br />
relief of 18 mm. Foldable eyeguards provide<br />
helpful protection from distracting peripheral<br />
light sources, and fold down for use<br />
with eyeglasses.<br />
While these 15x70 Astro-Binoculars are<br />
small enough for hand-held scanning of<br />
the night sky, they also include a tripod<br />
L-adapter for mounted viewing sessions.<br />
These lightweight powerful performers<br />
weigh 3.1 pounds and are priced at<br />
$89.95US.<br />
Orion CCD Imager-to-Camera-Lens<br />
Adapters<br />
Orion has created a new line of CCD<br />
imager-to-camera-lens adapters that promise<br />
to bring a new facet of versatility to anyone’s<br />
astro-imaging repertoire by allowing<br />
the user to attach Canon EOS or Nikon<br />
DSLR/SLR lenses to its Parsec, StarShoot<br />
Pro V1, or StarShoot Pro V2/DSMI-III<br />
CCD Astronomical Imaging Cameras for<br />
capturing super-wide fields of view. Widefield<br />
expanses of night sky that would normally<br />
require a mosaic combination of narrow-field<br />
images can now be captured<br />
quickly and easily in a single shot. Imagine<br />
capturing the entirety of Cygnus in a single<br />
exposure! Imaging with such an expansive<br />
field of view also enables the user to take<br />
other creative compositions, such as star<br />
trails, landscape silhouettes, meteor showers,<br />
and more.<br />
As added benefit, short-focal-length<br />
DSLR/SLR camera lenses are far lighter and<br />
more compact than telescopes typically used<br />
for imaging and therefore do not require the<br />
large-capacity, precision mounts usually<br />
associated with astrophotography. Plus,<br />
autoguiding is not required for acceptable<br />
results.<br />
The Orion CCD Imager-to-Camera-<br />
Lens Adapters are priced from $129.95-<br />
169.95US, depending on model. Visit<br />
www.telescope.com for more information.<br />
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<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 29
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
INCANUS LTD<br />
Introduces Astro Photography Tool<br />
Incanus Ltd has announced<br />
the introduction of a new software<br />
tool, Astro Photography<br />
Tool, or APT, an application<br />
that facilitates automated<br />
control of Canon EOS cameras<br />
for more effective use in<br />
astrophotography. Said Ivaylo<br />
Stoynov of Incanus Ltd, “It was<br />
developed by astrophotographers,<br />
for astrophotographers.<br />
We are very proud that with our<br />
user interface, we started a new<br />
wave among the developers that<br />
work on astronomy-dedicated software<br />
and soon there will be other product<br />
with similar levels of dark-adaptation<br />
preservation.”<br />
Indeed, while the primary function of<br />
the tool is automation of camera control<br />
for greater ease of completion of almost all<br />
stages of the imaging session, a specific<br />
focus of the tool’s design was preservation<br />
of dark adaptation of the users eyes.<br />
The software is maturing quickly, with<br />
significant updates appearing almost<br />
monthly. Stoynov continued, “We keep<br />
close contact with astro photographers<br />
from all over the world and the discussions<br />
with them help us a lot to improve APT.<br />
Every change is inspired from our or<br />
others’ real experience under the sky; every<br />
new feature is added because there was a<br />
need. If you want to see what we made for<br />
a year, take a look on the History Page<br />
[www.ideiki.com/astro/History.aspx].”<br />
Features of APT include: Live View<br />
support for assistance in focusing in combination<br />
with a Bahtinov or other focusing<br />
mask; AntiVibration pause before exposure<br />
to account for vibration induced by movement<br />
of the camera’s mirror mechanism;<br />
three modes for long-exposure control;<br />
Shoestring <strong>Astronomy</strong> DSUSB/DSUSB2<br />
support; support for any serial control<br />
cable; flexible exposure control; automatic<br />
preview with every exposure; definable<br />
exposure sets – Light, Dark, and Flat frame<br />
plans are supported; provision for multicamera<br />
operation; storing destination selection<br />
(Camera/PC/Camera+PC); Live View<br />
recording in sequence of JPGs; Field-of-<br />
View calculator; alignment aid; objectframing<br />
aid; monitoring of laptop and<br />
camera battery levels, as well as camera free<br />
space; lens control for Digic III and later;<br />
support for TEMPer and TEMPerHUM<br />
sensors (available on eBay); Live View<br />
image intensification to show fainter<br />
objects in real time; LV Stack – stacks the<br />
Live View images in real time to assist in<br />
framing fainter objects; exit temperature<br />
readings; Tooltips in a number of languages;<br />
pause/resume function when plan<br />
execution is in progress; auto-synchronization<br />
of the camera’s clock on connection;<br />
splash screen to show loading progress;<br />
Night Mode for the user’s guide; Full<br />
Width Half Maximum focusing method;<br />
white balance control; and that’s just the<br />
“Demo Version” (there are no time restrictions<br />
on use the Demo Version).<br />
Stoynov reports that Incanus plans for<br />
future enhancements include: integration<br />
with PHD Guiding to support Auto-<br />
Dithering, more user-interface and performance<br />
optimizations, Preview Zoom,<br />
and a bulb mode for the “Shoot” button.<br />
For more information of APT, please<br />
visit www.AstroPlace.net.<br />
30 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
MALLINCAM<br />
Introduces the MallinCam Xtreme<br />
What can the new MallinCam Xtreme<br />
do for you Well, consider this: The handcrafted<br />
MallinCam Xtreme color astronomical<br />
video CCD camera features the new<br />
Fourth-Generation Hyper Circuit. This<br />
allows the user a choice of variable shutter<br />
speeds ranging from 3 seconds to 100 minutes<br />
– all with automatic refresh. The menu of this<br />
newest MallinCam can be fully controlled<br />
from a PC, including exposure time.<br />
Preset exposure times of 7, 14, 28, and 56<br />
seconds can be selected, as was the case with<br />
the MallinCam Hyper Plus series, but the user<br />
can now also select any other duration within<br />
the 3-second to 100-minute window<br />
described above.<br />
The MallinCam Xtreme even provides a<br />
CCD Mode for those who want to experiment<br />
with more traditional astro-imaging<br />
techniques. Although the Xtreme is designed<br />
primarily as a live observing camera, it can also<br />
capture breathtaking still images when all of<br />
the available CCD-imaging techniques are<br />
employed, such as dark frame subtraction,<br />
image calibration, etc.<br />
The included software contains a videocontrol<br />
interface that works in conjunction<br />
with the user-supplied capture device and the<br />
available video-control options in the software<br />
are limited only by those supported in that<br />
capture device. Options include brightness,<br />
contrast, gain, gamma, hue, saturation, sharpness,<br />
and white balance.<br />
Since PC control is through the RS-232<br />
auxiliary port on the MallinCam, more than<br />
300 feet of cable can be used for remote operation<br />
– far superior to the 15-foot limiting<br />
range of USB supported connection.<br />
When PC control is not utilized – such as<br />
when in the field at a star party – the optional<br />
wireless exposure-control module provides a<br />
fully-integrated on-screen menu. And for<br />
those who want the convenience of in-field<br />
menu control without having to use the five<br />
on-camera menu buttons, an optional wired<br />
menu keypad is also available.<br />
The MallinCam wireless exposure control<br />
works on RF radio waves, so unlike IR<br />
controllers, it does not require line of sight,<br />
and its 100 selectable channels ensure interference<br />
free operation even when other<br />
MallinCam users are in the field.<br />
All MallinCam Xtreme cameras feature a<br />
computerized adjustable Peltier cooler, a<br />
hand-picked Class-1 CCD sensor (a Class-0<br />
sensor is available as an option), an RS 232<br />
interface offering complete PC camera control,<br />
full shutter-speed adjustment ranging<br />
from OFF to 1/12,000 second for lunar, planetary<br />
and solar imaging, long exposures modes<br />
ranging from 2X to 128X (1/32 second to 2.1<br />
seconds), the new hyper mode with 3.3-second<br />
to 100-minute exposures described<br />
above, an on-board title generator, a programmable<br />
back-light compensation mode, full<br />
AGC adjustment in Auto Mode, Manual<br />
Mode (for Deep-Sky targets), and OFF Mode<br />
(for Deep-Sky targets and lunar, planetary,<br />
and solar observing).<br />
Addition features include: Two fullyindependent<br />
video outputs (high-resolution<br />
S-VHS and 75-Ohm composite; both can be<br />
used simultaneously), four programmable<br />
mask functions, positive and negative image<br />
selection, horizontal or vertical image inversion,<br />
freeze-image function, and more.<br />
Each MallinCam Xtreme camera system<br />
ships with the camera unit, a regulated power<br />
supply, 25 feet of high-grade dual-shielded<br />
power/composite-video cable combination, a<br />
high-precision 1.25-inch eyepiece<br />
adapter/heat transfer unit that is custom fabricated<br />
specifically for the MallinCam, and a<br />
BNC male-to-RCA female adapter.<br />
MallinCam Xtreme packages start at<br />
$1499.95US. For more information, please<br />
visit www.mallincam.tripod.com.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 31
NEWPRODUCTS<br />
MAGNILUX<br />
MX-1 Telescope Adapter for Apple iPhone<br />
Just when you thought it was safe to<br />
put your iPhone in your pocket,<br />
Magnilux, a small astronomy-based business<br />
on Florida’s space Coast owned by<br />
Bob Buchanan, developed the MX-1<br />
Telescope Adapter for the Apple iPhone to<br />
provide a simple way for iPhone owners to<br />
use their phones for astro-imaging and<br />
viewing.<br />
The MX-1 Telescope Adapter is<br />
specifically designed to facilitate attachment<br />
of the iPhone directly to a telescope<br />
eyepiece for viewing and photography via<br />
the afocal-method. The adapter is rugged,<br />
lightweight, and compatible with any<br />
model iPhone (original, 3G, 3GS, or 4).<br />
The MX-1 Telescope Adapter system<br />
includes three felt-lined attachment<br />
clamps that will adapt to almost any standard<br />
1.25-inch format eyepiece.<br />
Additionally, the MX-1 can be configured<br />
to attach your iPhone to a standard photography<br />
tripod for shooting landscapes,<br />
panoramas, or even family photos!<br />
Amateur astronomers will find the<br />
MX-1 a hit at star parties where it allows<br />
the iPhone to be used as a small, ultraportable<br />
display for sharing scope views<br />
with others. The easy dock/undock function<br />
of the adapter’s cradle will even let<br />
friends or onlookers snap in their own<br />
phones for quick snapshots through their<br />
host’s telescope.<br />
The MX-1 is offered at an introductory<br />
price of $44.95US. For more information,<br />
visit www.<strong>magnilux</strong>.com.<br />
FARPOINT ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH<br />
Introduces New V-Series Saddle<br />
Farpoint Astronomical Research has<br />
introduced a new addition to its V-Series<br />
line of dovetail saddles designated the<br />
FVSEQ. The new product provides easy<br />
bolt-on replacement of the stock dovetail<br />
saddles with which the popular Orion<br />
Atlas EQ-G and Skywatcher EQ6 Pro<br />
German equatorial mounts are equipped.<br />
Upgrading these already-capable<br />
mounts with the FVSEQ saddle and<br />
adapter increases their capacity by providing<br />
far more clamping area along Vixenstyle<br />
dovetails and,<br />
because the design of the<br />
FVSEQ utilizes a clamping<br />
bar rather than direct<br />
screw-to-dovetail-bar<br />
contact, the upgraded<br />
saddle will not mar the<br />
user’s dovetail bar.<br />
The Farpoint FVSEQ saddle and<br />
adapter assembly is precision machined<br />
from solid aluminum and feature<br />
Farpoint’s trademark padded knobs and a<br />
brass spacer. Each FVSEQ assembly is sold<br />
complete with attachment hardware and is<br />
priced at $99US.<br />
For more information, please visit<br />
www.farpointastro.com.<br />
32 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
The William Optics<br />
Megrez 120-mm<br />
Refractor<br />
By James R. Dire, Ph.D.<br />
NOTE FROM EDITOR<br />
A feature article detailing the functionality of the William Optics<br />
Digital Display Gauge is scheduled for followup this spring in ATT.<br />
The particular WO Megrez 120 that Dr. Dire tested was shipped by<br />
William Optics to Suffern, New York, for display at WO’s NEAF<br />
2010 exhibit, and the Digital Display Gauge was demonstrated repeatedly<br />
while there. The subject scope was then shipped by ATT from<br />
Suffern to its offices in Louisiana, where it was tested for accuracy of<br />
collimation and overall mechanical and digital function. From there<br />
telescope was shipped by ATT to Dr. Dire’s home in Hawaii. By the<br />
time he received the scope, the DDG would not power on.<br />
The cause of failure of the DDG unit to power on is simple:<br />
ATT’s managing editor has since confessed to having drained the battery<br />
in the DDG unit and forgetting to replace it before repacking the<br />
scope for shipment to Dr. Dire. The DDG feature was just too cool<br />
