Amateur Astronomy WITH AN ATTITUDE from Chaos Manor South! Rod Mollise’s

March-April 2003 Volume 12, Issue 2 “A Newsletter for the Truly Outbound!” Skywatch Number 67 (New Series) : two eyes. Only when it’s time to look Great, Huge through a telescope do we squint one closed and look at the universe Inside this Issue: through a single peeper. This is SUPERSIZED uncomfortable, and, since our brain is used to getting the input from two eyes, we lose detail. A binoviewer is How I Learned to Stop Issue! the supposed cure. It’s a device that Worrying and Love uses prisms to take the light coming 1 Binoviewers! from your lenses and mirrors, split it, and direct the image into two Lucy Looks Skyward! How I learned to eyepieces. Put one of these on your 2 scope and you can view the Stop Worrying wonders of the heavens through two The EyeOpener! eyes as nature intended. 3 and Love Too bad this idea didn’t seem to MX7C Conversion! work well—at least not for me. Many 4 Binoviewers were the times I’d been offered the Confessions of an Astromart chance to use a binoviewer, given it

Junkie! a try, and come away shaking my Denkmeier Optical, Inc. 5 head at the idea anybody could like 100 Pinehurst Road one of these things. Didn’t seem to Berlin, MD 21811 Lunar Software! matter which brand I tried, either, Information:(410)208-6014 Toll-Free 6 including expensive TeleVues and Order Line: (866)340-4578 AP branded units. I just couldn’t 7 Space Place! http://deepskybinoviewer.com/ seem to get one to work for me. I’d look strain, adjust the interocular don’t make any secret of how distance (you can adjust the My Back Pages! much I love astro-gear. separation between a binoviewer’s 78 Anything—telescopes, eyepieces, I eyepieces just as you can with a charts, computer programs, packs pair of binoculars), focus, squint, of lens tissue. I don’t care. But there was one piece of amateur astronomy equipment that I just hadn’t been able to stomach: binoviewers.

If you spend any time at parties, you’ve seen binoviewers. They Skywatch are those binocular 1207 Selma Street viewing attachments Mobile, AL 36604 you’ll often find U.S.A. mounted in the focusers of big dobs or monster SCTs. In theory, it’s a good idea. We normally view our world through

...... strain some more and always wind impressed by the design of the unit. backyard, and got Saturn in the field up with two separate images. I In order to attach the focus tube to of view. I inserted the Denkmeier couldn’t get my eyes and brain to the binoviewer, TeleVue uses a into my 2” diagonal and popped in merge the pictures into one. And system of fussy adapter rings. two eyepieces (the only identical based on the comments of other These can be a real hassle if you oculars I could find were two 25mm folks who’ve used binoviewers, this have to remove them, as Pat Kellners of dubious heritage). OK, problem, while not common, ain’t Rochford and I discovered one let’s get this over with. I put my eyes exactly unheard of, either. After a evening when we unscrewed the to the eyepieces, focused and… while, I learned just to take a quick adapters from his TV, got ‘em back Yep. Two Saturns. I could feel a look through a BV when offered, on wrong, and basically ruined ‘em headache comin’ on already. I mutter something like, “cool!” or to the tune of 60 bucks (we adjusted the interocular spacing a “nice!” and head back to my single- threaded one ring into the wrong bit (the Denkmeier “folds” in the eyepiece scope as soon as politely part and couldn’t remove it). In middle like a pair of binoculars), possible. contrast, 1.25” and 2” focus tubes focused the big SCT a little and. thread right onto the body of the ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS SEEING And there things stood for quite a Denkmeier binoviewer, with no ONE, BEAUTIFUL IMAGE! while. I didn’t bother binoviewers, adapters required. There’s plenty of and they didn’t bother me. Until one room in the carrying case for I could hardly believe it! After about day when I got an email from the binoviewer, StarSweeper, focus 5 minutes of use, I even found that I good folks at Denkmeier Optical. tubes and more. This foam-padded couldn’t force myself into seeing two Seems as how they’d heard some case appears to be designed to hold separate images. What a revelation. comments about my problems with a pistol (the eagle embossed on the Why was it so easy with the binoviewing, and wanted me to give case cover makes its sporting goods Denkmeier when I’d had such a one of their “Deep Sky Binoviewers” heritage clear), but it’s a nice touch hard time with other binoviewers? a try. I was a little hesitant. Like I and works great. Maybe because I was able to relax said, I like gear, and being able to and use the BV on my own scope, a give new stuff a try is one of my Was there anything I didn’t like right comfortable SCT rather