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

Date: July 9, 2006 3:28:13 PM MDT

To: <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com>

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


Hi Alan,

 

Thanks for the rechecking on the filter.  The 780 I have is definitely dimmer than any of my other filters.  My RIR pass filter offers the most light and I think it's going to be the one I stick with for a while. 

 

As for the positioning, I am currently experimenting with glow in the dark paint.  The idea was to paint the color name of whatever filter was in position at the time on the top of the filter wheel.  So far though, I haven't been successful.  With the paint I've used so far, it seems to take a large amount of it to show up properly in the dark.  I may end up memorizing filter position too.  

 

Eric     

 

---- Original Message -----

From: Alan Friedman

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 1:41 PM

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


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
>