gravityslens
super member
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Orange County, CA
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I don't know if this has been done already, but I thought it would be a fun thread. So, here's one of my favorite dark sites - Joshua Tree, California.
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Steven
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Photographer/Astronomer/Gadgeteer
Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Canon 20D
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nytecam
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 4812
Loc: London UK
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Quote:
I don't know if this has been done already, but I thought it would be a fun thread. So, here's one of my favorite dark sites - Joshua Tree, California.
Wow - envy ensues except for the gibbous moon  My site in my avatar in London 'burbs 
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Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+DS-2090+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9/Lodestar/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-spectro page
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gravityslens
super member
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Orange County, CA
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That image was made on the evening of August 11/12 when the moon pretty much washed-out the Perseid shower. Despite being almost directly under the flight path into all of southern California's major airports and a NELM of about 6 due to some local light pollution, the desert landscape and ambience at Joshua Tree is superb.
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Steven
_________________________________
Photographer/Astronomer/Gadgeteer
Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Canon 20D
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F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Aaaaargh, that photograph is killing me.... 
Seems like an incredible place...just look at it...
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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OGarza
member
Reged: 09/21/06
Posts: 54
Loc: Bay City Tx.
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I used this pic.once before but on a different thread.
Sorry Freddy,
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Outside my backdoor....
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Djennings
sage
Reged: 07/03/08
Posts: 231
Loc: Katy, Texas
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Yeah, well... I'm Not Jealous.. I'm NOT, Really I'm NOT!!!
Great places, all of you.. I have my Driveway right next to 2 street lights. Did I mention 2 STREET lights, WHAAAAA! 
Still not Jealous, lol
David
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Orion EON 80mm ED
Orion Premium 102mm ED (ordered)
Orion ST80 Guide Scope
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Orion 203mm F/4.9 Reflector Image scope
Orion SkyQuest 8" Dobsonian
Orion StarBlaster 4.5
Atlas EQ-G W/GOTO
Canon Rebel XT 350D
Orion Startshoot DSI II
Phillips SPC900NC Webcam
Sony DSC-F717 Digital Camera
1 Loving Wife
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F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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I AM jealous, but guys i do wish you all the fun. Go for it while you have it...
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Go for it while you have it...
That sounds ominous..
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Quote:
Quote:
Go for it while you have it...
That sounds ominous..
Not really or not intended but I happen to be a very realistic guy :so my motto is nothing in live stays forever,
but don't worry, be happy!
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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gravityslens
super member
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Orange County, CA
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Beautiful location. Looks like southwest Texas. Is that in or around Big Bend N.P.?
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Steven
_________________________________
Photographer/Astronomer/Gadgeteer
Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Canon 20D
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10955
Loc: Los Angeles
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OK, here's mine: 8350' altitude, generally dark skies (6.5+ all the time): Mt. Pinos,Southern California.
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 3164
Loc: Ireland
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The observatory:
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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 3164
Loc: Ireland
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... and my southern horizon:
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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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gravityslens
super member
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Orange County, CA
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I practically grew up on Mt. Pinos. I have family and friends who live in Frasier Park and in Lockwood Valley and I used to enjoy new moon weekends on the mountain until it became kind of a circus. For me, too many people spoiled a good thing. But I fondly look back on those years during the late '80s when Germano, Zussman, Stecker, Tony and Daphne, and many others revolutionized modern amateur astrophotography from that 8000 foot parking lot.
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Steven
_________________________________
Photographer/Astronomer/Gadgeteer
Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Canon 20D
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Go for it while you have it...
That sounds ominous..
Not really or not intended but I happen to be a very realistic guy :so my motto is nothing in live stays forever,
but don't worry, be happy!
At 62 I can appreciate that....
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Silicon Owl
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 943
Loc: Waimea, Hawaii
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9,000ft, and 50min from home, on the side of Mauna Kea at 20 deg latitude. You can setup at the visitor center (pavement, power, bathrooms) or across the street at the substation (no crowd of visitors).
A ten minute exposure of the 'scopes setup at the Mauna Kea Substation site, left to right is my Deep Violet, Josh Walawenders 16" Telekit and Charles Wolf's 150mm refractor.
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Andrew Cooper
Personal Website and CN Gallery
Handmade 18" Dob / NS11GPS / 6" RFT / 90mm APO / TV-76 ...and a twin 10m
"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." --Sarah Williams
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OGarza
member
Reged: 09/21/06
Posts: 54
Loc: Bay City Tx.
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Quote:
Beautiful location. Looks like southwest Texas. Is that in or around Big Bend N.P.?
It's about 12 miles west of Panther Junction which is pretty much in the middle of Big Bend National Park.
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OGarza
member
Reged: 09/21/06
Posts: 54
Loc: Bay City Tx.
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Hey David
Take a ride out to Bay City and visit my dark site about 4 miles south of town. I'm sure you'll like it.
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gravityslens
super member
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 129
Loc: Orange County, CA
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Speaking of Mt. Pinos, I just came across a bunch of old star party pics from back in the day. Here's one from around 1991:
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Steven
_________________________________
Photographer/Astronomer/Gadgeteer
Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Canon 20D
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JKevin
newbie
Reged: 08/25/08
Posts: 4
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Absolutely incredible looking observing site!
