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1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Just remember that the common bases for mothballs are either napthalene or para-dichlorobenzene, both are pretty potent solvents that outgas readily and in an enclosed space could actually do more harm than good. NOT good to be around for people with allergies or asthma.  
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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MRoedel
sage
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 252
Loc: Michigan
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Quote:
Thanks Yall.
I had a brainfart earlier. I think.
I went and checked and there were about three or four buzzing in and out of what looked like the makings of a nest.
I took the can of air cleaner I had bought for blowing off my mirror (dont do it with Air in a can!) out to the nest and turned it upside down and sprayed for a second. In less than a second or two it was shooting out 'frozen death' so I turned it on the nest and almost instantly they all dropped to the floor and I could hear tiny little death rattles consuming them (not really but I was listening!), and I quickly snuffed them out with the hammer I forgot to put away.
I then sprayed the nest really good and threw it into the neighbors yard. Shhh! 
The upside down can of air felt freezing cold to my arm too.
Its very effective if you can get it right on them and I dont think anything lingering will hurt the dob.
Schweet!
BRILLIANT 
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Mike Roedel
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. -Sydney Smith, writer and clergyman (1771-1845)
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 2453
Loc: Colorado
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Freezing them is a rather good idea, no residue or other environmental issues. The thing you'd have to watch is the force of the air jet ripping the nest apart and spreading dazed but still potentially nasty insects around the room.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED
Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s, 8x56s, T-Mount Light, and Mark 1 eyeballs
Modded 350D, SPC900, Mallincam
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Why thank ya, Mike! 
Youre right, Mark.
I had the little thin straw thing on it, and just went to town on the little clot of would-be nest. I got lucky and only had a few to deal with.
I dont know if theyre any better or worse this year, seems about the same as any year I suppose, but we always get them every summer at the step going into the pool, and openings around our wood deck and the siding.
I havent had any more since doing battle that day. 
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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TeleTex
member
Reged: 01/27/08
Posts: 55
Loc: Texas
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Ok, WidowMaker it is about time for a much over due update on how things are going with the OBS 
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Stan
Meade ETX-60AT-BB (60mm Achromatic Refractor)01-30-08
Meade NG-60 Jupiter (60mm Refractor) 12-25-07
Meade 70AZ-A Land & Sky (70mm Refractor) 02-13-08
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THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3957
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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YEP... Lets have one last update....   .... We are all waiting...
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Geoff...
Nexstar 8SE -- 9X50 RACI Finder scope... 6.3 F/R.-- 13 & 17mm Hyperion EPs.. 25mm Celestron E- Lux EP.. 2X Celestron X-Cel Barlow----- Celestron solar filter + A few bits and pieces..
Never give up on any one..... MIRACLES happen every day....
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Morning, Yall!
Thought Id update whats been happening since we finished building the obs.
Well..almost ashamed to say it, but all the work weve done on the concrete slabs may have been for nothing.
Since we finished, Ive bought an SBIG ST2000XM CCD camera, a Losmandy G11 with Gemini, and an Orion St120mm scope to try imaging.
The concrete slab we built for imaging is way too close to the North wall. When I open the roof all the way up I cant see Polaris from that spot. We didnt know!
Dean S tried to tell me, but we were hoping to do two things in one location.
The G11 has a way to help you polar align if you cant see Polaris so not all is lost.
Dean is helping me to get an aluminum plate for the Pier youve already seen (again thanks to Dean!), so once it gets here we can bolt down the pier on that slab and do our best.
Right now, its still under the floor, just the way it was when we finished it.
Since getting the G11 and the scope, Ive not used the dob. Learning how to polar align, and all the bells and whistles on the Losmandy have taken all my time.
The G11 tripod takes up a big chunk of space, and now with 2 laptops, a desk, and pelican cases everywhere, this big old area doesnt seem so big anymore!
Last night was my very first attempt at imaging with the new toys and Im very happy with the results!
Now I cant stop thinking about imaging!
Im considering selling a few Naglers and possibly even the dob to finance a bigger imaging scope. Id like to keep it but im not exactly sure why. I think since it was my very first scope, and the first one I ever looked through, its got a sentimental value or something. 
Also, since it got down to the 20's, my side board has warped or something, and when I tried to close the obs the other night, it broke my corner piece of siding!
The wife says its no big deal, but it sure aint purty!
My angle iron frosted over while I was out lastnight making the roof alot harder to pull shut. Ive got to put a pully or something there. Right now with money being tight, Id better just keep these things between us and not ask the wife for sympathy funds.
Oh...and I sure wish Id built that warm room!
Thats another reason why I wonder about the dob anymore.
Why do visual when taking the pics was so much easier?!
If we got rid of it and scooted the g11 closer that way, I could partition some of the space off and heat it up in the winter.
Found some bird droppings in there lastnight too! We cut left over foam and sealed the gap where I tried to cut the boards that sit just above the angle iron, thats how theyre getting in.
Anyways, heres my first image ever taken in the observatory, I hope you like it.
Thanks everyone!
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2184
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It took me 6 years and I still don't have an image that good. I don't have an SBIG either.
Slow down. Before you think anymore about selling the DOB, push the imaging setup you have to the MAX!
Yes, you've a nice image for the first one, but when you get the setup you have able to take 5 to 10 minute subs, you'll look back and think.."YYeeeecccck! I can't believe I thought that was a good shot."
The DOB will always be nice to have, especially when the relatives show and want to take a peek! AND when you get the imaging to 10 minute subs you'll be glad for the distraction....something to do besides twiddling your thumbs while counting down the exposure seconds.
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
The concrete slab we built for imaging is way too close to the North wall. When I open the roof all the way up I cant see Polaris from that spot. We didnt know!
