From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: January 29, 2008 10:47:00 AM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: Still chasing Mars!


Hi Mark;


On 29-Jan-08, at 4:54 AM, gaffney.mark wrote:



-------SNIPPED For Brevity--------


I obtained my first Imaging Source camera today but it`s one of the 640x480 pixel 

colour jobs.I hope to upgrade to a bigger scope soon too. At the moment I`m a bit 

boggled at the amount of information in Milton`s manual and am having problems with 

the focusing as my computer screen is 15 metres away from the focusing knob! I managed 

a good live video stream of a tree this afternoon though. The weather here in northern 

NSW Australia has been improving after a very wet summer!


If your using a CAT or MAK type scope, your going to run into issues with focus when you slew the scope. The mirrors have a tendency to move a tiny amount as the orientation of the scope changes and that cause focus to shift. The same also happens for temperature changes and even a few degrees change can cause focus to be less sharp. You might need at look at getting them closer or perhaps looking into a remote control focus motor for achieving sharp focus.


I was tempted to go out last night and try Mars with the C8 and Flea camera again before it becomes too small to bother with,  but the dead air temp was -33°C and with wind chill it was -47°C. So I'd likely have to re-tune the gear tension again, just like I did over XMas when it was as low as -25°C or I get gear grinding when I slew at high speeds.  Tweaking two small 3 mm allan wrenches bare handed (even thin gloves don't work) as you run slewing tests when it's below -30°C cold just isn't as much funs as it was when I was younger.


TTYL..


Milton J. Aupperle