for him to resist using the battery to exhaustion.<br />
In 2003, I became interested in purchasing<br />
a hydrogen-alpha solar telescope for viewing<br />
the sun. For about the same price as a<br />
dedicated H-alpha telescope, I decided to purchase<br />
a 0.7-angstrom bandwidth, 40-mm (1.6<br />
inch) H-alpha filter set and a high-quality 80-<br />
mm (3.1 inch) f/6 refractor to use with it. I<br />
had never owned a good quality refractor and<br />
this equipment would allow me to conduct<br />
solar observations as well as use the refractor<br />
for wide-field nighttime observing, and possibly<br />
CCD imaging. Since my main goal was<br />
narrow bandwidth H-alpha observing, it didn’t<br />
matter whether the telescope was an achromatic<br />
or apochromatic refractor. So I bought<br />
an achromatic refractor.<br />
I should explain the differences between<br />
these two refractor types. Refracting lenses<br />
suffer from what is called chromatic aberration;<br />
different wavelengths of visible light do<br />
not focus at the same distance from the lens.<br />
To counter this effect, refractors usually have<br />
two or more objective lenses. In a two-lens<br />
system, the doublet is designed so that two<br />
different visible wavelengths focus at the same<br />
point. This is called an achromat. Most of the<br />
chromatic aberration is eliminated, except<br />
near the short-wavelength end of the visible<br />
spectrum. In a three-lens system, the triplet is<br />
designed so that three different visible wavelengths<br />
focus at the same point. This is called<br />
an apochromat, or APO for short. The result<br />
is that all visible chromatic aberration is eliminated.<br />
Because there are more elements in the<br />
objective, APOs are usually heavier and more<br />
expensive than achromatic refractors.<br />
My 80-mm telescope performed quite<br />
well with the H-alpha filter. The nighttime<br />
views where also stunning. I was hooked on<br />
refractors! The scope did show noticeable purple<br />
fringing around bright stars and planets,<br />
as well as the Moon, the usual sign of chromatic<br />
aberration in doublets. CCD imaging<br />
did not work well with the telescope because<br />
of this aberration.<br />
For that reason, as well as aperture fever,<br />
I sold the 80-mm achromat and purchased a<br />
4-inch f/7.9 apochromatic refractor. The<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 35
THE WILLIAM OPTICS MEGREZ 120-MM REFRACTOR<br />
Image 1 - The Double Cluster in Perseus, NGC 869 and NGC884<br />
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New MX-1 Telescope Adapter for iPhone!<br />
The MX-1 is an afocal adapter that attaches an iPhone directly to a<br />
telescope eyepiece for viewing and photography. It is rugged, lightweight<br />
and compatible with any model iPhone. It includes 3 felt-lined attachment<br />
clamps which will adapt to almost any standard 1.25" format eyepiece.<br />
It also can be configured to attach an iPhone to a standard photography<br />
tripod! Amateur astronomers will find the MX-1 a huge hit at star-parties<br />
allowing an iPhone to be used as an ultra-portable display for showing off<br />
your scope's view. The easy dock/undock of the cradle will even let others<br />
use their iPhones for a quick snapshot through your scope. And best of<br />
all, it’s offered at an introductory price of $44.95!<br />
www.<strong>magnilux</strong>.com<br />
APO provided higher magnification for solar<br />
viewing and worked quite well for digital imaging<br />
(see image gallery at www.wildwoodpines.org).<br />
A higher f-number results in less<br />
spherical aberration (another problem with refractors)<br />
than lower f-number refractors. For<br />
imaging with large-format digital cameras, I<br />
use a 0.8x focal reducer/field flattener.<br />
<strong>Today</strong>, many telescope manufacturers<br />
produce doublet refractors that use low-dispersion<br />
glass and special coatings that allow<br />
them to perform very close to an apochromat.<br />
Some call these telescopes semi-APOs or even<br />
APOs, but in my opinion the latter is stretching<br />
it a bit too far.<br />
Last fall, I had the opportunity to test<br />
drive a new refractor, the Megrez 120, made<br />
by William Optics. The Megrez 120 uses a<br />
120-mm (4.7 inches) f/7.5 air-spaced doublet<br />
made with FPL53 ED glass with STM<br />
coatings. FPL stands for femto-photoluminescent,<br />
and FPL53 is a specific type of this<br />
glass that contains no lead or fluorite. The ED<br />
in the specification means extra-low dispersion.<br />
FPL53 glass has about the lowest index<br />
of refraction of any glass made. Finally, STM<br />
means super transmission. The STM coatings<br />
eliminate internal reflections between the elements<br />
in the objective.<br />
The Megrez 120 is the largest in this<br />
William Optics’ line, which includes apertures<br />
of 110 mm, 90 mm, 88 mm, and 72 mm.<br />
The Megrez 120 has a beautifully painted<br />
white tube with gold-colored trim. It comes<br />
with a 2-speed manual focuser with a Digital<br />
Display Gauge (DDG) and a nice set of aluminum<br />
tube rings. The focuser can be rotated<br />
360 degrees to allow a diagonal to be optimally<br />
positioned for any viewing angle. The<br />
scope also comes with an adapter to use 1.25-<br />
inch eyepieces, but it does not come with a<br />
diagonal, a must for visual observing. I recommend<br />
purchasing a high-quality 2-inch diagonal<br />
with this telescope.<br />
The first night I used this scope, I only<br />
performed visual observations. The first thing<br />
I noticed when I unpacked the scope was how<br />
much lighter it was than my smaller 4-inch<br />
APO. I attached it to my German equatorial<br />
mount and then attached a 9x50 finderscope<br />
36 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
THE WILLIAM OPTICS MEGREZ 120-MM REFRACTOR<br />
Image 2 – The Pleiades, M45<br />
onto the top of one of the tube rings.<br />
Almost all of my viewing was done with<br />
a 12-mm Tele Vue Nagler eyepiece providing<br />
75x magnification. My first target was the<br />
double cluster in Perseus (NGC869 and<br />
NGC884). Both star clusters easily fit into the<br />
field of view and the stars were perfect points<br />
out to the edge. The 4.7-inch aperture<br />
provides 38 percent more light gathering<br />
power than a 4-inch refractor and higher<br />
resolution. Both of these were apparent<br />
in side-by-side comparison with my 4-inch<br />
APO.<br />
I next slewed the telescope onto some<br />
planetary nebulae, namely M27 and M57.<br />
Both were quite impressive with excellent<br />
contrast. I could see considerable detail in the<br />
Dumbbell. Afterwards, I steered the telescope<br />
to Comet Hartley to spy its stellar-like nucleus<br />
and faint coma.<br />
The Andromeda galaxy was quite a treat<br />
in the Megrez 120. With the 12-mm Nagler,<br />
M31 and its two satellite galaxies, M32 and<br />
NGC 205, were all fully contained in the<br />
same field of view. I could see much more<br />
structure in the spiral arms, than in my<br />
smaller APO. The Pinwheel galaxy, M33, is<br />
always a challenge due to its large size and low<br />
surface brightness. But in the dark skies on the<br />
west side of Kaua’i, I could actually<br />
trace out the brighter regions of its<br />
spiral arms in the Megrez. I also found<br />
the fainter galaxies M74, NGC1023,<br />
NGC7331 and NGC891 in this telescope,<br />
however this aperture did not<br />
offer any detail for these smaller galaxies.<br />
The biggest treat was viewing<br />
Jupiter with the Megrez 120 with my<br />
5-mm Nagler eyepiece (180x). This<br />
aperture provided just the right<br />
amount of light to see incredible detail<br />
without filters. Multiple belts and<br />
zones, polar structure, the Great Red<br />
Spot, and two white ovals were clearly<br />
visible. Plus, I was able to watch<br />
Galilean moons and their shadows<br />
transit the planet’s disk!<br />
I dedicated the second night out<br />
with the scope to CCD imaging and<br />
decided to use my SBIG ST-<br />
2000XCM single-shot color camera<br />
with the onboard guide chip. This<br />
eliminated the need for a guide scope.<br />
The transparency that night was excellent,<br />
but unfortunately the seeing<br />
was no better then than 3 arcsec. To<br />
shorten exposure times, I used a<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 37
THE WILLIAM OPTICS MEGREZ 120-MM REFRACTOR<br />
Image 3 - The Orion Nebula, M42<br />
William Optics adjustable focal reducer set at<br />
0.75. This resulted in an effective 675-mm<br />
focal length at f/5.6.<br />
Again, my first target was the double<br />
cluster in Perseus (Image 1). This cluster-pair<br />
contains stars with colors across most of the<br />
visible spectrum. The exposure was 10-minutes.<br />
Note, the stars are perfectly round across<br />
the entire field of view, and many blue, yellow<br />
and red stars are scattered throughout the<br />
image.<br />
Next I shot the Pleiades (Image 2). The<br />
entire cluster did not fit on the camera’s CCD,<br />
however it should on larger format chips with<br />
this telescope. The 30-minute exposure<br />
picked up a lot of the nebulosity surrounding<br />
the cluster. When tested under this most extreme<br />
of applications, purple halos around the<br />
brightest stars in the image are an indication<br />
that the doublet, despite using low-dispersion<br />
glass, is not entirely eliminating the chromatic<br />
aberration when combined with the adjustable<br />
focal reducer.<br />
My last test image with the Megrez 120<br />
was of the Orion Nebula (Image 3). This<br />
image was also 30 minutes. The seeing had<br />
degraded somewhat and the guide chip had<br />
more difficulty tracking the guide star.<br />
This resulted in the larger star sizes in the<br />
image. Still, there is good detail in the nebula<br />
structure.<br />
Visually, I found this scope quite a delight<br />
to use and would highly recommend it<br />
for the following uses. The nearly 5-inches of<br />
aperture make this scope perfect for lunar,<br />
planetary and star cluster viewing. The scope<br />
is also perfect for splitting close double stars<br />
or viewing double stars with good color contrast.<br />
With respect to color correction, visually<br />
it performed as good as my more<br />
expensive, but smaller triplet APO. In general,<br />
small refractors aren’t the best scopes for faint,<br />
deep-sky observing, but the Megrez 120 certainly<br />
is the best scope in this William Optics<br />
line for use in a Messier marathon.<br />
About the only thing I can say negative<br />
about the scope is that the focuser, while certainly<br />
competent, did not operate as smoothly<br />
as the premium unit on my 4-inch APO. I<br />
had to completely loosen the focuser lock to<br />
make minor adjustments with the fine focusing<br />
knob – something I do not have to do<br />
with my 4-inch APO. However, the William<br />
Optics focuser’s 360 degree rotation allowed<br />
the eyepiece to be rotated to a comfortable<br />
viewing angle without affecting the focus,<br />
something I don’t have on my APO.<br />
I mentioned above that this model comes<br />
with a Digital Display Gauge (DDG) focuserposition<br />
readout. By the time I received<br />
the scope, the DDG would not power on and<br />
I did not concern myself with replacement<br />
of the battery; the DDG function is one I am<br />
not likely to use because it is not integral to<br />
my well-established focus routine. Some<br />
who use the DDG under widely-varying<br />
temperature ranges might find that the<br />
accessory would only be useful in obtaining a<br />
rough focus, since thermal expansion/contraction<br />
of the telescope tube with temperature can<br />
significantly change the focal point of the telescope,<br />
making a previously verified and<br />
recorded 3-digit focus value inexact. But for<br />
even those users, the DDG function should<br />
greatly speed obtaining rough focusing for<br />
imaging, leaving ultimate fine focus to be<br />
accomplished using other techniques commonly<br />
used by astrophotographers.<br />
38 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
Celestron SkyProdigy<br />
Stands Out at<br />
International Computer<br />
Electronics Show<br />
“The beauty of a SkyProdigy telescope, in my<br />
opinion, is that it takes another giant whack at<br />
opening up the hobby of astronomy to the public<br />
at large by lowering the intimidation factor”<br />
By Penny Distasio<br />
I am not a CES regular, but when I<br />
heard that Celestron was going to announce<br />
something special this year, I decided to hop<br />
in my car and make the drive to Las Vegas to<br />
see what all the hoopla was about. It's a dirty<br />
job, but somebody's got to do it.<br />
The star of the show at the Celestron<br />
booth, and winner of two prestigious awards<br />
(the CES 2011 Innovations Award & the<br />
Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award) is<br />
– drum roll, please – Celestron SkyProdigy<br />
telescopes. At first glance, these telescopes<br />
don't look like anything super innovative or<br />
revolutionary. There are three scopes in the<br />
SkyProdigy line – a 130mm reflector, a<br />
70mm refractor, and a 90mm Maksutov-<br />
Cassegrain – and they are supported by a<br />
simple-looking single-armed alt-azimuth<br />
mount.<br />
However, if you look a bit closer, you<br />
will see a small red tube projecting from the<br />
“arm” of the mount. This tube is actually a<br />
digital camera that takes pictures of the sky<br />
