From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: July 8, 2008 2:38:40 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] A couple of questions...

Hi Mark;

On 8-Jul-08, at 1:17 PM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

Hi Milton, The focuser is an idea for the future if I find I need more inward focus. I`ve approached Moonlite about the base plate. I`d be using the "Display Reticle Overlay" option if I could obtain any image of a star at all through the C10-NGT. I think the star in question is staying still long enough to get a fix on it but I can`t see any image anywhere in the focuser`s travel. Unless I`ve got the exposure quotient a long way off? I`m yet to try Tim`s suggestion to adjust the play in the nosepiece/eyepiece sleeve before buying an extender tube due to unsuitable weather so far. The extender tube I`m looking at is only $35 anyway! Mark

Well $35 is nearly 1/2 the amount of a Baader UV/IR cut filter and if you don't need the extender, then why buy it?

For Focus, I find that if I put an eyepiece in, achieve focus, center the star, remove the eyepiece and then attach the camera (assuming the 1.25" - Cmount is normal design),  it's usually pretty close. And even if it's not, I then use high gains and say 533 ms exposures until I see the defocussed "donut" star and then adjust focus form there. But if the star is streaking across the FOV because of poor alignment or motor / speed issues, well it may be gone by the time you do the switch.

TTYL..

Milton J. Aupperle