Category: Equipment
Yesterday I constructed a new solar filter for photographing the Sun with my Coolpix 4500 and the webcam. I constructed the filter from cardboard and Baader AstroSolar PhotoFilm with a neutral density of 3.8. This filter is only for photographic use! Do not use Astro
Last year Coronado launched the PST solar telescope. At the moment the first reports and images are coming available on the internet. If you are interested in this 500 dollar (or 800 Euro!) solar scope with a < 1 Angstrom H-Alpha filter take a look at the following links.
1. Images taken through the PST on the Coronado website.
2. Rudolf Reiser’s hompage with a report and images on the PST (german language).
3. Andre Cassese’s website with some great images (French language)
Yesterday TAL launched its newest model, the TAL 250K. The 10-inch Klevtzov Cassegrain has a focal ratio of f/ 8.5 and the OTA weighs about 16 Kilograms. The telescope is equiped with a 2 inch focusser and an 8x50 finderscope. The complete telescope will cost about 2600 Euros and the OTA will prbably be priced between 2250 and 2300 Euros. For more information follow this link to the official TAL site.
If you are looking for a case to store your eyepieces, filters, camera and all other accessories you should consider a Pelicase with soft-padded dividers. On the image below you see the Pelicase 1504. For more detailed information on all the models go to the website of Pelican Cases. The cases are very sturdy. They keep your equipment dust-free. You can arrange the soft padded dividers any way you like. They are ideal for transporting your equipment in your car, airplane or train.
Last week I got a new mount for the TAL 200K. Problem with the old mount was, that with high magnifications of more than 200x focussing became more difficult (much too wobbly). The EQ6 can take the 11-kilo TAL OTA easily. It can carry up to 22kg. The first lunar
Today I got the Baader Micro-Guide eyepiece. This eyepiece should enable me to measure position angles and separation of (double) stars, the diameter of lunar craters (you have to know the exact distance of the Moon), and
Yesterday I received my star spectroscope from Rainbow Optics (Hayward Ca. in the USA). I ordered it from Adirondack Video Astronomy . I have been looking for a spectroscope for some time, but most of them are too expensive. This one, the Rainbow Optics Spectroscope costs about 250 US dollars, a nice price for someone who wants to get his feet wet in amateur spectroscopy.
As you can see on the image below, the spectroscope
I regularly get e-mails from people that want to know more about the digital camera set-up I use. Today I have published an article in my equipment section about the two cameras’ I use(d) , the Nikon Coolpix 4500 and the Nikon Coolpix 775. In the article you will find a photo album containing 16 images in which you can see how the Nikon Coolpix 4500 is connected to the telescope, using digital camera adaptors from Vixen and ScopeTronix. You will also find some links to some images and the digital_astro yahoo group.
Follow this link to read the full article.
Enjoy!