during the alignment process, which is cool,<br />
but if you follow the crazy world of telescope<br />
manufacturing, it still isn't revolutionary.<br />
What IS revolutionary is the software that<br />
interacts with the camera and telescope. That<br />
software is called StarSense <strong>Technology</strong>, and it<br />
is where the rubber meets the road.<br />
StarSense <strong>Technology</strong>, the true star of<br />
SkyProdigy. What is StarSense <strong>Technology</strong> and<br />
what does it do Think of StarSense <strong>Technology</strong><br />
as facial recognition or fingerprint matching<br />
software for the Universe. I am not<br />
talking specifics here, but in broad generalities.<br />
In a television crime drama, there always<br />
comes the scene where an image of someone's<br />
face (or a fingerprint, or a bullet shot<br />
from a weapon) gets compared via computer<br />
to those available in an FBI database, right<br />
Images fly by at lightening speed until BAM!,<br />
a match is made, and the case is all but<br />
solved. Well, StarSense <strong>Technology</strong> does that.<br />
The camera takes a 5 x 7 degree image<br />
of the night sky, and then the software compares<br />
that image to the database. It does not<br />
look at magnitudes of stars, but the pattern<br />
they make – the vectors that can be created<br />
by that particular grouping of stars – and it<br />
makes a guess. Computations are made,<br />
math that I don't understand is done, and<br />
Celestron SkyProdigy 130 at CES<br />
the telescope moves to a section of the sky<br />
that it assumes will look a certain way if its<br />
guess is correct on the first image, and the<br />
process starts again, but of course the computer<br />
is learning all the time, and making deductions<br />
based on the images it sees. Three<br />
minutes later, the telescope knows where it<br />
is on the planet, it knows what time it is, and<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 39
CELESTRON SKYPRODIGY<br />
it knows how to get to anything else in the<br />
sky. In my opinion, that is pretty impressive,<br />
and it works really well.<br />
All you have to do to get a SkyProdigy<br />
telescope up and running is take it outside, sit<br />
it down, turn it on, and push one button on<br />
the hand controller. The telescope starts its<br />
dance, unaccompanied by you, and three<br />
minutes later it is ready to rock. You can hit<br />
a button to take a tour of the best objects out<br />
that evening and stand back, or you can<br />
punch in a planet or another object yourself,<br />
and the SkyProdigy will find it for you.<br />
There is no GPS to lose a signal from, so<br />
you can be close to your house and still<br />
achieve alignment. In fact, I asked what<br />
would happen if an image acquired by the<br />
camera was that of a building or a tree, and<br />
I was told that StarSense takes that into account,<br />
and that even if you only have a small<br />
area of sky observable from your location, it<br />
would align to that area and know what was<br />
unobservable due to obstructions or the horizon.<br />
It may take longer than 3 minutes in<br />
these instances, but it would align. That is<br />
nice to know.<br />
Other nice features include the ability to<br />
change out the optical tube assembly. The<br />
telescope tube is attached to the mount via a<br />
dovetail, and it is a simple task to remove it<br />
and slide another tube onto the mount. The<br />
camera is aligned at the factory to the OTA<br />
that it ships with, however, so a simple realignment<br />
would be necessary, but that<br />
process is handled through the hand controller<br />
by the user, so its no big deal.<br />
By the way, the telescope breaks down<br />
further than simply removing the OTA. The<br />
mount disconnects from the tripod with a<br />
simple knob located underneath the tripod<br />
head. However, whether you keep the telescope<br />
assembled, or break it down into two<br />
or three pieces, these are lightweight instruments,<br />
topping out at a max of 18 lbs for the<br />
largest version, which is the SkyProdigy 130.<br />
The beauty of a SkyProdigy telescope,<br />
in my opinion, is that it takes another giant<br />
whack at opening up the hobby of astronomy<br />
to the public at large by lowering the<br />
intimidation factor. Not everyone wants<br />
their hobbies or activities to have a learning<br />
curve. That is why, although most people<br />
love to take pictures, some are content with<br />
the camera on their cell phone while others<br />
need the latest digital SLR with a myriad of<br />
lenses, flashes, and other accessories.<br />
Now teachers, scout leaders, and parents<br />
can buy a telescope that can be used after 5<br />
minutes learning the basics of the hand controller<br />
and feel confident that their students<br />
and children will get to experience the beauty<br />
of our Universe through a telescope without<br />
the need to learn how to set up and align the<br />
instrument before they can do so.<br />
With 4,000 objects in the SKYProdigy's<br />
database, this scope should entertain anyone<br />
for a long time to come, and for many, it will<br />
be all they will ever need to enjoy astronomy.<br />
Others will see bigger telescopes in<br />
their future, and still others, personal<br />
observatories, but each of those journeys<br />
starts with acquiring a good first telescope<br />
that delivers an experience that most people<br />
expect, and I believe the SkyProdigy will do<br />
just that.<br />
40 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
Field Testing<br />
the TMB-92L<br />
Signature<br />
Series<br />
A True Gem of an Apo<br />
Image 1 - The TMB-92L seated piggy back on the TMB-130 refractor. The two telescopes<br />
are used alternately for imaging and guiding atop a Losmandy G-11 mount.<br />
By Klaus Brasch<br />
The TMB-92L Signature Series f/5.5<br />
apochromatic refractor is truly a gem.<br />
Not only is it one of the smallest, most<br />
portable telescopes of its type, it is a super<br />
performer both visually and for widefield<br />
astro imaging.<br />
Weighing in at a mere 8.5 pounds, it<br />
is beautifully crafted and closes down to<br />
about 14 inches in length when fitted<br />
into its attractive hard metal traveling<br />
case. The 92L model is equipped with<br />
a dual-speed Crayford-type focuser,<br />
extendable dew shield and smooth-fitting<br />
dust cap. It also has a rotating camera/<br />
eyepiece holder, equipped with 1.25- and<br />
2-inch compression rings. A somewhat<br />
costlier model (TMB-92) equipped with<br />
a 3-inch Feather Touch focuser is also<br />
available.<br />
The Signature Series of apochromatic<br />
refractors was designed by master optical<br />
designer, Thomas M. Back, some years<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 41
FIELD TESTING THE TMB-92L SIGNATURE SERIES F/5.5<br />
Image 2 - The Andromeda galaxy imaged with a Hutech-modified Canon 50D and the<br />
TMB-92L f/5.5 equipped with an AstroTech field flattener.<br />
Image 3 - Close-up of the four corners of Image 2<br />
before his untimely death in 2007. His<br />
outstanding TMB-130 f/7 has been available<br />
for several years and is a fine performer<br />
in its own right. For details, see<br />
my review in ATT Volume 2, #5, 2008. I<br />
now use both telescopes mounted piggy<br />
back, alternately for imaging and as guide<br />
scopes (see Image 1).<br />
Visual Performance<br />
Due to its short f-ratio and 506-mm<br />
focal length, the TMB-92L is an ideal<br />
“richest-field” telescope. It provides an<br />
eye-popping 4-degree actual field of view<br />
with a 26-mm Nagler, 3.7 degrees with a<br />
23-mm Axiom and around 3 degrees<br />
with a 22-mm Panoptic. In short, it fully<br />
frames extended objects like the<br />
Andromeda galaxy, the Pleiades, the<br />
Rosette nebula and the North America<br />
complex, to name a few. Moreover,<br />
thanks to this little scope’s incredible<br />
high contrast, under really dark, transparent<br />
skies, many of these objects stand<br />
out in sharp contrast against the<br />
background giving an almost 3-D like<br />
appearance.<br />
While I expected good deep-sky<br />
performance from the TMB-92L, I was<br />
astounded by how well it also performs<br />
on the moon and planets. Even a bright<br />
gibbous moon showed no detectable<br />
chromatic aberration. Under low power,<br />
the moon too provided stunning views of<br />
a world suspended in space. With higher<br />
magnification, numerous craterlets<br />
popped into view inside major basins like<br />
Ptolemaeus and Clavius.<br />
The biggest surprise, though, was the<br />
remarkable high-power views the<br />
TMB-92L provided of Jupiter. Using an<br />
older, 2.5-mm Orion Lanthanum-series<br />
eyepiece at 200x on a night of very good<br />
seeing, Jupiter’s cloud bands and the<br />
currently rather faint Red Spot stood out<br />
in remarkably sharp contrast and subtle<br />
colors. This is truly impressive performance<br />
by a pocket-size telescope of less<br />
than 4 inches in aperture.<br />
Imaging Performance<br />
My main reason for obtaining the<br />
TMB-92L was for imaging with my<br />
Hutech-modified Canon DSLR. I<br />
wanted something in the 500-mm focallength<br />
range, with “fast” optics and widefield<br />
capabilities to supplement my<br />
longer-focal-length telescopes and to<br />
serve as potential guide scope for an<br />
Orion StarShoot auto guider. I have not<br />
been disappointed.<br />
Like all fast apochromatic refractors<br />
42 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
FIELD TESTING THE TMB-92L SIGNATURE SERIES F/5.5<br />
available today, the TMB-92L requires a<br />
field flattener for digital imaging even<br />
with an APS-size sensor. Since cost is<br />
always a consideration, I tried the<br />
surprisingly inexpensive ($150 US)<br />
Astro-Tech flattener available from<br />
Astronomics. Designed for refractors in<br />
the f/6-to-f/8 range, this flattener works<br />
very well on the f/7 TMB-130 apo, but<br />
I expected to be pushing its limits<br />
with the f/5.5 TMB-92L. Not so as it<br />
turns out.<br />
Images 2 and 3 show an entire frame<br />
of the Andromeda galaxy and close-ups<br />
of its four corners, respectively. This<br />
image was obtained by stacking three 10-<br />
minute exposures in RegiStar, all taken<br />
with a modified Canon 50D at ISO 800,<br />
through an IDAS LPS-P2-FF camera insert<br />
filter. Final processing was done in<br />
Photoshop CS3. As these images illustrate,<br />
stars appeared sharp and round throughout,<br />
with just a slight drop off in the extreme<br />
corners of the field.<br />
Finally, Image 4 is a collage<br />
of four independent 6-<br />
minute exposures of the<br />
regions encompassing M8,<br />
M20 and IC- 4685, all shot<br />
at ISO 1600 through the<br />
IDAS LPS-P2-FF filter. The<br />
images were combined in<br />
Photoshop’s Photomerge application.<br />
Not only are stars<br />
sharp and round throughout<br />
the mosaic, but the range of<br />
contrast and detail in the<br />
nebulous portions of the<br />
image is most impressive.<br />
In sum, the TMB-92L is<br />
an outstanding performer,<br />
both visually and photographically.<br />
Its combination<br />
of quality, aperture, fast focal<br />
ratio and reasonable price is<br />
hard to beat.<br />
Image 4 - Mosaic of four separate images of the area encompassing<br />
M8, M20 and IC-4685, captured with the<br />
TMB-92L and a modified Canon 50D.<br />
Parabolic & Spherical optics<br />
Elliptical Diagonal Flats<br />
Complete interferometric data<br />
29 years (full-time) experience<br />
www.ostahowskioptics.com<br />
fineoptics@dishmail.net<br />
951-763-5959<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 43
AG OPTICAL SYSTEMS<br />
18-INCH NEWTONIAN<br />
ASTROGRAPH<br />
By Mark Manner<br />
Image 1 - The AGO Newtonian astrograph positioned on a portable third pier in the center<br />
of the author’s observatory.<br />
When I received a call a few months<br />
ago from Dave Tandy, the founder of AG<br />
Optical Systems, asking if I might be willing<br />
to take a few images to test a new telescope,<br />
I was immediately interested.<br />
Although I am happy with the telescopes<br />
I currently use for imaging, like most amateur<br />
astronomers, I enjoy working with<br />
new equipment and thought that it would<br />
be interesting to image with a different instrument.<br />
It wasn’t until after I met with Dave<br />
that I found that I would be testing his<br />
company’s first 18-inch f/3.54 Newtonian<br />
Astrograph, manufactured using in-house<br />
designed and fabricated carbon-fiber<br />
components. Given that my task was to<br />
report on the telescope’s imaging performance,<br />
for most of the technical aspects<br />
of its design and fabrication I refer<br />
the reader to AGO’s very helpful and informative<br />
website, www.agoptical.com.<br />
Since my prior experience has primarily<br />
been with telescopes in the f/7-to-f/20<br />
range, I was very excited about the<br />
prospect of working with a large, fast telescope.<br />
I was also interested in seeing how<br />
AGO handled the structural precision demanded<br />
by a very fast optical system.<br />
The telescope was delivered in early<br />
October and set up on a Paramount ME<br />
on a temporary pier in the middle of my<br />
roll-off roof observatory. Since I have two<br />
piers in my observatory, fitting a third in<br />
the middle required some experimentation<br />
with the park position of my other<br />
