SKYWATCHER USA 10″ COLLAPSIBLE DOBSONIAN SKY COMMANDER RETROFIT
I know it’s not astroimaging related, but I decided to post the instructions I used to connect my Sky Commander digital setting circles to my Skywatcher USA 10″ collapsible dobsonian. This was mainly to test the forum system out and see how it goes. Proceed at your own risk. This installation does require modification to the base board of your Skywatcher USA Dobsonian mount and it not a reversible operation. The 3D Printed parts have been designed by me for…
A Red Screen Cover for Smartphones
I am relatively new to smartphones but I have already found 2 good astronomy apps that I like to use while observing: SkySafari (sky charts) and Astro Panel (weather). While SkySafari has a night (red) mode, the display seems a bit bright. Astro Panel doesn’t offer a night mode. Further, if you need to use the phone for calls, email or such, the screen is really bright. Enter the Staunton River Star Party and vendor AstroGizmos. I spoke with Jeff…
Ioptron MiniTower
I thought I would give a short review of my new, mostly visual observing setup. If anybody has seen me out at Big Woods, I am pretty much only taking pictures. I had longed to do some visual observing for awhile. The reason being the only mount I have is the Orion Atlas which is always taking images. So, in celebration of getting one year older, I bought the Ioptron MiniTower altazimuth mount. I have used it a few times with…
iOptron Smartstar E-R80
(This article originally appeared in the Q4 2007 STAR Newsletter and was written by Dwight Rahl) iOptron Smartstar-E-R80 by Dwight Rahl When I was about 13, my parents got me my first telescope – a 6″ Criterion Dynascope. I had fun with it, but I was always frustrated by the amount of trouble I had in finding objects in the sky to observe. I found I was using it less and less often because of the trouble I had finding…
Buying the Coronado PST (Personal Solar Telescope)
(This article originally appeared in the first quarter 2005 STAR Newsletter. -I) Buying the Coronado PST (Personal Solar Telescope) by Bill Webster The first time I looked through a telescope with a hydrogen-alpha filter on it I knew I wanted one. The view of the sun showing prominences and filaments was very captivating. The flares and active regions on the sun’s surface was something I had never seen before. The major problem for me was the price. The least expensive…