than a favorite pastimes. But I really wasn’t off the bat? The friction fit eyepiece ladder-equipped dobsonian. But I sure I wanted to bother with tubes. Rather than locks of some don’t think that’s the whole story. I something I knew I wouldn’t like. kind to hold your eyepieces in place, didn’t have any trouble when I tried But, in the end, I just couldn’t resist. the Standard Denkmeier uses the Denkmeier in Pat Rochford’s big I told Russ at Denkmeier to send friction fit tubes that hold both Dobsonian either. Talking to the one on, but not to be disappointed if eyepieces in place with the aid of O folks at Denkmeier, they stated that I hated the Denkmeier as much as I rings. I like my eyepieces to be they take special pains in the design did the rest of the pack. Russ was secure and tight, so I wasn’t overly and alignment of their units to unphased, and pretty much told me happy with this arrangement. It did preclude problems with image that he guaranteed I’d like his baby. seem to work OK, however. The merging. I guess I’ll have o believe Yeah. Right. eyepieces didn’t fall out and I was ‘em, since their binoviewer worked able to slide both in and out of the so well for me! Before I knew it, there was a sizable tubes for differential focus and they box sitting on the dining room table. stayed put. But it still seemed a less But beyond being able to merge Opening this parcel revealed a well- than ideal situration. This is actually images, what did I think? While the packed black-plastic carrying case a non-issue now, as Russ informed Denkmeier is billed as the “Deep containing the Standard Denkmeier me shortly after I received the eval Sky Binoviewer,” it was doing one Binoviewer ($599.00), the unit that all future Standard and heck of a job on Saturn. I’m not sure StarSweeper focal reducer for SCTs Premium Denkmeier BVs would I could see more with the two cheap ($149.00), and all necessary tubes indeed include locking, self- Kellners than I could when I and adapters to allow use of the centering eyepiece holders. switched in my single 22mm binoviewer in 1.25” or 2” focusers Panoptic. But I could easily see as (you’ll need a 2” setup for your SCT Looked nice. Yeah. But I doubted much and without as much effort. in order to use the StarSweeper). I that I’d be able to use this thing, so, And there was the added bonus of was immediately impressed by the so what? A glance out one of Chaos the binoviewer’s pseudo 3-D effect. quality of the Denkmeier’s Manor South’s kitchen revealed that When using this or any binoviewer, construction. It seemed even more the coming evening would be clear, there’s not nearly enough solid than the (more expensive) something that’s been rare this separation between your eyes when TeleVue, which has formerly been Winter, though, so I decided to give viewing a distant object like a planet something of a benchmark in the the blasted thing a try. I grabbed the to produce a real 3-D effect. But world of BVs. I was further binoviewer, set the C11 up in the 2 ...... Skywatch your brain doesn’t believe this. It’s the help of my buddy, Pat Rochford. binoviewer and OCS. We were very seeing through two eyes, so there Pat, as mentioned earlier, is a curious to see what the effect would must be depth. The way my brain Binoviewer user and is set up with a be on field-edge quality in this fast perceived things, Saturn was in the full range of eyepiece focal lengths. scope. After a little fumbling around midground, Titan was in the When the bubbas at Denkmeier to get the OCS adjusted to the point background, and a couple of the heard that I was takin’ their baby where the scope would come to other little moons were in the over to Pat’s to try under his fairly focus (the OCS barrel is adjustable foreground. Completely false, but dark skies and in his 24” dob, they to accommodate various setups— wonderful nevertheless. sent along another piece of gear, shorten or lengthen it via fine the “OCS”. The OCS (Optical threads to suit your scope). One drawback to binoviewers for Corrector System) is a special lens SCTs in the past has been the need set designed to allow dobsonians to We got the dob focused and on M42 to use them at f/10. BVs require way come to focus with a binoviewer. and took a look. Amazing! Despite too much backfocus to allow you to Normally, to use a BV on a dob, you bloated due to the seeing, the use them with a standard f/6.3 have to place a barlow type device 24 presented us with some amazing reducer/corrector. But there’s a way in the light path to move the focus views. The nebulosity was around this now. Denkmeier offers a point. This, of course, means you everywhere, and the 3-D effect was 2” barrel reducer that screws right lose any hope of wide fields. The just mindblowing. The was on to the end of the binoviewer’s 2” OCS allows the binoviewer to focus great in my 11, but 