instruments (see Image 1).<br />
My initial impression was that the telescope<br />
was huge! Given its size, the optical<br />
tube assembly’s relatively light<br />
90-pound weight was impressive, and a<br />
testament to its carbon fiber construction.<br />
As described on its website, AGO uses a<br />
carbon-fiber “sandwich” in the walls of the<br />
tube, resulting in an extremely light yet<br />
rigid structure. Even with the very-narrow<br />
critical-focus zone inherent in an f/3.54<br />
system, I found the focus to remain stable<br />
while imaging for several hours with a<br />
temperature change of more than 20-degrees<br />
Fahrenheit.<br />
The telescope arrived with three adjustable<br />
cooling fans behind the primary<br />
mirror, a well-flocked black tube interior,<br />
the new Finger Lakes Instruments (FLI)<br />
Atlas focuser, and a 3-inch Wynne corrector.<br />
I attached my SBIG STL6303E camera<br />
with AstroDon LRGBHa filters to the<br />
corrector, and began the process of getting<br />
set up for imaging. I controlled the Paramount<br />
with TheSky6, used CCDSoft for<br />
camera control, and FocusMax to automate<br />
focusing with the FLI Atlas. After<br />
the usual challenges with software and<br />
hardware unrelated to the OTA, I was<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 45
AG OPTICAL SYSTEMS 18-INCH NEWTONIAN ASTROGRAPH<br />
Image 2 - Cross section of AGO’s custom carbon-fiber/Nomex-honeycomb composite<br />
tube wall.<br />
Image 3 - The FLI Atlas focuser carrying<br />
the author’s SBIG STL6303E camera.<br />
able to begin imaging. Image calibration<br />
and initial processing was done with<br />
CCDWare’s CCDStack2, and final processing<br />
steps were accomplished in Photoshop<br />
CS5.<br />
Initially, the tight tolerances of this<br />
fast optical system created a few problems<br />
with field flatness and star shape. After adjusting<br />
the tilt-tip plate that the focuser<br />
was mounted on, I relatively quickly<br />
achieved a fairly-flat field. This process<br />
was greatly aided by use of CCDWare’s<br />
CCDInspector2. I expect that further finetuning<br />
of the collimation and tilt-tip of<br />
the focuser base would result in even better<br />
performance. This would be the first<br />
step once this telescope was permanently<br />
set up in the owner’s observatory, and<br />
should only be a one-time exercise, as I<br />
was able to confirm that there was no appreciable<br />
change in flatness or focus when<br />
slewing around from one side of the<br />
meridian to the other. Pointing was also<br />
excellent all-sky, even given the temporary<br />
nature of the mounting and relatively<br />
small T-Point model I used. This confirms<br />
that the OTA’s mounting dovetail, mirror<br />
attachments and tube structure are robust<br />
and rigid.<br />
Since I was using a non-antiblooming<br />
gate camera, I experienced significant<br />
blooming in most images. The<br />
STL11K or other anti-blooming gate<br />
camera would of course be a better match<br />
for this system. All of my imaging was<br />
done without binning the camera, yielding<br />
an image scale of 1.15 arcseconds per<br />
pixel. To minimize the blooming issue, I<br />
initially imaged M27, the Dumbbell Nebula,<br />
using an Ha filter (see Image 4). This<br />
test resulted in a very nice narrow-band<br />
image with only 40 minutes total exposure<br />
time using one-minute subexposures.<br />
I next tried an LRGB image, taking<br />
310 minutes total exposure time on M33<br />
(see Image 5). The results were very good,<br />
with nice color depth.<br />
My final two images were NGC 281,<br />
the PacMan Nebula (Image 6), 340 minutes<br />
Ha, and M27 LRGB (Image 7), 148<br />
minutes total exposure time. Both images<br />
46 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
AG OPTICAL SYSTEMS 18-INCH NEWTONIAN ASTROGRAPH<br />
Image5<br />
Image 4<br />
Image 6<br />
Image 7<br />
continued to showcase the benefits of a<br />
well-put-together fast optical system.<br />
Large fast astrographs are becoming<br />
very popular with amateurs using largechip<br />
cameras, and after testing AGO’s<br />
Newtonian Astrograph I can see why.<br />
AGO has entered this market with a range<br />
of very competitive astrographs, and I was<br />
sorry to see the telescope leave my observatory.<br />
Based on my experience with their<br />
first product, I look forward to seeing<br />
more from the company, including their<br />
line of f/6.7 “Imaging Dall Kirkham” telescopes.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 47
AG OPTICAL SYSTEMS 18-INCH NEWTONIAN ASTROGRAPH<br />
AGO Newtonian Astrographs Features<br />
AGO Newtonian astrographs combine<br />
large aperture, fast focal ratio, and corrected<br />
optics with a lightweight, very stiff, thermallystable<br />
carbon-fiber tube. The f/3.6 interferometrically-tested<br />
optics incorporate oversize<br />
secondaries to assure full illumination of a<br />
wide field of view. The primary and secondary<br />
mirrors feature enhanced-aluminum coatings<br />
for maximum light throughput and<br />
contrast.<br />
AGO Newtonian astrographs use Supremax<br />
33 (a Schott Borosilicate glass) primary<br />
mirrors that have a conical shape. Conical mirrors<br />
are lighter than typical flat mirrors and the<br />
conical shape facilitates simple yet rigid<br />
mounting that maintains the integrity of the<br />
wavefront produced by the primary mirror<br />
surface.<br />
Off-axis abberations are corrected<br />
through the use of a 3-inch Wynne corrector<br />
providing pinpoint stars over a 50-mm diameter<br />
field. The Wynne corrector privides 57<br />
mm of backfocus to accommodate most<br />
CCD camera-plus-filter-wheel combinations.<br />
The short focal lengths of AGO Newtonian<br />
astrographs are capable of producing<br />
fields of view that are significantly larger than<br />
those of standard Ritchey-Chretien and Dall-<br />
Kirkham telescopes of comparable aperture.<br />
For example, the AGO 16-inch f/3.6 Newtonian<br />
produces a image field measuring 64<br />
minutes by 43 minutes when mated with the<br />
SBIG STL11000 – a combination that perfectly<br />
frames such extended objects as the<br />
Orion Nebula (M42) or the M81-M82 galaxy<br />
pair and that is well-suited for research activities<br />
such as near-earth-object searches and<br />
photometry.<br />
The tube of the AGO Newtonian astrograph<br />
consists of a 0.75-inch carbon-fiber<br />
composite that sandwiches a core of honeycomb<br />
Nomex between carbon fiber skins to<br />
yield a tube that is very stiff and yet much<br />
lighter than aluminum tubes of comparable<br />
strength. The chief benefit of this carbon-fiber<br />
composite structure is the focus stability that<br />
results from its very-low coefficient of thermal<br />
expansion.<br />
The interior of the tube is coated with a<br />
premium-quality flocking material to mitigate<br />
internal reflection for maximum contrast at<br />
the focal plane. All aluminum components of<br />
the tube assembly are precision machined<br />
from 6061 aluminum and black anodized to<br />
produce a dark, wear-resistant finish. To<br />
prevent corrosion, all fasteners used in the<br />
assembly are stainless steel. Each AGO<br />
Newtonian astrograph is shipped with a set<br />
of lightweight, stiff, precision-machined<br />
aluminum mounting rings together with a<br />
dovetail plate.<br />
AGO’s standard package includes cooling<br />
fans and a manual speed controller, but it<br />
also offers an optional Thermal Control System<br />
based upon the Kendrick Premier Digital<br />
Controller, which system allows control fans<br />
and anti-dew heaters via a hand controller or<br />
a PC-based software application.<br />
AGO selected the Starlight Instruments<br />
3.5-inch digital focuser as standard equipment<br />
for a smooth, robust platform that allows<br />
automatic focusing.<br />
48 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
Astro-Tech<br />
8-Inch<br />
Imaging<br />
Newtonian<br />
All in all, I judge the AT8IN a winner –<br />
especially at its price point!<br />
By Rick Saunders<br />
Over the past few years I have plied<br />
my trade as an imager with a few lowand<br />
medium-priced refractors for wideangle<br />
imaging and an old Celestron C8<br />
SCT for work at longer focal lengths.<br />
The C8, while having very nice optics for<br />
its type, just wasn’t giving me the images<br />
that I wanted, so it was time for a change.<br />
We’re lucky these days; there are so<br />
many very good yet inexpensive optical<br />
tubes out there that the journey started<br />
with the “I need a new telescope”<br />
thought can be long and arduous. Eventually,<br />
I settled on three newcomers to<br />
the scene: all from <strong>Astronomy</strong> Technologies.<br />
The first two on the list were a pair<br />
of Ritchey-Chretiens: the Astro-Tech offerings<br />
in 8-inch and 6-inch apertures.<br />
The 8-inch f/8 was very tempting, but<br />
would mean imaging at a 1600-mm focal<br />
length – longer than that of my C8 with<br />
its reducer/flattener. This was not something<br />
that I relished and there was then<br />
no dedicated focal reducer for the 8-inch<br />
R-C on the horizon. Its smaller brother,<br />
the 6-inch f/9, has a shorter focal length,<br />
but was still longer than I wanted. In the<br />
end, both were relegated to the “also ran”<br />
list as not ideal for my typical imaging<br />
applications.<br />
The third Astro-Tech is another optical<br />
tube optimized for imaging: the 8-<br />
inch Imaging Newtonian (AT8IN).<br />
While I’ve never been a big fan of Newtonians<br />
on German-equatorial mounts,<br />
this one intrigued me. The AT8IN operates<br />
at a fast f/4 for a focal length of<br />
about 800 mm, which is just about<br />
where I like to be. While only 13 percent<br />
longer than my Stellarvue SV102ED, it<br />
has almost four times the light gathering<br />
area and is almost two stops faster. I don’t<br />
care how many people say that speed<br />
doesn’t matter when imaging digitally...faster<br />
is faster. After reading the<br />
scanty information available on-line<br />
about these scopes, I took the plunge and<br />
ordered one from Astronomics in Norman,<br />
Oklahoma. Oh, the price A very<br />
pleasant $449USD and less than half the<br />
price of the AT 8-inch R-C.<br />
Packaging and Shipping<br />
The telescope arrived in a few days<br />
in a single box with two foam<br />
“clamshells” to keep the tube from<br />
bouncing around. Fortunately FedEx<br />
seems to have played nicely with the<br />
package as nothing was damaged. I<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 49
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
Image 1 - M4 screws fitted with press-on knobs replaced<br />
the stock secondary collimation screws.<br />
would really liked to have seen a bit more<br />
packaging, although Astronomics did fill<br />
all remaining voids in the box with foam<br />
peanuts as they had to open it to add the<br />
Cheshire sight-tube that I ordered with<br />
it. Also inside was a second box<br />
that held the supplied accessories:<br />
split-rings, the finder<br />
with hardware, and a 35-mm extension<br />
tube.<br />
Description and<br />
Accessories<br />
The AT8IN is a nominal 200-<br />
mm aperture, 800-mm focal<br />
length, standard-Newtonian telescope<br />
with a few well thought<br />
out twists. The unit comes replete<br />
with a handful of moldedplastic<br />
light baffles inside its<br />
tube, which is extended almost<br />
120 mm past where a normal<br />
Newtonian’s tube would end.<br />
This longer “snout” is designed<br />
to cut more off-axis light from<br />
reaching the optics, which indeed it<br />
seems to do. The tube is rolled steel and<br />
is fairly stiff. I would have preferred a<br />
seamless tube, but one can’t have everything,<br />
and the seam is unobtrusive.<br />
Some say that the baffles – each on its<br />
own ring – add stiffness to the tube. If<br />
true, it would be fine by me, but I don't<br />
think this is the case.<br />
The paint is glossy white and I did<br />
not find any blemishes in the finish. The<br />
Astro-Tech logo is big and bold and announces<br />
to all what the scope and its<br />
purpose are. At the front of the tube is a<br />
generous cast-alloy ring.<br />
The question of whether the baffles<br />
do more than look pretty is still being argued<br />
in various forums. Personally, I<br />
don’t care whether they decrease scattered<br />
light or not; they are flat black and<br />
certainly don’t promote light scatter. The<br />
plastic chosen is interesting as it shrinks<br />
a bit more than the steel tube as temperatures<br />
drop. In cold weather, the baffles<br />
loosen slightly, defeating any stiffening<br />
function. Each baffle is on its own ring,<br />
which means that when they find some<br />
slop there’s a lot that can move around<br />
inside the tube. But, while possibly not<br />
as effective as touted by the markers, I<br />
50 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
haven’t found the baffles to have any<br />
detrimental effect.<br />
Inside the AT8IN the secondary<br />
mirror is over-sized for even an f/4 tube.<br />
This is to better allow the light cone to<br />
fully illuminate an APS-C sized sensor<br />
without vignetting. The spider, which<br />
uses fairly thin vanes, holds a standard<br />
plastic and metal secondary-mirror<br />
holder. On checking, the secondary appears<br />
to have been offset properly away<br />
from the focuser in the tube.<br />
I had several modifications planned<br />
