Telescope Reviews: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy?

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Equipment Discussions >> Equipment

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ed_turco
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/29/09

Loc: Lincoln, RI

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: ed_turco]
#5471425 - 10/15/12 12:14 PM Attachment (146 downloads)

Or --

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ed_turco
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/29/09

Loc: Lincoln, RI

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: ed_turco]
#5471440 - 10/15/12 12:20 PM Attachment (122 downloads)

Or these --

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Mike E.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/26/10

Loc: Moonstone Observatory

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: ed_turco]
#5511862 - 11/09/12 03:30 PM Attachment (106 downloads)

Saw an interesting chair today when I walked by a Medical Mobility Shop. Its called a "bathlift", has a rechargable battery operated motor, and a hand controler.
It adjusts in a height range of 2 1/2" to 19", all at the push of a button. This could be the ultimate portable chair. Attached to the top of a wooden box or a crate made to suit, it could fill the bill for many applications. I am going to look into this further.

Here is a photo of a brochure with the website.

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LB16europe
member

Reged: 09/23/09

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Mike E.]
#5513286 - 11/10/12 02:50 PM

I use a very similar chair, Mike. Mine's "Vileda" brand. It's quite good for observing with a Dob and way cheaper than the Astronomy-specific ones.

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Mike E.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/26/10

Loc: Moonstone Observatory

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: LB16europe]
#5513483 - 11/10/12 05:39 PM

Thanks for the tip, I'll check out the Vileda brand.

Cheers !

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Doc Willie
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/31/10

Loc: Mid-Hudson Valley, NY, USA

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: ed_turco]
#5533076 - 11/21/12 10:46 PM Attachment (91 downloads)

Two spring clips + business card = solar finder for Telrad base.

Edited by Doc Willie (11/21/12 11:21 PM)

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Mike E.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/26/10

Loc: Moonstone Observatory

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Doc Willie]
#5533887 - 11/22/12 12:36 PM

I like that.

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orion61
Vendor(Clear Edge Optical)

Reged: 10/20/07

Loc: NW Iowa BURRRR

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: ssandusky]
#5537011 - 11/24/12 10:51 AM

Quote:

I don't know if this still holds true, but the large round containers that Baskin & Robbins use are the perfect size and fit for using them as robust dew shields on C-8 and Meade 8" Schmidt -Cassegrains. You can even get them in unused condition so you don't have to eat all of the ice cream before using them. :-)

Sarah

And how did you find this out???
I'd rather eat the Ice Cream, Preferably,
Butter Krunch (Butter Brickle), or Cherry Nut...

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Greyhaven
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/11/04

Loc: Greater downtown Maine

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Mike E.]
#5539330 - 11/25/12 07:50 PM

Nice idea. But, what I found on line were in the $600. range

Be Well
Grey

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orion61
Vendor(Clear Edge Optical)

Reged: 10/20/07

Loc: NW Iowa BURRRR

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Jack Tripper]
#5542523 - 11/27/12 05:26 PM

The silver aluminum insulation scraps for Heat,A/C duct work make great dew shields!! even the Silver Aluminum tape makes a nice looking seam.
A couple minutes inside in the warm will hold in slight heat to help for dewing, then either slide it onto the tube for storage or fold in half and store in your Accy case where it works as a dust shield!!! since they are made from metal fiol they are tough and last for years, are feather light, a light spray of primer then Ultra Flat black paint gets rid of reflections.
Then you can make your Child a Robot Halloween costume with the rest....
Have fun.
reflections.

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StarStuff1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: orion61]
#5544806 - 11/28/12 11:20 PM

Orion61 reminds me of an incident that happened about 20 years ago. We were having an "at large" public outreach event on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, NC in October. A guy showed up just before dark, set up next to me and began assembling a very nice Astro Physics refractor on a GEM. Just before he put in an eyepiece he attached a layer of bubble wrap around the dew shield with a rubber band. What? An expensive scope with tacky inexpensive bubble wrap? Thinking that maybe he was trying to protect the paint on the dew cap I asked him about this. To my surprise he said that the air in the bubble wrap would keep the lens dew free for more than an hour (this was a high dew site). I asked what about later in the evening when the bubble wrap cooled off. He said there was another section of bubble wrap in the car where it was warmer.

Dang! Cheap and no wires or batteries!

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kfiscus
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/09/12

Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: StarStuff1]
#5544827 - 11/28/12 11:37 PM

Brilliant! Thank you for sharing the bubble wrap idea. Truly follows the KISS principle.

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Bob Myler
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: St Louis, MO

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: kfiscus]
#5546393 - 11/29/12 10:46 PM

Soooo - if warmed bubble wrap keeps dew at bay - might an overlay of FOILED bubble wrap "dew" it a little longer?

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Qwickdraw
sage

Reged: 03/03/12

Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: yowser]
#5561117 - 12/08/12 04:00 PM

Best thread ever on CN

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snowcrow
sage

Reged: 10/21/12

Loc: Vermont

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Qwickdraw]
#5561351 - 12/08/12 07:05 PM Attachment (97 downloads)

Here is one for you. Home made scope, 112mm @ f/5.5! Made from a projector lens' a piece of PVC sewer pipe, and two PVC caps. Smaller one inside the tube as baffle.

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Greyhaven
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/11/04

Loc: Greater downtown Maine

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: snowcrow]
#5561982 - 12/09/12 08:22 AM

Nice work, How is the performance ? Have you tested it for visual and AP ? This thread is the greatest for getting the creative juices going!
Be Well
Grey

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snowcrow
sage

Reged: 10/21/12

Loc: Vermont

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Greyhaven]
#5562207 - 12/09/12 11:02 AM

I pointed at Orion's sword last night with 20mm EP and could see the nebulae, super bright too!! Even without coated lenses I bet it would work great for AP. Need to put it on a mount first.

A cheap mount!

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bouffetout
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/21/12

Loc: Canada

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronom new

[Re: Scott2526]
#5591227 - 12/27/12 01:45 PM

Quote:

I just love my 'Tinker Toy' micro focuser.

HO ! DUDE ! That brings back memories...I use to play with those when I was young ! Cool idea

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Rob55
member

Reged: 12/15/12

Loc: Fort Polk, LA USA

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronom new

[Re: Eddgie]
#5597102 - 12/30/12 11:06 PM

Tinker Toy fine focus. I love this.

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barbarosa
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/11/10

Loc: "lamorinda", CA

Re: "Non-astronomy" equipment adapted for astronomy? new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#5598619 - 12/31/12 07:26 PM

Quote:

Soooo - if warmed bubble wrap keeps dew at bay - might an overlay of FOILED bubble wrap "dew" it a little longer?

Reflectix (aluminized mylar) made for insulation but works great on scopes. I use it with my SCTs and finder scope both as a dew shield and by wrapping the OTA dew preventer. On very bad nights a second layer on the dorsal side helps. I used spray adeasive and black paint for the shield, but as it is Mylar an acrylic paint might stick without the adheasive layer.

Wrapping the the OTA can increase the cool down time; simply remove the wrap before the cool down period.

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