24 inches of focus tube and brings the focal ratio while keeping the scope at very aperture is not to be sneezed at, down to about f/5. I didn’t do a drift close to its native focal length. The obviously (I still prefer SCTs, of check to see what the field size was, unit we tried was Denkmeier’s new course!). Couple that with a two-eye but looking at M42 and M37, “f/5” 2” ($299.00). view and…well, you get the picture. seemed fairly close. At any rate, the We also noted that the OCS must StarSweeper reducer produced Arriving at Pat’s I noticed that, while be doing something to correct coma, nice, sharp stars at the field edge the Weather Gods were withholding as field-edge stars looked quite with my humble 25mm kellners, and their wrath for a moment, seeing good. We had originally intended to the effect of being able to nicely wasn’t good, and some fog/haze try the OCS with both the frame the Orion Nebula while was moving it. Not a moment to Denkmeier and Pat’s Televue viewing through two eyes was spare, then. I set up the Nexstar and binoviewer, but the TV was, as was awesome. went to Saturn. Just great, even at mentioned earlier, out of service due the fairly high magnifications to our accident with the adapter How were deep sky objects in produced by a pair of 11mm TV rings and tubes. general? Slightly dimmer than they plossls at f/10. Despite the not- were in a single eyepiece setup, but perfect seeing, the view was Am I really a convert to noticeably more detailed and better- impressive—one of the best looks at binoviewers? Yes. Will I buy one of looking. More details, more contrast. old Saturn I’ve had in a long time. my own? That is a little harder. This was especially noticeably in Screwed-on the StarSweeper and Despite the very reasonable price of M37, which tends to be rather did some deep sky looking, too. the Denkmeier, you’re talking about subdued in my light pollution. A bit Naturally everything was a considerable investment, dimmer, yes, but “snappier.” The considerably more impressive than especially when you figure in the “central” red star really stood out. it had been from my light-polluted cost of at least three sets of identical And this with a pair of junk-box environs. We did notice some eyepieces. And the StarSweeper in kellners! vignetting and field-edge my case. In my opinion, an SCT deterioration when we went to user would be crazy not to take Verdict? The Denkmeier Standard 32mm plossls, but this is about what advantage of the ability to use a Binoviwer was a winner. At f/10 and I’d expect with eyepieces of this binoviewer at f/5. To buy or not to f/5 it was producing astonishingly focal length with any SCT reducer. buy? Yes, always a hard question good images for me, the binoviewer And at f/5, you don’t really need 32s when allocating those scarce astro- hater, with astonishingly cheap to produce wide fields. dollars. But I’ve already decided that eyepieces. for me the answer is “yes.” I’ll Conditions were now obviously eventually grumble and scrape But I wanted to see how this thing deteriorating further, so we tore together the bucks for a Denkmeier. would do under better skies (Chaos down the NS11 quickly and wheeled There’s something about viewing Manor South’s skies are about as out the bigdob. Pat normally uses a with two eyes that captures my pink as they get). I also wanted to TV Paracorr to reduce the coma in imagination now that I’ve seen just try it with some better quality this f/4 telescope, but this had to be how good it can be. eyepieces. To this end, I enlisted removed in order to use the ...... 3 VX Andromedae (Andromeda): core. It forms a triangle with two Bright and obvious at 67x, this is a stars of roughly the same strong orange star. There are brightness. Lucy Looks Skyward other bright stars around the edge of the FoV, when this star is centred - I additionally tried to look for The Continuing Adventures of an indeed the impression I get is of a NGC247 but it was rapidly sinking jaw-shaped asterism of stars, with into the west and I didn’t see it. Just SCT… this star located in the jaws, just after that, I decided to have another about to be eaten! go at finding the NGC 891. This has been always impossible for Dave Moore SY Eridani (Eridanus): An obvious me (even though the south deep-orange star with a slight red hemisphere of the sky at Creech is a ear all, Saturday night was tinge at 67x. Forms a dark sea horizon, the sky isn’t great one of the most interesting shallow triangle with two nearby (ZLM: 5.6-5.8 most nights), and Dand productive observing stars. Set in an attractive field at this there always seems to be an sessions I’ve ever had with Lucy, magnification, with a splash of faint inversion layer developing). But I my LX-90. Productive in that though stars visible in the FoV. judicious target selection, I was able finally nailed this beastie