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tigerroach
sage
Reged: 08/13/08
Posts: 306
Loc: Houston, TX
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"Padhenge," Houston Astronomical site near Columbus, TX.
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Brian
TeleVue TV-102, Gibralter alt-az mount
Webster 14.5" f/4.3 truss dob *under construction*
Canon 10x30 IS binocs
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Djennings
sage
Reged: 07/03/08
Posts: 231
Loc: Katy, Texas
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Quote:
Hey David
Take a ride out to Bay City and visit my dark site about 4 miles south of town. I'm sure you'll like it.
Hey OGarza,
Would love to, also, Nice Bike. Ours is in the Harley Medical Center getting surgery where another bike came into our lane and clipped us. 
Just aquired 2 new scopes, an Orion 120ST and a MAK 127, cannot wait to get out to a dark spot to try them out.
Thanks,
David
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Orion EON 80mm ED
Orion Premium 102mm ED (ordered)
Orion ST80 Guide Scope
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Orion 203mm F/4.9 Reflector Image scope
Orion SkyQuest 8" Dobsonian
Orion StarBlaster 4.5
Atlas EQ-G W/GOTO
Canon Rebel XT 350D
Orion Startshoot DSI II
Phillips SPC900NC Webcam
Sony DSC-F717 Digital Camera
1 Loving Wife
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2001
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Currently: Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan
Fred
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River Cam - Cambridge England
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Steven Aggas
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Posts: 289
Loc: Arizona
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Overgaard, Arizona
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Mr. Wizard
Elements in Harmony I, an 8"f6 German Equatorial - Stellafane Winner,
II a 20"f4.2 Newt-Dob - Astrofest Winner,
III a 6"f3.5 Finder/Newt-Dob, and
IV a 36"f4.5 Newt-Dob - "If it's up there, it's in here."
www.DarkSkyObserving.com
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Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 2057
Loc: Missouri / United States
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Kansas City, Missouri: I don't have the stunning mountain vistas, but my primary observing site has the advantage of being in my own backyard.  I took this picture while I was setting my 22-inch Dob up for three enjoyable nights of observing over Labor Day weekend. My lovely scope assistant can be seen in the background. Also, the garden shed where my scopes have been keeping company with our lawn mower, etc.
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 2057
Loc: Missouri / United States
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Here is another picture of the scope with setup complete. I generally set it up on the pad at the back of our drive way, but changed the orientation to get a better view of the north sky (over the telephone lines at the back or our yard). This resulted in quite a bit of pleasant observing, as the south sky is not too great for urban astronomy at present, while the North boasts Cepheus and Cassiopiea. In addition, Cygnus was in excellent position for observation for much of the evening. An added advantage of observing northward is a larger expanse of clear sky. The southern view from our backyard is hemmed in by a Mullberry on the east side of our yard and two Hackberry trees on the West. These are large, mature trees, which leave about a one hour transit period for constellations to the south, Ophiuchus, Aquila, etc. And, looking north, the constellations are more nearly circumpolar and so take much longer to transit.
The weather was so nice Saturday, Elly encouraged me to pack up our RV and head out for the club dark sky site. But, we had planned on getting a lot of stuff done around the house over the long weekend so I opted to observe from home. Sunday, quite unexpectedly, she said we should order a second shed for astronomy equipment (which will be positioned behind where my Dob is shown in this picture). I have talked about doing it for some time. With the second shed, I will build a dolly for the 22-inch so I can leave it set up all the time and roll it out when I want to observe. We ordered it the same day. 
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 2057
Loc: Missouri / United States
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And, finally, a picture of yours truly. Our RV can be seen next to our house in the background. The scope is designed to fit into the RV without requiring a trailer. The mirror box slides into an outside storage compartment. The setup table, shown in the first picture above, is at exactly the right height to slide the mirror box into and out of its compartment.
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 2057
Loc: Missouri / United States
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And, even though our house is in midtown Kansas City, we occasionally receive interesting wildlife visitors (and not only from the bars in Westport).
Monday morning, on Labor Day, a young (and not very sophisticated) Cooper's Hawk came sailing in to make a frontal assault on our flourishing house sparrow population while Elly and I were enjoying coffee and tea (respectively) in our backyard. The hawk's would be breakfast saw it coming from a long ways off and retreated to the safety of a nearby bush, chirping insults at him for about 15 minutes while he stomped around the periphery, allowing plenty of photo opportunities.
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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Out of Focus
sage
Reged: 09/23/07
Posts: 232
Loc: Roseville (Sac) CA
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Blue Canyon
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Orion XT10i w/FT
Orion XT6
Orion Mini Giant 15X63
Orion ST80-A
24mmHyperion,13mmEthos,
9mmNagler
AO series 160 &
L10 Microscopes
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Blue Canyon, Placer Co. CA
 
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Tom Clark
super member
Reged: 11/14/07
Posts: 144
Loc: Chiefland, Florida
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