MOST RECENT
Pumpkin's huge FOV
It was clear last night, but the forest fires put up so much smoke that I couldn’t see anything in the way of stars. I just calculated Pumpkin’s FOV and compared that […]
Trixie – cutting the vents and test-fitting the hardware
It was another couple of weeks before I could get back to the project. I thought about doing circular holes for the vents, but decided to stick with the design, and laid […]
Trixie – light shroud for mirror box
source for Kydex Will probably need 18”x50” to cover the mirror box of the 13”. They sell 24”x60” for $25.
birthday images 3 – aspect ratio and book thoughts
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 […]
birthday images 2 – resolution
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 […]
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
birthday images – my greatest hits
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” […]
Trixie scale
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 […]
Uncategorized
Re: Pointing Model vs. Polar Alignment
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 […]
Carbon Fiber FAQs
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 … […]
Trixie dovetail mounting holes
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” […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
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 […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
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 […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
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 […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
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 […]
MOST COMMENTED
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.