this night - to observe over 35 different objects RT Orionis (Orion): A deep orange thought it was almost over the course of 5 hours, and star at 67x. Slightly deeper than overhead at the time, which helped. nearby Alpha Orionis. Obvious at interesting...well, I’ll let you all read NGC 891 (Andromeda): Very faint this magnification but less so at on and find out...I’ve decided to go and needs averted vision to see 160x. for a more narrative approach this properly at 67x. Located time... BL Orionis (Orion): A bright orange within a curving chain of stars star at 67x. Not the deepest orange branching off from a bright star, this Saturday daytime was clear (and colour but still very nice. galaxy appears as a faint, cigar- cold) so after dropping off my fiance shaped haze with no obvious detail RV Monocerotis (Monoceros): An to her parents house (it is too cold or core-brightening. One of the stars this time of for her to come out orange star set in a sparse area of in the chain almost lies directly over observing), I went up to Creech stars. Not the brightest star itself but the centre of the galaxy, giving the very prominent at 67x.It was now Grange in the Purbecks with the LX- (correct) impression of the galaxy 8.00pm. Cetus was past the 90 to do some observing. I had five hanging behind the stars. It is layers of clothing on - I realised (and meridian, and I wanted to have a elongated perpendicularily to the look at a few I hadn’t yet found out) that I would need them all chain of stars. Not visible at 160x. looked at (there are plently –the temperature Very difficult overall. was well below freezing and by the more in Cetus, but it’s getting to the time my session ended, there was a point where I’ll just have to keep It was about 8.30pm. Another car layer of ice on just about them for next autumn). pulled in to the car park, ruining everything... what little dark adaptation I had. It NGC 596 (Cetus): This galaxy forms pulled up 50 yards away and two an equilateral triangle with two stars, Arriving just past 7.00pm, there was people got out and started talking, and the whole triangle fits very not a soul at the lookout point at and opening the boot and making Creech Grange so I set the scope comfortably in the FoV at 67x. hammering and clinking noises. Faintly visible with direct vision as a up and started to let it cool down. After five minutes, it dawned on me - roundish smudge with a stellar core. But after a couple of moments, I they were putting up a tent. IN THIS realised that I could take 160x reveals the galaxy to be WEATHER? I thought to myself, but elongated, and the core is very small this opportunity to look at a few yes, there were putting up a but very bright. more Carbon stars. I recently got a tent.Nutters, I thought to myself, and hold of Craig Nance’s list of Carbon NGC 908 (Cetus): Faint but large, carried on observing, resolving to go stars, and so I started looking at and elongated at 67x. No real core- and introduce myself when they had them. I only had the co-ordinates for brightening is finally put it up. five of them with me, so I spent detected, even if I use averted Now I was onto the “Vanity” part of some time looking at these. Carbon vision. Not visible at 160x. A triangle the evening. I have an obsession stars are one of my favourite types of faint stars lies nearby. of objects, yet no one else seems to with finding objects that hug the horizon - since April I have already observe them! So over the next half NGC 1052 (Cetus): Visible easily at logged objects in Lupus, hour or so, I spent some quality time 67x - round with a bright stellar core. out amongst the cooler denziens of Microscopium, the Tail of Scorpius, At 160x it Piscis Austrinus and Sculptor, not the starry Universe. is elongated and has a long bright 4 ...... Skywatch that easy from 50 degrees N. astronomy thing worthwhile). After is one bright star at one end. Not Tonight’s targets were in Caelum 20 minutes we parted, them getting very impressive. and Columba. back to their tent to cook something, NGC 2354 (): Hardly and me having their email Herschel 3718 (Caelum): A vanity prominent above the background addresses promising object, and one that would have stars at 67x, this loose them to let them know of the next been impossible to find cluster appears to consist mainly of Wessex Astronomical Society star without the GOTO). Just so I can eight bright stars and many fainter party. say that I have seen an object in stars scatted in an elongated pattern

