tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Star Map - I still need a good one - saw a Celestron basic star map for 15-20 bucks. Other recommendations - I would like one that is durable, and will still have in a few years.
Red / LED flashlight - I like the past posts about the LED headsets, but not sure. Definitely getting an LED flashlight - any favorite models that have *stood the test of time*
Tripod - already covered there. Have an older one that will work for lightweight bins; get a Bogen with a fluid head that will easily hold the Fujinons, and allow for a larger set (10-15 lbs) later on. I still have not decided long term if I want the really big bins; saving up for a 10" Schmidt Cassegrains reflector later this year, and this may either eliminate or forgo this purchase altogether.
THanks in advance for any inputs. Did I miss any key accessories? Any highly recommended or needed filters for my light polluted yard? 
Tim
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5021
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I'd recommend SA2000.0 for the star chart. A little pricey, but the added detail makes star-hopping a breeze with binos.
I get some funny looks for it, but I strap a Rigel Quickfinder onto my 20x80 Obies. Not totally necessary, but it sure makes locating objects a breeze. They also make a great LED light web page
Filters? Well, you could hold an LP filter up to one eye. I've had some success doing it. How about Baader solar filters? Trust me, it's worth the small expense. Here's a great resource web page
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4359
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First, I would get the Deep Sky 600 star map-it sells for $14-15 at S&T or Orion. It compliments the larger star maps and covers the basics including the Messiers and fits in your pocket.
Filters can help, but they are iffy and I would get the basics first.
I usually spread a tarp on the ground under my tripod-great if you drop something small in the grass.
Take a note pad/sketch book to record what you see.
ed jones
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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btschumy
Think Astronomy
Reged: 04/13/04
Posts: 1107
Loc: Austin, TX, USA
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As Scott mentioned, Sky Atlas 2000 is a good bet. I also like Tirion's Bright Star Atlas and the Deep Map 600 fold up chart. The BSA is much more compact than SA 2000 but doesn't go as deep. It also has information on all the objects it plots. BSA is available from Willmann-Bell. DM 600 is available from Sky & Telescope.
As far as red lights, I think the Rigel Systems "Starlite" ones are great.
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Bill Tschumy
Where is M13? Freeware -- Add a new dimension to your observing.
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14601
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Quote:
I get some funny looks for it, but I strap a Rigel Quickfinder onto my 20x80 Obies. Not totally necessary, but it sure makes locating objects a breeze.
Which is better to mount on binos : the Quickfinder, Telrad, or red-dot finder?
Mike
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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AJTony
sage
Reged: 04/17/04
Posts: 379
Loc: Hamilton Square, NJ
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I put in my vote for the Orion Deep Sky map.
For LED's, I love this site. You have to work your way around to find the various red LEDs available, but I have been happy with each item I bought from this site.
http://www.glowbug.com/list.php?search=led
AJ
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Oberwerk BT100-45 Binos
Apogee 25 X 100 Binos
Canon 15 X 50 IS Binos
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Alby
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 898
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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TJ;
Sky Atlas 2000 is second to none! The Laminated desk version with black stars on white background is the way to go.
The two volume Night Sky Observers Guide is also a strong recommendation. To put it another way, a must have observers guide!
Oh....lots of insect repellant,for you and your's.....not the binocs:)
Cheers
Alby
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Alby
Scoping Savant
10in LX200 Classic SCT
Oberwerk BT 100 45
7x50 USSR Binocs
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50 binocs
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Thanks a million for the replies so far, I have been checking back and surfing at the same time - these are all great products you guys are rec'ing. The SA star chart is really cool - but I see the portability trade off...
Thanks again.
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Alby,
If you checked my shopping cart at one of the web suppliers, I just added the exact two products you recommended in the last half hour. Good call.
Not 100% sure I will get the laminated for the desktop too, but it is really cool... the Nikon 12x50's in the same cart is making the wheels on the cart run a little sluggish...
Tim
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Quote:
Quote:
I get some funny looks for it, but I strap a Rigel Quickfinder onto my 20x80 Obies. Not totally necessary, but it sure makes locating objects a breeze.
Which is better to mount on binos : the Quickfinder, Telrad, or red-dot finder?
Mike
The Telrad is a little large for most binoculars. The Orion EZ-Finder works well and is much smaller and lighter.
Rich
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Alby
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 898
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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TJ;
Laminated=no moisture/dew issues=great out in the field=longlife
Alby
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Alby
Scoping Savant
10in LX200 Classic SCT
Oberwerk BT 100 45
7x50 USSR Binocs
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50 binocs
Edited by Alby (05/26/05 09:53 PM)
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Alby,
I like your call on the book, as it will be a good source with I get the scope, too. (it was written for 8" or larger scope owners, or so the site says in the description).
Do you find the book you recommended good for bin observers too? Or did you rec for my scope comment above, just curious..
Tim
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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"Laminated=no moisture/dew issues=great out in the field=longlife"
Alby,
Well, that does meet my "buy it once" mantra... what about portability, etc for outside use also?
Tim
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Alby
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 898
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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TJ;
It's not pocket size but it is easily legible.
I make do with it's size. The ring bindings allow you flip it open to one page only...taking up less table space(18.5 x 13.5in).
I"ve been planning to get the SA 2000 companion book for the last three years as well....perhaps I will for my upcoming B-day:)
Alby
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Alby
Scoping Savant
10in LX200 Classic SCT
Oberwerk BT 100 45
7x50 USSR Binocs
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50 binocs
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later
sage
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 445
Loc: Posen, Michigan
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FYI.........concerning the use of red lights........there are some excellent comments in a thread in the "Observatories" - "Lighting an Observatory" . One interesting note is that the military has stopped using red lights in the cockpits of their airplanes (20 years ago). Apparently they found out is not the color but the intensity that affects night vision.
