Otto Kick's It Off
Cor Takes the Floor
Jeff's Got to Get His Say
theAstronomer Caps it Nicely

New Topic: Dancing with the one that brung ya
Date: 11/19/01 at 19:36:50

I had this idea, which I floated with Jeff, that we share with each other what are the accessories we carry along with us when we observe. I felt this would be enjoyable because it might give us a pleasant insight into the tastes and psyches of our fellow stargazers, and because we might learn some techniques or learn of some gadgets that might enhance our scoping experience. I think Jeff came up with a terrific title for this topic: Accessories: Stuff You Could Easily Observe Without. I will begin. Please join in.

When I gaze and scope, besides the telescope and the mount, I have a two step stepladder, which is just about perfect for sitting on at nearly any angle with the CG4 mount. I use a homemade dew shield made out of black construction paper on the inside and glossy board paper (water resistant) on the outside held together with clear packing tape. It works very well. While sitting on the stepladder, I usually use a very light and cheap lawn chair to hold my eyepiece box and a starchart, near at hand.

I have Orion's cheapest plastic eyepiece case for my six eyepieces and the diagonal. The diagonal is the old fashion celestron Star Diagonal which looks like two tubes squished into each other at right angles. I recently had the need to take this diagonal apart and discovered that it had an honest to God secondary mirror type. It is eliptical, maybe an inch and a half by three quarters of an inch, with fine beveled edges. My guess is that it has a good surface. As for my eyepieces, they reveal me to be a person with champagne tastes on a beer budget. In fact, I like reasonably good, inexpensive eyepieces. They are 30mm, 16mm and 11.4mm Rinis (about $20 each) with plossl characteristics; and 7mm, 5mm and 4mm orthos at about $50 each.

Then I purchased an inexpensive plastic red tool/tackle box; maybe 6 inches by 6 inches by 14 inches. In the bottom of the tool box, for emergencies and occasional uses I carry a spare set of 4 D cell batteries for the drive, a spare set of 4 AAA batteries for the red flashlight, a catch all ziploc bag with pieces of red plastic and cloth and superglue and eyepatches, a ziploc bag with three camel hair brushes of different sizes and an air bulb, the motor for the declination drive which I never used, the manual slow motion knob-stick for the RA axis which I don't use, a spare battery for the daisy finder, a bunch of metal washers and metal shims in a ziploc bag, a spare ziploc bag, an old RA setting circle and a bunch of foam rubber packing pieces. In the upper tray, I have three ziploc bags. One holds the two screws which attach the telescope to the mount, a tiny maglite with red foil paper over the front, and a pair of spare light bulbs wrapped in soft paper. Another ziploc bag holds a set of allen wrenches. The last ziploc bag holds a phillips head screwdriver, a small pliers and two crescent wrenches.

For charts, if I don't use some specific chart or piece of information I got from Cor or Ray or some chart of the web, I will use a pair of Uranometria Chart books and sometimes AAVSO charts.

If I imbibe, it is always very strong but not bitter black coffee. For music, I light to use a wind up radio which brings in AM, FM and shortwave and lasts between a half hour and an hour with each winding.

That's me. How about you?

- Otto

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Reply #1 on: 11/19/01 at 22:06:04

Hi All,

What do I use outside. Well I have a rather small but easy to use toolbox as the basis for most of my stuff. The box contains all the EP's in their boxes. I do have a large red-light lamp at hand. Most of the time I do have my paper-notebook hanging around for drawing small starfields and noting things I see when observing doubles. I also use three rubber-castors normally used under washing machines to prevent vibrations. Whenever needed I can use an old camping-underground as a dewcap ... albeit a bit blue. Since I observe literally within a meter from my house I have everything at hand that I want including nearby lights

Cor

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« Reply #2 on: 11/19/01 at 23:21:51 »

Hi Otto,

You got this new board started off in fine style, congrats!

You will conclude from my list that I am a bit of a minimalist. In fact, I am constantly jockeying my stuff around to get more from less.

Most valuable accessory to Argo is a dewcap. Sure I can observe without it - but this time of year - not for long!

Next most is an observing stool. T was blown away to hear that Cor and I sat while we observed - but I tell you, when you are inspecting airy disks for "close clingers" you NEED to be seated. Also I think that Jupiter really needs a chair. Your eye needs to be very still to pick out fine, low contrast features...

