From: "Alan Friedman" <alan@greatarrow.com>

Date: July 9, 2006 11:41:50 AM MDT

To: <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] suggestions for filter wheel problem?

Reply-To: <alan@greatarrow.com>

Hi Eric -

Just catching up on my emails after vacation. I checked the IR filter in my 

filterwheel - I do have a Schuler 780, but I think the filter in the wheel is a Baader 

Planetarium 685.

I find it pretty easy to tell the filter by the brightness and look of the image. Green 

is brightest - followed by IR, R and B. I have a five position wheel with one of the 

postions blocked for dark frames - so I have memorized the filter sequence (IR, 

blocked, R, G,B) This works OK for me. The most time consuming part is 

refocusing. At 11 meters there is a definite shift of focus for each filter. If the 

seeing is moving, it can eat time to fiddle back and forth - fortunately the 

movement of the focus knob is about the same for each - sometimes I will do it by 

feel. 

best -

Alan 

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------

From: "Eric" <eddot1103a@mindspring.com>

Reply-To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Date:  Sat, 8 Jul 2006 14:44:09 -0400

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------

Hi all,

I ran into a problem last night during imaging (even though seeing was poor).  

I'm using a manual filter wheel and I forget what filter is in what position when I 

change filters.  For the planets, the time lost here isn't a good thing.  I was 

thinking of painting the top of each position on the wheel with glow in the dark 

paint with the name of the filter.  I am also, although reluctantly due to the cost, 

thinking of switching to a motorized filter wheel.  

I would appreciate any suggestions or tips.  

Thanks,

Eric