for the optical tube even as I placed my<br />
original order. In its stock configuration,<br />
collimating the secondary on the AT8IN<br />
requires a Phillips screwdriver. Fiddling<br />
with a screwdriver in the mouth of your<br />
optical tube in the dark, in the field, is a<br />
recipe for catastrophe. So, upon receiving<br />
the telescope I replaced the stock collimation<br />
screws with M4 screws fitted<br />
with press-on knobs from the local fastener<br />
store (Image 1). These work perfectly<br />
and I’m not tempting fate when<br />
setting collimation.<br />
The focuser is dual-speed<br />
Crayford-style which appears to<br />
be well positioned in the tube<br />
and machined as well as is<br />
needed for critical imaging applications.<br />
It is quite smooth and<br />
has thumbscrews for tension adjustment<br />
and locking. The tension<br />
screw provides force to keep<br />
a Canon DSLR from slipping<br />
and the locking screw did not<br />
appear to “cock” the drawtube<br />
appreciably when gently tightened.<br />
The focuser drawtube is<br />
very short and is designed specifically<br />
to accommodate a camera.<br />
Being an astrograph, the optical<br />
system is configured to provide<br />
enough in-focus to handle a variety<br />
of cameras.<br />
The 35-mm extension tube supplied<br />
with the scope was not long enough to<br />
allow any of my eyepieces to reach focus,<br />
but with the DSLR attached it was quite<br />
Image 2 - M6x25 bolts with red knobs replaced the<br />
stock primary cell locking knobs.<br />
ample, and longer extension tubes are<br />
readily available from a number of<br />
sources for those who also want to use<br />
the scope for visual observation as well<br />
as for imaging.<br />
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<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 51
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
Image 3 - Corner and center sections of image captured with a DSLR.<br />
One problem with the focuser arose when I<br />
decided that it needed to be powered. While the<br />
square base of the focuser is square to the tube, the<br />
round part that holds all of the moving bits (and<br />
cameras or eyepieces) isn’t; at least on mine. This has<br />
absolutely no effect on function and I didn't even<br />
notice the slight tilt to the focus tube until I added<br />
belts and pulleys. But that too was taken into<br />
account. For those who are interested, details of<br />
the project by which I motorized the stock<br />
focuser are featured in the July-August 2010 issue<br />
of ATT.<br />
The supplied finder is a standard 50-mm<br />
straight-through unit of approximately 8X. The<br />
cylindrical finder mount makes use of a rubber O-<br />
ring at one end and two thumbscrews and a spring<br />
at the other. This is very nice setup that greatly simplifies<br />
adjustment – there is no fighting to change<br />
orientation with respect to the Newtonian’s optical<br />
train. The finder’s mounting bracket fits a standard<br />
dovetail and, although the straight-through format<br />
isn’t my favorite, my only real problem with the<br />
arrangement is that the dovetail is positioned so that<br />
when you are looking through the finder you are<br />
likely to breathe across the eyepiece. Fortunately, it’s<br />
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52 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
easy enough to relocate the finder base<br />
to suit individual preferences.<br />
At the bottom end of the tube lies<br />
the primary mirror which is properly<br />
center spotted and resides in a “no tools”<br />
collimatable cell with six glove-use-sized<br />
knobs. Three are spring tensioned to adjust<br />
the mirror orientation and the other<br />
three are there only to lock the cell in<br />
place after alignment. The placement of<br />
the three locking screws was unusual. Instead<br />
of being positioned close to the respective<br />
adjustment screws, they are sited<br />
midway between them. Once I’d gotten<br />
the mirror where I wanted it, the locking<br />
screws tended to lever it out of position<br />
a bit and I found that I had to lock<br />
the cell and then tweak the adjustment<br />
knobs a tad more to keep things straight.<br />
As with the secondary collimation<br />
screws, I replaced the three primary cell<br />
locking knobs with M6x25 parts with<br />
red knobs (See Image 2) that had a different<br />
feel from the adjustment knobs so<br />
I could tell by touch which was which<br />
Image 4 - Ten 5-minute subs were processed with darks and flats to produce this image<br />
of the PacMan Nebula.<br />
while looking in the Cheshire and reaching<br />
around the tube.<br />
The cell appears to be heavy enough<br />
to hold the primary in place, while not<br />
so beefy as to add unnecessary weight.<br />
The springs, as on most such cells, are<br />
not heavy enough for my taste and in the<br />
future I will be replacing them. In the<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 53
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
center of the primary cell is a 12-volt fan<br />
to help the mirror cool. This is supplied<br />
with a battery pack for eight 1.5-volt<br />
“C” cells.<br />
The telescope comes with two properly-sized<br />
split rings. These hold the<br />
telescope in place well enough and also<br />
have enough felt glued on the inside<br />
to keep the tube from getting marred.<br />
The rings could use a bit of “fit and<br />
finish” work (basically upgraded washers<br />
and screws), but are more than adequate<br />
for the task. The rings have attachment<br />
points at two opposing flats with M6<br />
threaded holes in one set and 1/4-20<br />
holes in the other. I chose to mount the<br />
rings with 1/4-20 screws leaving the<br />
M6 at the top for accessories, although<br />
the reverse would have been fine as<br />
well. The only other item shipped is<br />
the plastic dust cover for the front end<br />
which fits a bit loosely, but that does<br />
the job.<br />
This is a large and heavy-duty optical<br />
tube that is up to 3 kilograms heavier<br />
than the more standard 8-inch f/4<br />
Newtonians available from other<br />
sources. The additional weight is due<br />
largely to the generous tube extension in<br />
front of the focuser and the baffling system<br />
that the extension houses. Those<br />
considering the AT8IN may therefore<br />
require a larger, more robust mount than<br />
those that are normally matched to more<br />
standard 8-inch Newtonians.<br />
First Light<br />
First light for the AT8IN took place<br />
at my friend Doug’s place in Indiana.<br />
After mounting a 13-inch Vixen-type<br />
dovetail bar to the rings, the scope was<br />
collimated with the Cheshire and<br />
mounted on a Celestron CGE Germanequatorial<br />
mount. Having adequate access<br />
to the focuser to align the mount<br />
meant that some thought needed to be<br />
taken in placing the AT8IN in its rings.<br />
I eventually settled on having the focuser<br />
point straight down when the scope was<br />
aimed north. This seemed to work well<br />
enough and provided ready access to the<br />
focuser when the scope was pointed<br />
south-ish.<br />
As I mentioned earlier, the scope<br />
would not come to focus with eyepieces<br />
and the supplied 35-mm extension tube.<br />
Fortunately my kit includes a 50-mm extension<br />
that I need for my Stellarvue refractor,<br />
so I was able to get my 9-mm<br />
illuminated reticule to come to focus to<br />
align the mount.<br />
Photographic Function<br />
There were a few false starts in the<br />
first imaging session with the AT8IN as<br />
I fiddled with the collimation (it’s been a<br />
long time since I owned a Newtonian),<br />
but eventually things settled down and<br />
the scope worked like a champ. I ordered<br />
a Baader MPCC coma corrector the<br />
same day I ordered the telescope and was<br />
imaging with this unit in the optical<br />
train. The MPCC requires that the collimation<br />
be spot-on. This can be hard to<br />
achieve with any focuser that has enough<br />
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54 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
play to allow something to be inserted<br />
into it, but I think I was close enough. I<br />
know now why laser collimators are so<br />
popular. Using the Cheshire is a bit of a<br />
pain in the dark, but it is quite accurate.<br />
I finally succumbed and bought a laser<br />
which I use with my Celestron Ultima<br />
Barlow. It works beautifully day or night.<br />
Image 3 shows stars in all four corners<br />
of a Canon DSLR frame along with<br />
one from the center. The top-right image<br />
seems to show some elongation while the<br />
others are fairly free of this. Was the<br />
camera slightly cocked in the focuser<br />
Who knows<br />
My targets for the night were the<br />
ever-elusive Crescent Nebula<br />
(NGC6888) and the PacMan Nebula<br />
(NGC281). The Crescent continued to<br />
be elusive and, until I decide that narrow-band<br />
imaging is in the cards, it will<br />
remain so. PacMan on the other hand<br />
gave up its photons nicely as demonstrated<br />
in Image 4. For anyone interested,<br />
that is ten 5-minute subs<br />
processed with darks and flats. None<br />
were discarded.<br />
The AT8IN/MPCC duo gave me an<br />
image with very nice stars (not perfect)<br />
to the corners. Any remaining bits of<br />
coma I saw in the corners were most<br />
likely due to imperfect collimation. Star<br />
colors were faithfully rendered in my<br />
Canon/Hutech 500D and there was<br />
ample contrast. I’ll bow to the marketers<br />
and attribute this to the long snout and<br />
baffles.<br />
Visual Function<br />
I wanted to test the AT8IN visually<br />
so, one night when the local club was<br />
gathering at our dark-site, I loaded up<br />
the scope and my modified Sky Watcher<br />
HEQ5 and voyaged off into the gathering<br />
dusk. (Note: The coma corrector was<br />
not in the optical path as I don't have<br />
the correct accessories to use it visually;<br />
all of the reports are with a “naked,” uncorrected<br />
f/4 optical system.)<br />
Eyepieces<br />
I used several eyepieces on objects<br />
from Saturn to M104 throughout the<br />
night. I don’t prefer huge amounts of<br />
space around what I’m observing so<br />
I can’t give you any reports on the<br />
scope’s performance using high-end<br />
wide-field eyepieces that are wellcorrected<br />
for best performance at f/4.<br />
My single 2-inch eyepiece is not optimized<br />
for f/4 and therefore delivers a lot<br />
of ‘seagulls’ very quickly as you move<br />
from the centre of the field; some of<br />
these are due to astigmatism of the<br />
eyepiece and some due to coma inherent<br />
to the very-deep mirror.<br />
On the other hand, my Tele Vue<br />
Plossls worked exceedingly well in the<br />
telescope, as did my Burgess/TMB Planetaries.<br />
The Plossls run from 15 mm to<br />
25 mm and the stars in the field were excellent<br />
close to axis and remained very<br />
good out to the field stop. I have two<br />
Burgess/TMB Planetary eyepieces in 9<br />
mm and 5 mm. The 5-mm Planetary<br />
combined with a Celestron Ultima 2x<br />
Barlow showed no breakdown in image<br />
at a magnification of 40x per inch.<br />
When the seeing steadied objects appeared<br />
painted on the sky.<br />
Now, the AT8IN is a Newtonian.<br />
This means that when mounted in a<br />
German-equatorial mount the eyepiece<br />
is never where you want it to be. Like<br />
any tube with split rings, rotating it into<br />
position can be a major pain, unless<br />
treated to a modification such as that of<br />
the “Wilcox-rings” configuration (ATT,<br />
April 2007). Fortunately, the AT8IN<br />
and accompanying rings are a perfect<br />
match for the Wilcox-rings application.<br />
As noted earlier, the tube assembly<br />
is heavier than that of a more-standard<br />
8-inch Newtonian and it requires more<br />
mount. I had it mounted on my highly<br />
modified HEQ5 for this visual outing<br />
and, while the mount handled the heavy<br />
tube nicely, it still showed the effects of<br />
the weight, especially while focusing.<br />
The Views<br />
M13 in Hercules was beautifully<br />
framed with my 15-mm Tele Vue Plossl<br />
and I found that the colors of the two<br />
stars framing the cluster were well rendered<br />
and quite vivid. I mentioned this<br />
to another experienced observer who, on<br />
looking, claimed the color “refractor<br />
like.” The cluster itself was classic “diamond<br />
dust on black velvet.” Perhaps this<br />
was due to the baffles and extended<br />
snout of the tube in action, but, what-<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 55
ASTRO-TECH 8-INCH IMAGING NEWTONIAN<br />
ever the cause, the views were dark and<br />
very contrasty.<br />
M92, one of my favorite globulars,<br />
showed up very well in the 9-mm<br />
Burgess/TMB – again, black sky and<br />
sparks. M57 needs lots of magnification<br />
and I used the 5-mm Burgess/TMB for<br />
160x. The contrast this telescope delivers<br />
makes observing small objects like<br />
the Ring a real joy. M104 showed up<br />
as a slightly more than “faint fuzzy.”<br />
Some shape was discernible in the<br />
20-mm Plossl, but I didn't go to any<br />
higher powers as it was fairly low in<br />
the sky.<br />
Saturn was...well...Saturn! Sharp,<br />
with lots of contrast. The almost edgeon<br />
rings were framed by two moons. I<br />
pushed the AT8IN to a 40x/inch (320x<br />
by combining the 5-mm Burgess/TMB<br />