Now, if I were to have the minimum kit in eyepieces it would be the 25 and 15mm Ultrascopics (these are pretty expensive oculars) plus Ultrascopic barlow. Between them I can get 70x for 40 arc-mimnute fields, 120x for small scale deepsky -mostly galaxies but also globulars and to locate small planetaries. 210x for Jupiter and 360x for Saturn and dawes limit doubles.

I have two eyepieces that are more specialized. A 35mm 52x Ultrascopic for large scale studies (M31, 33, 41 etc.) and a 10mm Ultrascopic for use with the barlow (540x) when trying to separate sub-dawesian doubles for dblGUTteam activities. Occasionally seeing round these parts is good enough to support 540x views of Saturn and Mars, while there are times when I don't want to deal with the barlow and use the 10mm on globular clusters, Jupiter or 1 arc-second plus doubles.

Another very valuable appurtenance is the "head light baffle" -otherwise known as a blue bath towel. This device is absolutely essential when going after studies whose average surface brightness exceeds Argo's limiting telescopic magnitude threshold at 70x (~12.5) most nights.

There are a host of other "non-essential essentials". Many of these are of special use when making drawings, taking notes, or tracking down studies. I try to stuff all this in an old 10 by 14 inch cosmetic's case (complete with small vanity mirror that I have yet to remove). The goal is to have four items to have to carry when traveling: MK-67 scope case. Skyview Deluxe Equatorial Mount, Cosmetics Case with accessories and observing stool.

But this never happens, I fill the thermos with "Earl Grey, Hot". Bring a large flashlight to check the area before departure after a way-nights observing. ground cloth to set stuff on etc.

But most nights out are right outside the back porch - Backyard Boulder Creek. Nestled in the San Lorenzo Valley amidst the 2,500 foot range of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Within 15 miles of the Pacific Ocean, 37 degrees north latitude.

Sounds idyllic, don't it? Well yes it is - if you can afford quarter million dollar two bedroom homes...

Later Dudes,

jeff

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« Reply #6 on: 12/04/01 at 18:58:51 »

Hey, Guys!

I like this topic! It's as unique as each one of us...

I keep both my scopes fully assembled in an detached, unheated garage not more than thirty yards from my favorite observing spot... the backyard! This way they are always close to outdoor temperature and ready at a moment's notice... Just open the door and go!

Like Jeff, I use aluminum cases to keep my eyepieces and filters in. A large one holds most of my toys, and a small one makes a great "take along" when I only need a few eyepieces. I don't need light to know what's in there... because the one thing I'm really "fussy" about is what order they are in! (And if you see any of those great little packages or canisters of silica gel... confinscate them! Added to your case, they really do the trick to keeping unwanted condensation away!!)

Yep. I use a ladder, too. But never to sit on! Even at close to six feet tall, I cannot reach the eyepiece of the dob while it's on the "grasshopper". (and I'd give up the Harley before I gave up THAT set of wheels!)

I use maps from a variety of sources. Some I photocopy, so I can make notations directly on them without ticking off the public library. My own personal books bear the testimony of years of use... favorite pages "book marked" with grass stains and coffee rings. I love them dearly... But when I observe strictly for the pleasure of it... no map is needed. I know my way around the sky.

Notes? Which one of us can live without our notes?! When I'm studying a particular field, I use a wire-bound notebook... because it often involves several weeks of work. (And I'd lose loose paper... It's a proven fact.) Then I'm serious... red light and mechanical pencil all the way. But, "at ease" what ever is handy is fine. From sales receipts to envelopes, my own particular variety of "shorthand" has graced many a piece of scrap paper! For years I kept track of my wanderings in a book, but the "electronic age" has changed that. Now I simply "post" my reports in my private pages, and hope they don't get lost in "space"! (I don't know about you, but I find typing a hundred times more agreeable than handwriting!)

The old Kenwood receiver and giant speakers that went "out of style" live inside the garage. With the side door open, they provide more than ample volume to annoy my distant, light polluting neighbors with loud rock and roll. But I am respectful during the late hours... and the Walkman and a favourite CD does just fine.

And although I tease a lot... coffee is my poison of choice while observing. And when I'm finished? Oh, there's always a Corona or two lurking around the corner somewhere, and I thoroughly enjoy them while kicked back in that big, old redwood lawn chair... sunk in the cushion... listening to my rock and roll... and just admiring the night sky!

Care to join me?

- theAstronomer

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