Dean S tried to tell me, but we were hoping to do two things in one location.
The G11 has a way to help you polar align if you cant see Polaris so not all is lost.
Dean is helping me to get an aluminum plate for the Pier youve already seen (again thanks to Dean!), so once it gets here we can bolt down the pier on that slab and do our best.
That is a great photo!
By the way, there is absolutely no reason why you have to see polaris to do an accurate polar alignment. I can see it just fine from my observatory, but I've never actually needed to use it.
You can drift align. You can do this manually, by watching the drift of stars in an eyepiece, or, since you have the very nice ST2000XM, you can get PEMPro, and and let software measure the drift as observed by your camera.
It's great to hear that you are getting such good use from your observatory! Isn't it just absolutely wonderful to be able to walk outside on a good night and just get going with minimal effort?
That mount, scope and camera is a great combination for imaging, I think.
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28619
Loc: montana
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Well, I for one, think that image is breathtaking! Wow, Congratulations!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Thanks alot yall!
Youre absolutely right, Steve. I think I just got bit by the imaging bug! 
I remember now that you say it, that was the idea behind having the dob and the imaging stuff someday down the road.
That way if company comes over (they never do!), or im waiting on a long exposure, itll give me something to do.
Right now though....im like, sell it all, daddy needs a bigger scope!
Yeah, Scott. Youre right about the drift alignment.
My only problem is that this scope I have will not let me come to focus with the 9mm reticle or the 12mm reticle I bought for some reason.
I started a thread about it here and have tried everything, but nothing I do works. 
Astronomics, Orion, and everyone in between is stumped.
Luckily, where the tripod is now I can see Polaris and with the Losmandy Polar Alignment scope I got two of the three stars and ive used the Gemini's Polar assist function and all seems to be fine.
Being able to goto something, then run inside eat and chat with the wife for a while, put the kids to bed, and come back with the scope exactly pointed at where you left it is incredible!
Doh...back to school! The kids are standing here looking at me like a truant officer. 
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
Yeah, Scott. Youre right about the drift alignment.
My only problem is that this scope I have will not let me come to focus with the 9mm reticle or the 12mm reticle I bought for some reason.
Yeah, that's why you need PEMPro - it will use your CCD camera rather than the reticle eyepiece. Since it's clear you can get the CCD camera to focus, it should work just fine for you. Best part is you can try it for free for 60 days. If you find it works well for you, buy it. If not, well, no loss on your part.
On the reticles, do you know if the problem is in focus travel (this is what I'd assume), or out focus travel? I have backfocus problems with my CDK20, so I can relate. The actual amount of backfocus is pretty good - 5.81", with 1.3"
of travel. I have a very nice denk II binoviewer that I'm going to have to sell because there is just no way it will achieve focus on this scope. I do reach focus with my reticle eyepieces, but with a 2" celestron XLT diagonal, I have literally just a few millimeters of infocus travel left. If the diagonal had even a slightly longer path, there's no way they'd reach focus.
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2184
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Scott:
I've a 12" SCT that will work perfectly with your Denks.
It is not a decision I make lightly, but I'm willing to trade the 12" for your CDK20. 
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
It is not a decision I make lightly, but I'm willing to trade the 12" for your CDK20.
Awww Steve, you are too kind - I couldn't take advantage of you like that!
Heh, I also have a 12" SCT, and it does work perfectly with the Denks. I just never set it up anymore because, well, you know...
Breaks my heart about the binoviewer - it's very nice, and I have one of the denk filter and power switching diagonals to use with it. It's an amazing combination if you have the backfocus for it. I could, conceivably, get another 2" in focus by using a lower profile focuser. But I really like the Hedrick focuser that came with the scope, so I'm not too keen on doing that.
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Timber
member
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 37
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Scott, can you post a link to PEMPro, thanks
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
Rather Wonderful
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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PemPro2
There you go!
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CarolG
sage
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 495
Loc: Oklahoma
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Mike, that's a beautiful picture! Sounds like you and your wife have been very busy and getting wonderful results for all your work. You are an inspiration to us all!!
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Carol
NS11 XLT on a Scopebuggy
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Why thank ya, Maam!
I just got back in and did a bunch of exposures on the Horsehead nebula and M78. Im gonna try combining them and hopefully Ill have something worth looking at.
How exciting!
Thanks again Everyone!
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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RobVG
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 618
Loc: Seattle Washington
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Hi Michael
It's so cool to see how you surpassed your goals with your observatory! That image of M42 is awesome!
I'm happy for yah man...
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C11 SGT(XLT)CG-5
Observatory (page 5)
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Thank ya, Rob and everyone else!
Well, I think my M42 was beginners luck.
I tried the Horsehead nebula and M78 but my focus was off so bad that even Dean couldnt fix them. It was hard to tell how bad my focus was from under all my blankets and coats!
Man I hate freezing!
The wife and I are trying to figure out a way to create a warm area.
We thought about just partitioning a section by the North wall off with like a tarp or something and letting me put a heater in there.
The wife thinks that maybe If I could make it through this winter, then we might just do another (gulp!) concrete slab right where the tripod is now (closer to the dob slab), but this time just do a nice sonotube hole, instead of 80 bags of concrete.
Thats got to be easier than what we did last time!
We can still try using the pier slab we already made by the North wall and just use Pempro or some other method of polar alignment without being able to see Polaris, but I hate the idea of not being able to see anything in the Northern sky. Ya know?
So...right now though its all about just trying to stay warm! Im huddled up on the couch typing this with long johns on, blankets, and three lazy dogs all over me keeping me warm.
Im so weak!
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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