ATM

Trixie – light shroud for mirror box

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source for Kydex Will probably need 18”x50” to cover the mirror box of the 13”. They sell 24”x60” for $25.

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Astro knowledge

birthday images 3 – aspect ratio and book thoughts

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I’ve been thinking about printing out a book of my astrophotos. 8×10 and 16×20 are both 4:5 (1:1.25) sizes. So while the native resolution of the D70 is 3008×2000, the max 4:5 […]

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Astro knowledge

birthday images 2 – resolution

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This article is talking about magazine quality, 300dpi printing. It suggests that 6mp is good for 8×10, and about 4x the resolution is needed for 16×20. however, Kodak says 1600×1200 is sufficient […]

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Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography

birthday images – my greatest hits

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My wife said she wanted to get me some of my photos printed and framed for me. So it was an opportunity for me to cull out some of my “greatest hits” […]

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ATM

Trixie scale

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I got a great deal on a big mirror, and I’m building out a telescope to house it. It’s a 13” mirror, which doesn’t sound as impressive as seeing the mirror next […]

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Uncategorized

Re: Pointing Model vs. Polar Alignment

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Art Morton wrote: >> I have no earthly idea how to get the Gemini to go at 2x sidereal. >> Without getting the drive to turn off in one direction, the alignment […]

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ATM

Carbon Fiber FAQs

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I have kicked around the idea of building Trixie in Carbon Fiber. I doubt it’ll happen (the costs are… ahem.. “astronomical”). But here are some sites with info about CF http://www.societyof … […]

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ATM

Trixie dovetail mounting holes

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For the hole spacing of the for 23.75” and 19” plates, look up the DM14 and DM12 hole spacing. DP23.75 is Length 23.75” HS 23.00 1/4” 20 holes DP19 is Length 18.925” […]

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Uncategorized

Re: Gemini slew speeds

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Hi James, Jamesbielaga@aol.com wrote: > I believe the slew speeds are .3x .5x 2x, 4x 8x and 16x. Manual page > 4 and 5 cover it. I think this is correct for […]

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ATM

Trixie dovetail mounting holes

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Further research revealed that Losmandy sells DP plates in 17.5”/19” and 23.75” lengths without the curved radius blocks. They are a little cheaper than the DC plates (which include the radius blocks) […]

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Techniques

Polar Alignment Calculations

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Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]

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Gear / Observatory / Telescope

Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O

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The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]

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General / Maintenance / Observatory

Dome shutter is motorized again!

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I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]

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ATM

Trixie 2017 – tube mods

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I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]

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