Caelum from the latitude of the UK across most of the FoV. So, it’s now just before 9.30pm. (50 degrees N). At 67x, a wide, very Aha. Fornax is transiting and Canis It was past ten o-clock. Another car slightly uneven pair of white stars. Major is getting high up. pulled in to the viewpoint. Trying to Quite faint, and there is another star sparkling intensely. Time for a little look away from the headlights as nearby, almost giving the impression whizz around the Large Dog and the they swept over me and the scope, I of a triple system. Furnace. Two open clusters and a noticed the tell-tale stripe on the 8.45pm Oops. Columba is just in the former and two side of the car - it was the Dorset rising. Got to wait for a while. galaxies and a double star in Constabulary on patrol. They pulled Whizzed by 15 minutes on a couple the latter fell underneath the up at the campers, of galaxies in Eridanus, which was relentless march of Lucy. asked them a few questions (I transiting. gather that’s it not exactly permitted NGC 1097 (Fornax): A quite large, to camp at the viewpoint but they NGC 1395 (Eridanus): At 67x a cigar-shaped galaxy easily visible at didn’t seem to be too bothered) and roundish, patch with a slightly 67x despite its exhanged chit-chat with them before brighter centre set between low elevation. No core brightening popping over to see me. They (a two stars. Visible with direct vision detected at this magnification. With male and female officer) were very but better with averted vision. At averted vision, some slight core- courteous and friendly, and just 160x, it appears more elongated brightening is detected at 160x. Sits like any other time I’ve met with a hint of a long, thin core visible within an attractive pattern of stars - policemen/women when observing, with averted vision. three stars itching to look through the forming a triangle pointing away NGC 1637 (Eridanus): Very faint telescope. So Lucy went off again, from the galaxy to one side, and and just visible with direct vision as on a grand tour of the heavens. another star at the other side. Jupiter, Saturn, M42 and M37 an irregular smudge at 67x, this galaxy is located adjacent to a line produced the expected results, and NGC 1398 (Fornax)A smallish of three stars. they parted sated, and me knowing I galaxy, obvious at 67x as a alightly was a bit elongated blur. Lies At about 9.00pm, the nutters beat safer for them knowing that people me to it. Before I had a chance to within a line of faint stars. At 160x, a used the site at night to observe. introduce myself they popped over, fuzzy bright core is visible with said hello (turns out they were from averted vision. 10.20pm. Columba was up far nearby Poole and were just camping enough. I whizzed into this for 10 out for the hell of it), offered me a Herschel 3596 (Fornax): At 67x a minutes, observing a couple of beer (I had to decline (driving), faint close pair of even-brightness doubles: which was just as well considering white stars. Well split Herschel 3735 (Columba): This and what happened later in the evening), at 160x. Herschel 3825 are more vanity and asked if they could look through 17 Canis Majoris (Canis Major): A objects, this time in Columba the the scope. This is one of the best quadruple star! Four blue-white Dove, which does not get very high bits about having a telescope. stars of slightly varying above the horizon, although at the Letting other people look through it brightnesses, arranged in a slightly time of transit, both Alpha Columbae and watching their reactions. unequal kite-shape. All visible and and Delta Columbae were visible So I got out the planet-buster (the split well at 67x. above the inversion layer. Tightish Radian) which had been safe, warm at 67x, 160x shows this double to be and snug in the eyepiece toolbox NGC 2345 (Canis Major): Location: an even pair of white stars. until now, and let rip on Jupiter and Creech Grange, Wareham, Dorset Herschel 3825 (Columba): At 160x a Saturn. They were most impressed. ZLM: 5.6 Bortle: 7/10 wide, uneven pair of faintish white But their jaws dropped even further A loose zig-zag collection of about a stars. when the scope slewed to M42 then dozen stars, which although visible M31 and M37. Just seeing/hearing at 67x, fills the FoV at 160x. There It was now about 10.30pm. Aha. their reactions makes the whole Leo and the Big Dipper is now up...... 5 The realm of the galaxies awaits. I NGC 3079 (Ursa Major): A long thin Planetary Nebula show spent the next hour pottering galaxy, which needs averted vision a disk, albeit tiny. It appears as a aboutfinding some galaxies, and at 67x to appreciate very bright grey disk with no colour found a gem. I’ve decided to call properly (although visible with direct variation or density variation NGC 3184 the “Stealth Bomber vision at this magnification as well). detected. Galaxy” due to the asterim of stars What is unique about this galaxy is NGC 2232 (Monoceros): Appears in the FoV at the setting. In the same FoV are as a very loose and spare cluster 67x. There was some light-glow in four stars arranged like a cross, but which fills the FoV at 67x. Gives the this part of the sky, and a couple of this galaxy forms the firth star and impresssion of a scattering of stars targets I looked for but could not fourth arm of the cross. A very surrounding a central starless void, find. interesting and intriguing sight. There are several bright stars and

