R_Angkasa
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/06
Posts: 899
Loc: SO PAS - CA
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Anybody know if there is a similar program that will run in Macintosh?
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10x42L IS
FS128
12" DSH
3.5, 5, 7,
10, 14, 20,
30, 40
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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What can I say? I'm cheeeeeep! However you still stayed under $20; I'd say we did great. As you said, it's reversable, all I have are 3 tiny screw holes holding the metal strip on. Now if the skies would clear! 
Carol
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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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jdickson
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/26/04
Posts: 685
Loc: Desert Hot Springs, Ca
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Why lug a notebook computer outside? Get a used Palm PDA (really cheap on that big auction site) and download Planetarium. You will then have real-time alt az coordinates for everything.
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Joe
10" f5 ATM dob, 20x80 p-mount binos.
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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Just like anything you buy, you want accessories! The basic price of $12 system works great, but I wanted convenience for the coordinates, instead of looking up different times for each target (to get accurate coordinates), I invested $100 in a used Dell Axim with the software PocketStars. Total $120. Next, I'm adding a digital inclinometer $80. So total cost $212, enjoyment-PRICELESS! This is a great do-it-your-self project that works unbelievably well. 
Carol
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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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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 5367
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I did something similar with my little StarBlast. The setting circles were originally added for tracking artificial satellites (which it does beautifully) but I quickly found they also work like a charm making my StarBlast an efficient push-to telescope.
-John
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I & II), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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SkyArcher
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2027
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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Very cool!!
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An 8" Deep Space Hunter
4.5 w/ GOTO
4.5 newt w/ home built Dob mount
Omphaloskepsis - I didn't realize that there is a word for what I do while waiting for web pages to download 
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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NICE!  Really looks professional, & the color is outstanding!
Carol
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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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Chris T
super member
Reged: 01/05/05
Posts: 150
Loc: Florida
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here's the inclinometer from home depot
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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Hey Chris: Great picture! That will work well for you.
Carol
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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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R_Angkasa
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/06
Posts: 899
Loc: SO PAS - CA
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A must have feature on the finder angle is the calibration, when used for altitude finder.
Ridwan
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10x42L IS
FS128
12" DSH
3.5, 5, 7,
10, 14, 20,
30, 40
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Paul_R
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 1648
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Amazing DIY jobs everyone! And the PDA will have lots of other uses... and for those of us who already have them, there would be no added expense!
John, how did you make those circles for the StarBlast and how did you attach them?
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 5367
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Paul; the circles were drawn in sections using AutoSketch and printed on heavy poster stock. These were cut out and glued onto foam core art board, then sealed with an overlay of clear shipping tape.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I & II), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Paul_R
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 1648
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Just remarkable! Thanks for the details.
I wonder whether one could get by with just a low-end inclinometer to get the altitude fix and then just sweep in azimuth in the neighborhood where the object should be...
Perhaps some of you with the printed setting circles or the inclinometer can test that... just dial in the altitude and see if a little sweeping in the area will capture the objects.
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Paul_R
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 1648
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I realize that this thread is a little stale, but I had a question...
Does one even need the inclinometer? Does not the the altitude "protractor" take care of that? Or is the inclinometer used for greater precision?
I'll have to check the other thread...
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SkyArcher
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2027
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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You can use either/or both. The inclinometer doesn't need to be calibrated. I myself am not using an inclinometer for instance because I find that the printed altitude works well enough. 
As for your last question, Sometmes you still have to do a little sweeping to find what you're looking for.
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An 8" Deep Space Hunter
4.5 w/ GOTO
4.5 newt w/ home built Dob mount
Omphaloskepsis - I didn't realize that there is a word for what I do while waiting for web pages to download
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Curt B
super member
Reged: 08/02/05
Posts: 173
Loc: Regina, Canada
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With the protractor, you have to make sure the base is level, but with the inclinometer, it is not a worry since it is attached to the tube.
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Celestron 102SLT,red dot finder
WO ZenithStar 80II ED with WO 1 1/4" dielectric diagonal, and red dot finder
SkyWatcher 100mmED Pro, with WO 2" Dielectric diagonal, 9X50 RAC finder, with telrad
Baader Hyperion 21, 13, and 5mm eyepieces
GSO 30 & 26mm 2" eyepieces
WO 8 - 24mm Zoom eyepiece
Tele Vue Ethos 13mm eyepiece
Celestron Power Tank 17
Orion SkyView AZ mount
William Optics TR-188 Tripod
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LameLefty
super member
Reged: 06/29/06
Posts: 124
Loc: Murfreesboro, TN
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Before I run out to Kinkos and have the .pdf printed and laminated, anyone care to give me a ballpark on the price they paid? I need to have them print it on a 24" x 36" sheet at 100% scale, right?
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10" Zhumell Dob
9mm Zhumell Plössl / 32mm Zhumell Widefield
13mm and 21mm Orion Stratus
Nikon D80 DSLR
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SkyArcher
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2027
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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Measure your Dob base to be sure that a 19" circle will fit. If your base is bigger or smaller then you would need to do the math to figure how much larger or smaller you need your circle to be.
(Your base diameter) / 19" * 100 = actual size%
The pdf is sized to fit 24x36 at 100%.
I don't know how much Kinko's charges.
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An 8" Deep Space Hunter
4.5 w/ GOTO
4.5 newt w/ home built Dob mount
Omphaloskepsis - I didn't realize that there is a word for what I do while waiting for web pages to download
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fireman mike
member
Reged: 07/04/06
Posts: 15
Loc: mesa del caballo ariz
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what a neat set of ideas I'll measure the base of my 12" dob tomarrow and go from there thanks everyone clear sky's
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12" Zhumell dob
w 34.2860 n 111.2949
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bkdaaa
member
Reged: 06/18/06
Posts: 32
Loc: Rolla, MO
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Thanks to all of you for the wonderful ideas! I made the azimuth ring yesterday and need to get an inclinometer from lowes after class today. I can't wait! This will hold me over until I find time to build my DSC system I have cooked up!
A few hints for those who want to try this:
On 12" lightbridge rescale to a 24.5" dia circle (mine is 24" and I wish I had made it a bit larger)
A ruler with a straight pin and razor blade makes a wonderful circle cutter
Cut the circle out THEN go back and laminate it (mine has 3 layers of lamination ;D The first layer I did at the media center at school and it came out beautiful, then I realized I might want the edges sealed and went to staples and they screwed it up)
To accurately place the base holes I made a zero degree index on the base, aligned and taped the circle to the base, by holding it up to the light I was able to easily trim the required holes out of the circle to match the base
If you want to semi permanently attach it to the base, you can use a spray adhesive such as 3M-77
Thanks again to everyone who has made this possible!!!
Doug
Edited by bkdaaa (07/18/06 02:38 PM)
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