RE: ATM Alt-Az vs. RA and Dec

[Byron Ader <bader@hydroblendinc.com>]

Thanks Russell,
I appreciate that.  Finding these things on my own expresses a deep down
desire to get a "feel" for the universe.  I can not imagine giving it up
with a "GOTO" scope.  To me that will enable me to become lazy in my
endeavor and I will miss the joy of why I like astronomy in the first place.
As a kid, looking at the sky always brought peace, knowing that there is
much more to this universe than human trouble.  It does that same thing for
me today.  Anyway, it is all a journey and I am enjoying every ounce of
it...well, most of it I would say ;-)

-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Jocoy [mailto:russjocoy@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 10:11 PM
To: bader@hydroblendinc.com; atm@shore.net
Subject: Re: ATM Alt-Az vs. RA and Dec


>From: Byron Ader <bader@hydroblendinc.com>
>Reply-To: Byron Ader <bader@hydroblendinc.com>
>To: atm@shore.net
>Subject: ATM Alt-Az vs. RA and Dec
>Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 09:56:20 -0600
>
>
>A couple hundred years from now, I will have my mirror done.  At that point
>I will be trying to decide what type of mount I will use for the scope.  I
>want this scope to be the scope I use for star parties, keeping my Meade
>permanently mounted in my observatory. Do you find it easier to use Alt-Az
>coordinates for quick star/object hopping or RA and Dec?  I have no
>experience in finding things with Alt-Az coordinates, but it does not seem
>that hard.  In fact, it seems like it could be easier.  I also want to
>possibly hook up my own computer controls for this scope, what would you
>recommend I look into for a resource that will teach me how to build this
>equipment? Also, a home-build CCD would be nice, are their any good books
>for that?
>
>Another question;  My Meade has a rough go with trying to align precisely
>on
>RA and Dec. It is a fork mounted Schmidt-Newtonian.  The Dec setting
>circles
>have a lot of play in them, How could I redesign new ones to replace these?
>Bigger is more precise I realize.  The Setting circle for RA leaves a lot
>of
>guess work as well. I know that I need to get used to the personality of my
>scope, but I also know that this process could be easier.  I hopped through
>maybe 10 messier objects last night and 2-3 NGC objects.  With a little
>struggling on some.  My finder scope is good for revealing objects up to
>the
>9th magnitude approximately.  At the 10th magnitude I am relying wholly on
>my main scope and star hopping with my finder.  It would be nice to just
>land on my targeted objects by coordinates.
>
>My Meade is a 6" by the way.
>
>Thanks,
>Byron
>



("atm@shore.net")

Byron,   Remember you have a 6" telescope.   With your Messier searching and
finding you are
doing well. Those dec. and  RA setting circles are for reference only. They
will get you close to where
you want to be. My friend this will teach you the roadmaps in the universe.
After trial and error you will
swing that scope dead on to your favorite globular cluster in a second. But
then again you could give
it all up and get a GOTO scope that does the same thing. Gets you real
close... and tell you what you are
looking at, even though your scope does not have the resolution to give you
anything but a small blurr.
   Keep working with what you have and learn the sky, you will be a better
person for it.... RJ
("atm@shore.net")

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