and the Celestron Ultima 2x Barlow) on<br />
Saturn and the relatively-high magnification<br />
didn't seem to bother the view at<br />
all. Seeing was in and out, but when<br />
steady, Saturn was magnificent, and this<br />
from a scope that is optimized for imaging<br />
rather than high-contrast, high-magnification<br />
viewing. So, while not<br />
intended to be a visual-use telescope, the<br />
AT8 nevertheless did a fine job in that<br />
role.<br />
Conclusion<br />
So does Astro-Tech have a winner in<br />
the AT8IN Pros include price, aperture,<br />
lengthened tube, baffles, and solid focuser.<br />
Cons include weight, coma inherent<br />
to fast Newts, slight fit-and-finish<br />
problems (rings/focuser), rear cell locking<br />
screws, and awkward in a German<br />
equatorial (again, inherent to all so<br />
mounted, unless provision is made for<br />
tube rotation)<br />
The pros in the list are, in my mind,<br />
much more important than cons.<br />
Weight and coma won’t be an issue for<br />
anyone using the tube for its intended<br />
purpose of imaging and the fit and finish<br />
problems are trivial. As for mounting<br />
it on a GEM Again, this is not an<br />
issue if you're not using it visually, and<br />
provision for tube rotation is easy to accomplish<br />
for those who do use the scope<br />
for visual observing. All in all, I judge<br />
the AT8IN a winner – especially at its<br />
price point.<br />
Recommended You bet! I would<br />
heartily recommend the scope to anyone<br />
for use with a camera and would have no<br />
problems recommending it to a visual<br />
observer assuming provision is made for<br />
tube rotation<br />
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56 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
A 3D CAD<br />
Primer<br />
From Papyrus to 3D<br />
Animation – A Boon for<br />
ATM Enthusiasts!<br />
By Art Bianconi<br />
Some archeologists attribute the<br />
invention of drafting to the Egyptians.<br />
While cave dwellers did rough sketches of<br />
structures on cave walls, the idea of representing<br />
complex geometry with three or<br />
more views was done, some say, in an<br />
attempt to build secret passageways in the<br />
pyramids. Their motive is said to have<br />
been a need to hide access to the burial<br />
chambers of the pharaohs. Others credit<br />
the Egyptians for originating the idea, but<br />
insist that the Greeks really developed it.<br />
Judging from the results, drafting has<br />
been much more successful as a discipline<br />
than efforts by Egyptian architects to hide<br />
the pharaohs’ treasures. To me, what is fascinating<br />
about drafting is that the principles<br />
that drive it continued for so long<br />
without any fundamental change since its<br />
inception around 3200 BC. That’s about<br />
5000 years!<br />
At the heart of this developmental<br />
stagnation is the simple fact that virtually<br />
every example of drafting has been limited<br />
by the two-dimensional surface<br />
defined by paper, another equally-old<br />
medium, also attributed to the Egyptians<br />
(papyrus).<br />
While the advent of the personal<br />
computer in the early 1980s did wonders<br />
for drafting, the design environment was<br />
still limited to a flat surface. Programs like<br />
AutoCAD, VersaCAD, et al, added speed<br />
and accuracy to the techniques of drafting,<br />
but designers were still left with the<br />
same creative dilemma: you would think<br />
of something in three-dimensional space,<br />
but were still forced to translate it, one<br />
line at a time, using multiple views, onto<br />
paper. Then you crossed your fingers and<br />
hoped that a craftsman would translate<br />
the two-dimensional data accurately, and<br />
build it. You also hoped that all the parts<br />
would fit, as designed, with no interference.<br />
Such was the problem of living in a<br />
three dimensional universe, but confined<br />
to expressing ideas in the limited, twodimensional<br />
medium.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 57
A 3D CAD PRIMER<br />
That all changed dramatically when a<br />
Russian immigrant and mathematics<br />
genius, Samuel P. Geisberg, invented software<br />
in 1985 that revolutionized engineering<br />
design. They called the 3D solid<br />
modeler Pro Engineer.<br />
However, the computational power<br />
needed to use that software was staggering<br />
and hardly user friendly. It needed true<br />
32-bit CPUs and 32-bit operating systems<br />
like Silicon Graphics computers and<br />
Unix, but when used effectively, not only<br />
did they give us powerful engineering<br />
models, but also dramatic visual effects<br />
such as those George Lucas created in the<br />
famous Star Wars epics.<br />
It would take two more technology<br />
breakthroughs, however, before the cost of<br />
3D solid modelers would be brought<br />
down to more acceptable levels. The first<br />
was Bill Gates and his Windows<br />
Operating System. The other was the<br />
advent of Intel’s powerful Pentium series<br />
processors. In 1995, those two advances<br />
made possible the next forward leap in 3D<br />
solid modelers: Solid Works and Solid<br />
Edge. With these advances, one could buy<br />
true 3D solid modelers, and the computer<br />
to run them, for less than $5000 a seat.<br />
To people accustomed to what was<br />
charged for PC-based word processors<br />
and spread sheets, that figure was staggering.<br />
You have to remember, however, that<br />
prior to that breakthrough it was not<br />
uncommon for one fully-featured seat of<br />
Pro Engineer and the requisite training for<br />
several end users to cost as much as<br />
$50,000!<br />
In the years that have elapsed since,<br />
Pro Engineer and SolidWorks have slugged<br />
it out and while both programs have<br />
evolved into powerful design environments,<br />
they are not quite as easy to use as<br />
was once made possible by the Windows<br />
operating system. That, and the continued<br />
high acquisition cost, have made<br />
those programs unsuitable for most<br />
ATMs. Unless there is a demonstrated<br />
professional need for such software, there<br />
was no way that the average amateur telescope<br />
builder is going to justify spending<br />
$5,000 so he can build a $1,000 telescope!<br />
Enter the 20-80 rule<br />
About 100 years ago Italian economist<br />
Vilfredo Pareto discovered that 20<br />
percent of something is often responsible<br />
for 80 percent of the results. It became<br />
known as “Pareto’s Principle” or “The<br />
20/80 Rule.”<br />
While Pareto was initially focused on<br />
the distribution of wealth, it soon became<br />
apparent that his formula accurately predicts<br />
cause-and-effect relationships far<br />
beyond his initial study and across a much<br />
broader range of disciplines than just economics.<br />
His concept that roughly 80 percent<br />
of the effects come from 20 percent<br />
of the causes dominates many aspects of<br />
life to this very day, including the development<br />
of software.<br />
If designers use only 20 percent of the<br />
available commands to develop an idea,<br />
then find out what 20 percent they use,<br />
they can eliminate the rest and charge less<br />
58 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
A 3D CAD PRIMER<br />
than the competition. That’s almost what<br />
SolidWorks did in 1995. They gave end<br />
users 80 percent of the creative power of<br />
the competition and only charged 20 percent<br />
of the price. Within a very short period<br />
of time the opposition was forced to<br />
cut its margins of profit in order to stay<br />
competitive with the upstart.<br />
Parametrics<br />
“Parametric” capability is perhaps the<br />
single most vital attribute of these 3D<br />
software offerings. It refers to the ability to<br />
click on a value, such as a dimension,<br />
change that value to a different one, and<br />
then watch as the entire solid adjusts its<br />
geometry, all automatically. The first time<br />
people see this happen, it tends to be<br />
mind-boggling.<br />
Change is inevitable. In the context<br />
of mechanical design, the ability to quickly<br />
change the value of a parametric feature<br />
is priceless. For example, if you have modeled<br />
a 12-inch parabolic f/10 mirror and<br />
you click on the sight axis, the 120-inch<br />
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<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 59
A 3D CAD PRIMER<br />
Image 1<br />
focal-length value will rise. Click on that<br />
and change the value from 120 inches to<br />
60 inches and, when you hit the return<br />
key, the mirror geometry will still have the<br />
parabolic profile, but of a much faster f/5<br />
mirror.<br />
And, if you have assigned a density<br />
value of Pyrex to that mirror (0.0805 per<br />
cubic inch), you will see the weight go<br />
down as a consequence of the deeper<br />
sagitta. And, if the mirror just happens to<br />
be nested in a telescope assembly, you will<br />
see the center of gravity (CG) shift forward<br />
to a new position – all automatically<br />
and without having to use a calculator!<br />
Builders of Dobsonian telescopes, please<br />
note; never again need you guess where<br />
your bearings should be or have to add or<br />
remove lead ballast from the mirror box –<br />
not if you designed it in a 3D solid modeler<br />
and built it as you designed it! The<br />
CG will be where the software said it<br />
would be.<br />
If your dream scope is going to reside<br />
in a fork mount, again, you must know<br />
where it will balance. If the tube is 30<br />
inches long and the CG is about 10 inches<br />
forward of the primary mirror, will the<br />
back end of the tube clear the base of the<br />
fork when it’s swung No How much<br />
longer must the tines of the fork be in<br />
order to swing the OTA without interference<br />
Or, how much ballast must be<br />
added to move the tube to clear and<br />
Image 2<br />
where<br />
The scrap bins of the world are filled<br />
with the guesstimates that failed to work.<br />
Material can be expensive. Your time is<br />
too. Invest time in designing it properly<br />
before you step into the shop and all these<br />
concerns cease to be. The consequences,<br />
for even the most complex structures, are<br />
faster construction, fewer makeovers, and<br />
more certainty with no surprises.<br />
Faster or Slower<br />
In the beginning, using 3D CAD<br />
software will not necessarily get your<br />
scope built faster. It will likely be a better<br />
design with fewer surprises, but the time<br />
invested while seated at the computer has<br />
to be considered as part of the dues<br />
that must be paid. However, it is fun and,<br />
after so many years of designing optical<br />
systems, I have accumulated a library<br />
of virtual parts that makes the design<br />
process both faster and easier. In addition<br />
there are user groups who share part<br />
geometry with others. That speeds<br />
Image 3<br />
things up too.<br />
Let’s say I need a model of a secondary<br />
mirror with a minor axis (MA) of<br />
three inches and one-half inch thick, but I<br />
don’t have one. I simply copy an existing<br />
model of a two-inch mirror to a new file,<br />
open that one, click on the thickness and<br />
click on the MA, and change their values<br />
– within seconds I have the new mirror.<br />
But it gets better! If the secondary fixture<br />
is linked to the mirror it holds and I<br />
change the size of the mirror, the fixture<br />
updates too! And, so do all the mass properties!<br />
Many manufacturers, anxious to<br />
Image 4<br />
make more sales, are now offering free 3D<br />
models of their parts. You can log on to<br />
McMaster-Carr’s web site, as one example,<br />
and download free 3D solid models<br />
of many parts for use in virtually any<br />
CAD program. I rarely design commercially<br />
available parts any more. I simply<br />
download the geometry from the appropriate<br />
Internet site. The knob shown in<br />
Image 4 is in my designs for collimation.<br />
It’s a solid model and a download that I<br />
can purchase, or not.<br />
If this trend continues, you can<br />
expect eyepiece manufacturers to offer<br />
simple 3D CAD solid models of their eyepieces<br />
along with their mass properties.<br />
They do not appear to be available yet, so<br />
when it came time to see how a 17-mm<br />
Wide-Angle Vixen Lanthanum affected<br />
the balance of a scope, I simply reverse<br />
engineered a real one myself. I only had to<br />
60 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
A 3D CAD PRIMER<br />
Image 5<br />
do it once and save it (see Image 5). Now<br />
I can call it up for most any new design. I<br />
could just as easily do this with a Nagler<br />
Ethos or any commercially made focuser<br />
or finder scope. I simply reverse model<br />
just the exterior surface geometry and<br />
assign mass properties.<br />
A Cautious Word on<br />
Your Expectations<br />
Mastering 3D solid-modeling software<br />
will not, by itself, make you a good<br />
designer. You still need to know how<br />
things are made. You also need experience<br />
and basic knowledge of what can be done<br />
with materials. If any of these are lacking,<br />
the best design will be difficult, if not<br />
impossible, to build. This goes for professional<br />
designers too. That it was designed<br />
in three-dimensional space with modern<br />
software is, by itself, meaningless.<br />
If It’s Free,<br />
How Good Can It Be<br />
About ten () years ago, I was introduced<br />