So is it ...will it turn out....that using red lights is an old wives tale from the past?
later!
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Galileo 15 X 70
Oberwerk BT100-45
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Brian B.
sage
Reged: 07/26/04
Posts: 216
Loc: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islan...
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I really like the Rigel "Skywriter" red and white LED light. It has one big dial, which you turn one way for white light, and the other for red light, and a great range of intensities. but what's really nice is that the light is spread out very evenly over a large area, perfect for reading charts. My daughter got the Orion red LED light with her Starblast, and it doesn't diffuse the light very smoothly, or over a large enough area to fully illuminate a map.
Brian B.
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"Ghosts??? I thought you said goats!"
SV102 (on SV M6 & GP-DX)
Nighthawk II &
Coronado PST (on UA Microstar)
Orion Starblast
Binos: 15x70, 10x50, 8x42
Edited by Brian B. (05/26/05 10:57 PM)
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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"Sheep Lie!"
...said the man with sheeps fur clinging to the front of his stetched out wellingtons!
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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The Orion DM 600 is good like others have mentioned. The S2K atlases are good. I use the black on white with color desk version and the white on black field version. The NSOG Vols. I & II are good for planning (but not for field use), has lots of DSOs and has individual constellation maps. Also Binocular Astronomy by Crossen and Tirion is good with the Bright Star Atlas in the back. For a red light I use one I picked up at a Discovery store a few years ago. Very good on batteries, but doesn't have an even spread of light. I like the Bogen 3046 tripod and use it with a UA Microstar altaz mount. With my heaviest binos, total weight of binos, tripod and mount is about 20 lbs., an easy grab n' go weight. Instead of filters, spend the money on gas to get to a dark site.
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
Edited by Craig Simmons (05/27/05 07:06 AM)
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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I use a Stellarvue RDF.
http://tinyurl.com/5x5rk
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12516
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Star Map
Red / LED flashlight
Tripod -
assuming you have an L adapter on that tripod
that's all you need.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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EdZ summed it up right there. Any decent star map will be fine. I see the SA2000.0 came up a lot in the thread. Another benefit of the lamenated version is that you can write on it with a grease pensil and wipe away later.
Is this definitely NOT a basic or needed accessory, but a small flat stand or even a music stand is excellent for keeping your atlas near you and elevated.
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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"assuming you have an L adapter on that tripod"
EdZ - Yes, I omitted that. I checked out in the shop, and I have all the parts needed to make that for $2. And 15 min. I refuse to pay $20-30, but that is the advantage of having a shop.
Some day I will design / build a light weight bino observers chair out of a nice outdoor wood... got the idea when I checked out the CN classifieds. It would have to have a nice quick released / cantilevered arm that attaches. The chairs on the classifieds look like they depended on arm power. I have an arthritic elbow (too many years of hockey) and all the talk about "holding" bins for any length of time is moot for me!
Tim
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12516
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I would not recommend the Sky Atlas 2000.0 Companion.
Poorly organized. While it occasionally has a good piece of information it lacks a great deal of necessary information.
Also, by no means would this be considered a basic accessory.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Good input. I was debating getting that too, and with that assertion, I will wait... the map will be enough for now anyway.
But you do like the SA 2000.0 as your map?
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12516
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
So is it ...will it turn out....that using red lights is an old wives tale from the past?
No it is not an old wives tale. the information in the thread you refer to is only partially correct. I can lead you to an article that will explain it much better, but i first need to find the link.
Red light is indeed the color of choice for a number of reasons. it has the least affect on scotoptic vision (rods) of any color. Rods take 2 to 3 times longer than cones to recover dark adaptation from any bright light stimulation, and below the level of dusk lighting conditions, rods are primarily responsible for what you see.
Obviously, if it's to bright you can defeat the benefit of red light. the appropriate level of light is that which just provides enough to see the paper and at which you can barely tell the color of the light. So it is more important to get a light with a rheostat.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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The chairs in the classifieds are for telescopes, tripod mounted or handheld binos. A few of us have built altaz bino chairs with integrated mounts. You might want to look at the design evolution of those chairs to see what works and what doesn't.
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Craig -
Yes, I can imagine there are lots to think about - portability, stability (very rigid when set up, no shakes), reclinability (is that a word?), all the "-ity's".
I will need to see them, use them, before I even think about designing one. In the end, if I ever do build one, it will likely be a copy of what works with improvements that I want...
Good point.
Tim
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12516
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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SA 2000,0 is my preferred atlas. However, I keep the atals indoors. I have made a three ring binder of about 50 pages of 8.5x11 maps photocopied from my SA2000.0 deleuxe. I record hundreds of notes on my charts. I can take the whole notebook outside or I can pull two or three sheets out of the notebook and put them on a clipboard.
an example
I think you might want to make notes permanent. For that reason I would not recommend the laminated version. Also I would not recommend the black backgroud version.
NSOG, Night Sky Observers Guide is a two volume set, you must purchase both volumes as they are seasonal. I would not consider this a beginners book at all. i would rather think of this as something to move up to after you spend a year or two learning the sky. It is an excellent desk reference.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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tjswood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 1748
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Check, check and check.
What did you find as an issue with the black background?
Tim
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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The black on white (w/ color) is easier to read, but the white on black isn't that bad. I don't have any problems reading it at night.
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12516
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
What did you find as an issue with the black background?
Would not be able to make useful photocopies or write notes on it.
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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