csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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In another post in this forum, I described (with pictures) how I set my Dob up with degree circles for a "Go-To" scope. Last night I got to test it, & it works exceptionally well! After sighting in on Polaris, & turning the Azimuth scale pointer to "0", I set in the Altitude & Azimuth numbers (which I had previously got by rolling up the time to my viewing time in my new astronomy program "Pocket Stars". (It was also set up for my viewing coordinates). I was familiar with M13, so I put in 38degrees Altitude, 074degrees Azimuth, had my Burgess 38mm eyepiece, & looked & WOW! M13 was there. I then "dialed" in M92, & again, there it was.
The only drawback to this system is, of course, with time moving on, the coordinates change; this will be remedied when I get a Palm PDA with Pocket Stars on it. Then the coordinates will be up-to-date.
This "Go'To" is very effective, VERY inexpensive, & no complicated manuals to read, just go, view, enjoy. I wish to give my heartfelt thanks to SkyArcher, & Rod Nabholtz, both spent much of their time walking me thru setting this up & answering dumb questions! Without them, I wouldn't have been able to do this. 
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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snorkler
Aperture Aficionado
Reged: 10/11/04
Posts: 8266
Loc: Bay Area, California
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Muy bueno! I wouldn't call it "go-to", but the bottom line is it works well, and it didn't cost you anything significant.
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Lotteries are a tax on people who don't understand math - Snorkler
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miniventures
Something Else
Reged: 09/13/03
Posts: 11054
Loc: Powell Butte, Central Oregon
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Nice job, Carol----necessity (and an empty wallet for me) is the mother of invention!
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LarryC
Volunteer
http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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Empty wallet, loooong time between incoming $, that's why I love my "Push-To" system! 
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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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spaceydee
Postmaster
Reged: 04/16/04
Posts: 15346
Loc: Where the Kittens Are
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Congratulations! That is awesome!
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Dee
space-scientist
student violinist
Nexstar8i,SV80S,80/9D,FC100,94 Brandon,TMB92SS,GM8
8" f/7 Discovery,12.5" Portaball, PST
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R_Angkasa
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/06
Posts: 899
Loc: SO PAS - CA
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Excellent job Carol. What a satisfaction huh . . . when it works well with only $12. Enjoy the rest of the sky and keep us update.
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10x42L IS
FS128
12" DSH
3.5, 5, 7,
10, 14, 20,
30, 40
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Relativist
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/11/03
Posts: 3026
Loc: OC, CA, USA
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Carol,
Would you post links to all the instructions you used to make this? I've got a Treo 90 that I could use, and have been wanting such a system for my light polluted skies.
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.......Curtis
20mm T2 Nagler, 10mm SW 82degrees, 5-8 SW Zoom:
All of the above replaced with WO Binoviewers!!!
Siebert OCA 1.25x-3.5x
10" OPT Starhunter (flocked & upgraded focuser)
10x50 & 15x70 Celestron Bino's
2" 2x GSO Barlow
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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Hi Curtis: In this forum, under "Degree Circles", my post with pictures outlines pretty well what I did. Another nice CN'r made the degree circles for me. The only change I made was on the Azimuth scale. Instead of screwing in the clock hand (pointer)) into the side of the lowest base, I attached with screws about a 12" strip of metal (got it free at lumber yard) strapping metal, to the side of the lowest base with the middle of the strip at the "zero" mark on the degree circle. I then glued the clock hand pointer to a magnet. This sits on the metal strip & can be moved to "zero", when you align with Polaris, without manually moving the complete base around. I used a $10 inclinometer (magnetic base) that I put on the tube, to set the pointer correctly on the Altitude scale. Hope this helps, it's a real effective way to find objects! Also, SkyArcher just posted the degree circles pdf file on my "degree circles" post.
Carol
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SkyArcher
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2027
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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Hey Carol, I'm glad it is working for you!!
:happydogwaggingtail:
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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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SkyArcher: I love it, I can't believe how easy & how well it works! Now, the next thing is a Palm PDA! Thanks so much again, give "HONEY" a pat & Milk Bone! 
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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rnabholz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/25/04
Posts: 764
Loc: Iowa
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Congratulations Carol. This type of system can be very rewarding and represent a great return on the invested dollar.
I can't imagine not having mine when looking for the faint fuzzies, and I put in years of chart referencing and star hopping and had gotten pretty good at it. I vastly prefer the convenience of my manual push to.
Well Done on yours.
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Rod Nabholz
Home Built Astronomy Projects
Wild Bird Photography
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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Thanks Rod: You were a great help getting me up & running!
After only one night, I can't imagine going back trying to find something without it. The metal strap worked great, & of course, the price was right again, $0!
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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mch
member
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 62
Loc: CT, USA
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Carol, thank you for posting your project, and for everyone who's pitched in with helpful links and comments. I've bookmarked both threads. I don't fully understand (yet) how everything works, but what a great primer on what dsc's are. I hope to replicate this someday soon.
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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MCH: You are most welcome. It is because of other CN'rs posting what they did that got me interested, & with their expertise, I have a real neat setup, that I'm very proud of!
Also, welcome to the forums!
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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AtLarge
super member
Reged: 08/22/05
Posts: 149
Loc: 868 Ft. Above Sea Level
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I took some liberties but the approach is the same. The picture doesn't do it justice due to my camera skills. A special thank you to Skyarcher for the .pdf and Rod for the ideas.  
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Meade Lightbridge 12'' Deluxe with Orion COL.
Meade Series 4000 Plossl 7 Eyepieces & 5 Filters
Meade 114NT/500 Dwarf Dobsonian
Meade DS-114ATE
Meade 60AZ-T
Meade 227
Burgess BV125
Konus 2110 20x80mm Giant Astronomy Binoculars
Carson 20-100x70mm
Bushnell 16x50mm
 Oh, no. Not again!
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28576
Loc: montana
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AtLarge: Cool that it works on the LightBridge! It's such a simple plan that one thinks "it can't work!", but it does!
Glad you got use out of the article.
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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I have a question about the "Pocket Star" program. An object say M13 - on a celestial map it says dec "X" and RA "Y". Will the pocket star say the same thing - X and Y or a calculated Alt and Az based on my location and time?
Thank you
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10x42L IS
FS128
12" DSH
3.5, 5, 7,
10, 14, 20,
30, 40
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rnabholz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/25/04
Posts: 764
Loc: Iowa
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Nice looking install. Looks like original equipment. Well done.
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Rod Nabholz
Home Built Astronomy Projects
Wild Bird Photography
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rnabholz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/25/04
Posts: 764
Loc: Iowa
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In addition to RA and DEC, It will provide current Altitude and Azimuth for your specific observing location and local time.
Early pioneer's of this ALT AZ circle method used programmable calculators to convert RA and DEC, we just get to point and click.
Rod
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Rod Nabholz
Home Built Astronomy Projects
Wild Bird Photography
Edited by rnabholz (05/08/06 03:31 PM)
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AtLarge
super member
Reged: 08/22/05
Posts: 149
Loc: 868 Ft. Above Sea Level
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Quote:
Glad you got use out of the article.
Carol
Plus, this is my favorite type of project. What I like to call a "non-destructive modification". I used no screws, nails or glue. Therefore, it's all easily reversable should I want to. No ripples and I used a 1/4 margin on all the lamination so it shouldn't seperate for years. I didn't do quite as good as you on the materials though, $18 at Kinkos and $10 at Sears. 
   
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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!!
--------------------
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
--------------------
10x42L IS
FS128
12" DSH
3.5, 5, 7,
10, 14, 20,
30, 40
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