to Alibre Express, a true 3D solid<br />
modeler, and it was free! After so many<br />
decades of working with expensive solidmodeling<br />
design software, I viewed the<br />
promises from Alibre as pretentious. Then<br />
I started working with it. Soon after, I<br />
began eating crow – lots of it!<br />
It had most of the basic commands<br />
that SolidWorks had when first launched<br />
in 1995, including parametric features,<br />
assembly constraints, mass properties, a<br />
drafting module, export protocols for virtually<br />
every neutral file format known,<br />
and more, and it was indeed free!<br />
“This is not possible! No one in their<br />
right mind develops something like this<br />
and then gives it away.” But it was true;<br />
Express was free and it had few limitations.<br />
After all these years, my memory of the<br />
limitations is dusty. I do recall that the<br />
number of parts you could combine into<br />
an assembly was limited and the number<br />
of assemblies that could be combined was<br />
also restricted. While this might have<br />
proven problematic in a commercial<br />
application, for something modest in<br />
complexity like a telescope, it was not.<br />
If you liked it and wanted to expand<br />
its capabilities, you could, for a very small<br />
sum, buy an upgrade. The upgrade gave<br />
you, among other things, freedom to<br />
combine unlimited numbers of parts into<br />
an assembly as well as unlimited numbers<br />
of assemblies.<br />
That was a long time ago. Now when<br />
you get Alibre, it’s already at the advanced<br />
level without constraints on the numbers<br />
of parts or assemblies. The command<br />
structure has also expanded to a level that<br />
makes Alibre a real threat to the established<br />
players. You play with it for free for<br />
30 days. At the end of 30 days, for $100,<br />
the program license becomes permanent.<br />
At such a modest price, it continues to<br />
offer remarkable value, along with a<br />
growth path for those who wish to expand<br />
the envelope of applications, and a powerful,<br />
yet affordable tool for the amateur telescope<br />
builder, amongst others. It’s intuitive,<br />
easy to learn, and mastery should<br />
come quickly. And, unlike it’s initial offering,<br />
it has product support.<br />
The tools given us for creative selfexpression<br />
have never been better. That<br />
they are fun to work with makes them<br />
even more attractive. ATMs and hobbyists<br />
are in for a treat! There no longer is any<br />
excuse for anyone to be tied down by a<br />
design paradigm that’s 5000 years old.<br />
If the architects of the pyramids were<br />
around today, they’d be aghast at what their<br />
modest idea has become. Clear skies.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 61
The<br />
“Home Depot”<br />
Keeping<br />
It Simple<br />
Scope<br />
By Jack Fenimore<br />
Image 1a-1c: The scopes simple 3-truss, dual-tube design yields a simple-to-construct, lightweight, and stable Dob.<br />
The Plan<br />
Observing conditions at my home<br />
near Albany, New York – overcast some<br />
nights and mediocre seeing in Magnitude-<br />
4 skies the others – have caused me to<br />
spend most of my time observing solar-system<br />
objects, star clusters, and double stars.<br />
My trusty Tele Vue 102 Apo on a Losmandy<br />
GM8 mount has proven to be a superb<br />
instrument for skies that limit<br />
resolution more than does that scope’s four<br />
inches of aperture.<br />
But for those rare clear nights with<br />
high transparency, I wanted more light. I’m<br />
in pretty good shape for a senior citizen,<br />
but I wanted a telescope optical tube assembly<br />
(OTA) that I could pick up with<br />
one hand while carrying the mount with<br />
the other. The OTA would have to: fit in a<br />
Toyota Corolla without need for disassembly<br />
(for simplicity of construction) when<br />
transporting to a local “dark-sky” site; not<br />
be sensitive to balance; be able to lie on the<br />
grass without rolling over onto the finder<br />
or focuser; require only simple power tools<br />
for construction; and use materials readily<br />
available at the local Home Depot.<br />
I had planned to build an 8-inch Dob<br />
until I discovered conical mirrors made<br />
by Bob Royce. Their optical reputation<br />
was excellent and their weight was considerably<br />
less than conventional-thickness<br />
flat mirrors. A 10-inch was therefore a<br />
possibility.<br />
Bottom line: after investing three<br />
weekends on the project, I was enjoying<br />
observing with a ten-inch reflector that<br />
meets all the requirements listed earlier, has<br />
an OTA weighing only 27 pounds (not including<br />
the finders), and a mount weighing<br />
15 pounds. The only power tools used<br />
in its construction were a hand-held saber<br />
saw and drill.<br />
The Components<br />
Components for this project included:<br />
the 10-inch conical f/6 mirror from Royce,<br />
a 1.83-inch quartz secondary with mount<br />
from ProtoStar, focuser from JMI, finders<br />
from Telrad and Orion, Ebony Star laminate<br />
from Meridian Telescopes, a fan and<br />
rechargeable battery from Radio Shack,<br />
and materials for tube and mount from<br />
Home Depot. The mirror mount was<br />
made of wood, but if I were starting the<br />
project today, I would probably use a conical<br />
mirror cell from Optical Supports.<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 63
THE “HOME DEPOT” SCOPE<br />
Image 2<br />
Easy-to-attach wheelbarrow handles for added for easier mobility.<br />
Design and Construction<br />
The design is that of a basic Dobsonian<br />
with 24-inch and 12-inch lengths of<br />
12-inch diameter cardboard concreteform<br />
tubing (Sonotube equivalent) held<br />
together by three aluminum shower-curtain<br />
rods. A solid tube would probably<br />
have been almost as light, but the design<br />
I opted for provided a nice handle and<br />
places to attach altitude bearings and a<br />
movable counterweight/battery box. No<br />
pictures were taken during construction,<br />
but all major parts of the telescope can be<br />
seen in the accompanying photos (Images<br />
1a-1c). I'll explain a few aspects of the assembly<br />
which aren’t as obvious.<br />
I began by drawing templates for the<br />
1/2-inch plywood tube end-rings, cutting<br />
out the rings with my hand-held saber<br />
saw, and attaching them to the ends of the<br />
tube sections. I used a few small nails<br />
rather than glue for this process, because I<br />
wanted epoxy resin (applied after final assembly)<br />
to be able to flow into spaces between<br />
the wood and the cardboard – it’s a<br />
64 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
THE “HOME DEPOT” SCOPE<br />
Image 3a-3c: A movable battery box serves as both power source for the cooling fan and adjustable counterweight for balancing the<br />
heaviest eyepieces. Details of the primary-mirror cell are available at www.rfroyce.com.<br />
stronger adhesive than glue.<br />
Next, I built the mirror mount using<br />
guidance from Bob Royce’s web site.<br />
Shower curtain rods were then cut to size,<br />
adding about two extra inches to allow for<br />
possible errors in my tube length calculations.<br />
They were placed in the holes of the<br />
mirror tube section end-rings and secured<br />
with screws. At this point, I coated both<br />
cardboard tube sections, the mirror<br />
mount and end plate, and the end rings<br />
on the mirror tube section with epoxy<br />
resin. End-rings on the front tube section<br />
were left uncoated. When the resin was<br />
dry, I installed the mirror, diagonal assembly,<br />
and focuser. The front tube section<br />
was then slid into position on the<br />
rods but was not secured, allowing for adjustment<br />
of the OTA length.<br />
With mirror, diagonal, and an eyepiece<br />
in place, the telescope was pointed at<br />
Polaris. The front tube section was then<br />
moved back and forth until the focal<br />
plane was just where I wanted it in the focuser<br />
tube. Then it was back to the garage,<br />
to lock the forward tube section in place<br />
with screws, and apply epoxy to the end<br />
rings. This pretty much completed the<br />
assembly of the OTA, except for two<br />
additional small aluminum tubes to provide<br />
extra stiffness in the altitude plane.<br />
That may have been overkill, but it<br />
seemed worthwhile to invest an additional<br />
five dollars to add more strength to the<br />
structure. There has been no detectable<br />
flexure of the tube, regardless of eyepiece<br />
weight.<br />
Design and construction of the<br />
mount was “Dob-basic,” with two exceptions:<br />
where the heavier 3/4-inch plywood<br />
was used, I made as many weight-saving<br />
cut-outs as I could without sacrificing<br />
much stiffness; and support boards for the<br />
altitude bearings are separate and removable<br />
from the box. This allowed me to use<br />
lighter-weight 1/2-inch plywood for the<br />
box, and gave me the option of changing<br />
the size or configuration of the altitude<br />
bearings if I wanted to, for any reason. In<br />
retrospect, this change from a basic box<br />
was probably unnecessary. But I’m pleased<br />
that the result is a very steady mount that<br />
weighs only fifteen pounds. And the largediameter<br />
altitude bearings provide smooth<br />
motion with relative insensitivity to<br />
balance.<br />
Some Accessories<br />
A recent addition to the mount<br />
(Image 2) is a set of simple and cheap<br />
wheelbarrow handles and wheel sets that<br />
allow the scope to be moved as a single<br />
unit. Materials included two 7-inch lawnmower<br />
wheels with mounting bolts, two<br />
1-inch by 2-inch pine boards, two small<br />
pieces of scrap 1/4-inch plywood, four<br />
hooks that screw into the handles, and<br />
four eyes that screw into the sides of the<br />
box. By mounting the wheels on the outside<br />
of the handles and the hooks on the<br />
underside of the handles, torque keeps the<br />
handles pushing firmly against the side of<br />
the box. Works well, was easy to make,<br />
and cost about twenty dollars. The 1-inch<br />
by 2-inch boards may seem a little small,<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 65
THE “HOME DEPOT” SCOPE<br />
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but they are more than adequate for the<br />
job. Just as a test, I put a fifty-pound bag<br />
of fertilizer in the mount (almost double<br />
the weight of the telescope), and the load<br />
was easily carried.<br />
Knowing that my heaviest eyepieces<br />
would require rebalancing of the tube and<br />
that the exhaust fan and diagonal dew<br />
heater would require a battery, I decided<br />
to satisfy both requirements with one unit<br />
(Images 3a-3c). A wooden box was built<br />
for the battery that hangs from the top<br />
shower curtain rod and rests against the<br />
side of the tube. Its position on the rod is<br />
determined by a hose clamp. By hanging<br />
the box above or below the clamp, I can<br />
adjust the balance for any eyepiece in my<br />
collection. Should I ever need more balance<br />
options, I’ll simply find the new balance<br />
point and add another hose clamp to<br />
keep the box from sliding past that position.<br />
Looking at the battery box hanging<br />
from the curtain rod, one might be concerned<br />
that it could fall off with the scope<br />
in a vertical position, but it’s not a problem.<br />
Even with the scope slightly past vertical,<br />
it stays put.<br />
Other than a cover for the front of the<br />
tube containing the mirror, blue paint for<br />
the OTA, wheelbarrow handles for the<br />
mount, and a change from standard plug<br />
and socket to an RCA jack for the battery<br />
connection, the scope has remained unchanged<br />
since built two years ago. I’ve<br />
thought of adding a shroud to cover open<br />
parts of the tube, but stray light getting<br />
into the focuser hasn’t been a problem.<br />
Since I’m a visual observer only, I really<br />
can’t think of anything more that would<br />
measurably improve the scope’s utility.<br />
Total cost for my portion of the project<br />
was a little over one hundred dollars. Prices<br />
for the commercially-made components<br />
are available online.<br />
This scope should satisfy my aperture<br />
needs for the next several years. When it<br />
eventually becomes a little too much to<br />
deal with on cold winter nights, I’ll give<br />
Bob Royce a call and hope he’ll still be<br />
making 8-inch conical mirrors.<br />
66 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
To Build a Better<br />
Light Trap:<br />
ProtoStar’s New<br />
FlockBoard<br />
By Doug Reilly<br />
Bryan Greer is an amateur astronomer-inventor<br />
who thinks he has created<br />
a better light trap. In 1997, Bryan<br />
introduced “flocking material,” an ultra<br />
dark self-adhesive fabric that can be stuck<br />
onto an inner tube wall to “flock,” or make<br />
it darker.<br />
Now Bryan has something he thinks is<br />
even better, and he’s betting that, once<br />
word gets out about it, the amateur astronomy<br />
community will be beating a path<br />
to the door (or internet portal) of his company,<br />
ProtoStar. The design goal of the new<br />
product was to make telescope tube flocking<br />
easy enough that pretty much anyone<br />
could do it. Bryan calls this new light trap<br />
“FlockBoard”.<br />
Essentially, the flocking board is like a<br />
thin Kydex-like material (Bryan calls it a<br />
“low-density plastic”) with the flocking<br />
fabric integrated into one side. Indeed,<br />
compared to Kydex, the flocking board is<br />
thinner, lighter and much easier to cut. Perhaps<br />
because the flocking material adds<br />
some stiffness, however, it feels very sturdy.<br />
Image 1<br />
Let’s talk about flocking. Basically, it’s<br />
applying something unreflective (or absorptive<br />
if you’re a glass-half full kind of<br />
person) to the inner tube wall of a telescope<br />
to reduce stray light that enters the tube,<br />
but shouldn’t. A shiny interior wall<br />
bounces that light around, often entering<br />
into the light path of the optics and reducing<br />
the contrast of the telescopic image.<br />
Over the years, all sorts of things have been<br />
used to flock tube walls: ultra-flat black<br />
spraypaint, sand sprinkled over the afore-<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 67
PROTOSTAR’S FLOCKBOARD<br />
Image 2 Image 3<br />
mentioned paint and then painted over<br />
again, cork painted black, black velvet…I<br />
even knew someone who used fingernail<br />
clippings and a Renaissance recipe for black<br />
egg tempera. (Not really.)<br />
Flat-black paint, with a reflectivity<br />
around 5% according to ProtoStar, is the<br />
most one can accomplish, and most commercial<br />
reflectors do just that. Flocking a<br />
telescope with a material like ProtoStar’s<br />
can significantly reduce the reflectivity, to<br />
around 1% (again, according to Bryan).<br />
Flocking can make a noticeable difference<br />
at the eyepiece and yet many amateur astronomers<br />
won’t attempt it. I have used<br />
self-adhesive flocking material before and<br />
although it works quite well, it’s not easy<br />
or fun to work with. I don’t have the patience<br />
to slowly wind it down a tube in a<br />
long strip or slowly peel the backing. I have<br />
nightmares of it folding onto itself.<br />
Moreover, I’ve seen scopes at star parties<br />
that were flocked years ago and the<br />
endless cycles of heating/cooling and dewing/drying<br />
have left the material bubbly<br />
and crummy looking. I have no idea if that<br />
was Protostar flocking material or not, but<br />
the images stuck in my head. I know we<br />
should look through telescope and not at<br />
them, but honestly, I like a neat tube. Telescopes<br />
are, as Steven Overholt suggested,<br />
spaceships, and I would want my spaceship<br />
to look snazzy and neat and precise, not<br />
bubbly and peeling. Lastly, having removed<br />
ancient adhesive from tube rings using<br />
some noxious solvent once, I’m not a fan<br />
of sticky gunk that I might someday have<br />
to scrape off in gobs from the inside wall<br />
of my telescope.<br />
The FlockBoard concept seemed to<br />
address both these concerns. When I spoke<br />
with Bryan Greer on the phone about it, I<br />
can best describe his tone as “giddy”. He<br />
was clearly thrilled with the new product.<br />
He emphasized the two biggest selling<br />
points: ease of use and reversibility. The installation<br />
process he described was simple:<br />
first, remove the primary mirror and cell,<br />
spider and secondary, and focuser. Figure<br />
out the circumference by multiplying the<br />
tube diameter by π. Measure the length of<br />
the tube to be flocked and cut the board to<br />
fit. Roll it up. Put it in the tube and let it<br />
spring out. The plastic’s own springiness<br />
will keep it in place against the tube wall.<br />
Then, poke some holes using an awl for the<br />
primary cell and spider bolts, use a hobby<br />
68 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
PROTOSTAR’S FLOCKBOARD<br />
knife to cut out the focuser hole, and reinstall<br />
the hardware. Collimate and enjoy the<br />
contrast!<br />
No stickiness! No carefully unpeeling<br />
wax paper in terror of an air bubble. No<br />
using a broomstick to reach the middle of<br />
the tube. Cut, roll, spring, poke, cut, enjoy.<br />
Is it that easy I ordered some to find out.<br />
The scope I had in mind to flock was<br />
the Vixen R150s, a 6-inch Newtonian with<br />
a unique sliding focuser and very good optics.<br />
Like most aluminum and steel tubes,<br />
the R150s is painted with a flat(ish) black<br />
paint inside. The scope is a bit short for<br />
the focal length, so the tube doesn’t<br />
serve as much of a baffle. In my light polluted<br />
driveway, it could use all the help it<br />
could get!<br />
Working with the FlockBoard was indeed<br />
as easy as Bryan promised, and it wasn’t<br />
very tool intensive either. I needed a<br />
large flat surface to cut on, a sharp utility<br />
knife, a T-square to cut a perpendicular<br />
line, and a screwdriver to remove the tube<br />
hardware. You can see my workspace and<br />
materials in Image 1.<br />
FlockBoard comes in a standard width<br />
of 24 inches; the length of course can be<br />
custom cut. It turns out that the R150s’s<br />
inner tube wall’s circumference was almost<br />
exactly 24 inches, so I didn’t have to trim<br />
the width and I could use it lengthwise.<br />
Owners of larger-diameter tubes can<br />
order a custom length equal to the inner<br />
circumference and then flock the tube in<br />
24-inch sections, trimming the last piece<br />
to fit.<br />
First, I prepared the tube. This involved<br />
removing the primary mirror and<br />
cell, and the focuser/secondary, which in<br />
the R150s is a single unit. Then, I measured<br />
the length of the tube and placed my<br />
FlockBoard flat on my cutting surface as<br />
shown in Image 2. I immediately noticed<br />
that the cut edges were not square to the<br />
sides…I had a big parallelogram. Bryan<br />
sent me more than I requested, so this didn’t<br />
hurt my plans, though it does mean a<br />
few inches that ProtoStar could have sold<br />
to someone else. So I trimmed the first end<br />
Image 4<br />
so it was square, measured the length from<br />
there and made the final cut. I found that<br />
going over the line twice lightly with the<br />
knife made for a cleaner cut than trying to<br />
cut it in one heavy pass.<br />
Once cut, I rolled the board up and<br />
dropped it into the tube as shown in Image<br />
3. Yes, it’s easy enough that you can do it<br />
one-handed and take a photograph with<br />
the other hand! I had to reroll it a bit a few<br />
times inside the tube to get both ends of it<br />
square against the inner flange of the tube<br />
rings but it was far less effort than any selfadhesive<br />
material I’d tried to use and the<br />
non-adhesive nature of it meant infinite<br />
do-overs. A rarity in life in general.<br />
Because I was flocking from the front<br />
of the tube to just below the face of the primary<br />
mirror, and because there is no separate<br />
spider, I didn’t have to poke any holes<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 69
PROTOSTAR’S FLOCKBOARD<br />
Image 5<br />
in the FlockBoard once it was<br />
installed. I did, however, test a<br />
scrap out to evaluate the “pokeability”<br />
of the board and it was<br />
quite easy to do. I did have to<br />
cut a hole out for the focuser, as<br />
shown in Image 4. Again, it was<br />
a very smooth operation. A fresh<br />
utility knife blade always helps.<br />
I have to admit that working<br />
with the ProtoStar FlockBoard<br />
was a bit anticlimactic. The<br />
preparation took longer than the<br />
actual installation. I put the primary,<br />
focuser and end rings back<br />
on. That was it; I had a flocked<br />
telescope. The resulting reduction<br />
in reflectivity of the telescope’s<br />
inner wall is illustrated by<br />
the two pairs of before and after<br />
images in Image 5. The difference<br />
is dramatic.<br />
As for the flocking’s impact<br />
on the scope’s performance, that<br />
will take a while to fully evalu-<br />
70 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
PROTOSTAR’S FLOCKBOARD<br />
ate. My first-light evaluation, done from<br />
driveway, is that the flocking material<br />
makes it far less likely that light spilling<br />
into the tube from one of the streetlights<br />
will reach the eyepiece. Before flocking<br />
there was always an angle at which I could<br />
actually see bands of light across the field of<br />
view. Those moments are less frequent<br />
now, and basically now my only problem is<br />
light shining directly into the focuser drawtube.<br />
I might try to make a baffle from the<br />
FlockBoard that will stick down into the<br />
tube just to the edge of the light path to<br />
take care of that.<br />
One of the things I really like about<br />
the ProtoStar FlockBoard is that it’s<br />
completely non-destructive and reversible.<br />
I could take it out in about 10 minutes<br />
and not need to scrape the tube or slather<br />
it in noxious goo to get the adhesive<br />
residue off.<br />
In addition to any amateur with a telescope<br />
that has a flat black painted tube, I<br />
think producers of truss Dobsonians<br />
should take notice of this new product. It<br />
has several advantages over Kydex: it’s preflocked<br />
(most Kydex baffles are not<br />
flocked, and not all that dark, either) and<br />
it’s easier to work with.<br />
Bryan, who recall I described as giddy<br />
when talking about the FlockBoard, is not<br />
unaware that his new product’s main competition<br />
is his old products: the self-adhesive<br />
material and the cylindrical tube liners<br />
he sold in popular diameters for people<br />
using aluminum irrigation tubes. I liked<br />
this about him; his main concern was making<br />
something useful for the amateur telescope<br />
maker, and if the new board<br />
eventually replaced the liners and self-adhesive<br />
material, then Bryan didn’t seem<br />
very worried about that. At least he’d be<br />
losing business to himself.<br />
The bottom line: ProtoStar’s new<br />
FlockBoard is great news for amateur<br />
telescope makers and, perhaps especially,<br />
owners of poorly-flocked commercial<br />
Newtonians who consider themselves less<br />
than handy but are interested in getting the<br />
most performance out of their optics.<br />
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<strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY 71
ASTRO TIPS<br />
tips, tricks and novel solutions<br />
Is Your Observatory on<br />
Video<br />
By Wayne Parker<br />
Image 1<br />
IP Cameras<br />
If your home WiFi extends to your<br />
observatory, consider installing one or<br />
more IP cameras. I’ve picked them up on<br />
Submit Your Astro Tip!<br />
<strong>Astronomy</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Today</strong> regularly<br />
features tips, tricks, and other novel<br />
solutions. To submit your tip, trick, or<br />
novel solution, email the following information:<br />
• A Microsoft Word document<br />
detailing your tip, trick or novel<br />
solution.<br />
• A hi-resolution digital image<br />
in jpeg format (if available).<br />
Please send your information to<br />
tips@astronomytechnologytoday.com<br />
eBay with Pan, Tilt, IR, and LED for $75,<br />
and prices keep falling. The little wireless<br />
devices allow you to easily add cameras to<br />
your home network and to access and<br />
control them from anywhere in the<br />
world. Put one in your observatory<br />
and watch what’s happening in<br />
a storm. 67 degree plus of tilt and<br />
pan let you check it all out from<br />
your laptop or smart phone without<br />
getting out from under your<br />
bed – assuming your electrical service<br />
hasn’t been knocked out. Your<br />
main computer doesn’t even have<br />
to be turned on; your router alone<br />
is enough to provide remote<br />
access via the web.<br />
You can even set them up to<br />
email photos or video if they<br />
detect motion. I love IP cameras!<br />
No wires. Stick ‘em anywhere.<br />
No expensive security<br />
system to buy.<br />
Image 1 is the WangView 10 LED<br />
Image 2<br />
wireless IP camera with 1/4-inch<br />
CMOS,640x480 VGA resolution, IR<br />
night-vision mode to 26 feet, 270 degree<br />
pan and 90 degree tilt found on eBay for<br />
$66.50US.<br />
USB Monitors<br />
And I love USB monitors. Because<br />
they use a USB connection instead of your<br />
computer’s video-card, you can add multiple<br />
7- or 10-inch USB monitors to your<br />
system. I use mine for viewing IP cameras,<br />
but I also use one in my POD plugged into<br />
my laptop. The little monitors can display<br />
IR cloud updates, planetarium software,<br />
CCD control software, you name it, on the<br />
second monitor while leaving your main<br />
monitor free for other uses, making them<br />
great for CCD astrophotography.<br />
They’re low cost too and offer plenty<br />
of options to choose from. Standard<br />
models are available from $80US, with<br />
touchscreen models starting<br />
at $180US including<br />
all necessary drivers.<br />
Among my favorites<br />
are those from<br />
Mimo Monitors.<br />
Pictured in<br />
Image 2 is the<br />
Mimo Imo Pivot<br />
Touch monitor with<br />
800x480 display and<br />
USB 2.0 connectivity. The<br />
monitor measures 7.5 by 5.25 by 0.5 inches,<br />
weighs just 1.2 pounds with stand, and<br />
lists for $180US. Check them out at:<br />
www.mimomonitors.com.<br />
Expect to see a lot of them in our<br />
upcoming POD MAX promotion which<br />
will include a monitor wall for one of the<br />
POD MAX’s six huge bays.<br />
72 <strong>Astronomy</strong> TECHNOLOGY TODAY
ASTRONOMY<br />
TECHNOLOGY TODAY<br />
Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment<br />
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