NGC 2681 (Ursa Major): At 67x, clumps, and one large clump, NGC 3184 (Ursa Major): A very only noticable as a small fuzzy star- containing about 10 stars and one round, faint patch of light, with no like object lying close very bright star, 10 Monocerotis, core-brightening detected to a curious asterism of stars. Four which is the true cluster. at 67x. Visible at this magnification stars form a elongated diamond/kite, with direct vision but averted vision Beta Monocerotis (Monoceros): and then another star forms the tail is better. Another Ursa Major galaxy Glorious! Three white gems set of a kite. All five stars are not that with an interesting field - nearby is close together in the sky. Tight at bright. 160x does not offer any an asterism of five stars forming a 67x, but well split at 160x, these improvement. shallow “V” or Delta-Wing pattern, three stars form a line. Two of the

which appears to be “flying away” stars are closer together. All three NGC 2768 (Ursa Major): At 67x a from this galaxy. There is only one stars are pure white and of almost elongated patch with some slight star between the asterism and the even brightness, which contributes core-brightening visible galaxy. to the spectacle. with direction vision but obvious with averted vision. Forms a small NGC 3310 (Ursa Major): Obvious NGC 2343 (Monoceros): At 67x, I triangle with two nearby stars. with direct vision at 67x as a small see this cluster as a small squat fuzzy circular patch of wedge-shaped NGC 2841 (Ursa Major): A fuzzy faint light. A bright star is also in the conglomeration of perhaps a dozen path, elongated like a rugby and same FoV at this magnification. stars, which seems to trail a few with a obvious bright and other stars behind it as it “flys NGC 2775 (Cancer)A small faint large core at 67x, this galaxy lies though the sky”. The stars in the patch of light in a barren FoV at 67x. just off a line of four faint stars. It is wedge are fainter than the Needs averted elongated at an angle to this line of stragglers. About 20 stars in total vision to see clearly. No core stars. over the FoV at 67x. brightening detected. NGC 2903 (Leo)This galaxy NGC 2506 (Monoceros): At 67x a NGC 2683 (Lynx): A long thin appears as a large squat oval but small blur of stars with a few galaxy, very obvious at 67x, located not that bright, at 67x. No core resolved foreground stars in the same FoV at brightening is detected, suprisingly scattered across the face of the this magnification as an attractive for a galaxy of this size. There is a cluster. 160x reveals more stars, triangle of stars and lying next to a faint star nearby. several dozen at all, arranged in fainter star. No core-brightening is several clumpings. NGC 3245 (Leo Minor): A small detected at either this magnification round and quite faint patch of light or 160x. NGC 2421 (Puppis): A nice sight at with a pinpoint bright 67x. Several dozen faint stars form By now (11.40pm) a thick layer of core at 67x. Lies next to a bent line a fairly small wedge/triangle-shaped frost had coated everything bar the of four stars which give an cluster, and two nearby bright stars optical surfaces. The 30-inch home- impression of a elongated dipper. of even brightness point to it. made foam dew shield was

NGC 3344 (Leo Minor): A small oval struggling to cope, so I gave up all NGC 2423 (Puppis)This is a quite smudge, lying next to a star and further attempts at faint-fuzzy finding faint open cluster, which at 67x forming a right-angled and spent the rest of the session (a appears as two clumpings of many triangle with this and another nearby further hour or so) looking at opeh faint stars, with a line of brighter star. At 67x, although visible with clusters and suchlike in Puppis and stars leading to one of the clumps. direct vision, averted vision is Monoceros. Both clumps and the line appear in needed to bring out the full form. No IC 418 (Lepus): Stellar at 67x, only the same FoV and are all aligned. real core-brightening detected. at 160x and 250x does this The many faint stars serve to give

6 ...... Skywatch this cluster inch monster. Generally speakin’, and which allows you to insert 2 an attractive look. except for aperture, the big SCTs inch accessories like 2 inch are pretty much identical to their 8 diagonals directly into the rear of the Melotte 71 (Puppis): Lots of faint inch sisters. With one important telescope. Why bother? Why not stars arranged in a circular difference: the rear port. just use one of the 2” visual concentration at 67x, back/adapters that attaches to the lying next to a triangle of brighter, Every SCT user is familiar with the “normal” 8 inch scope size rear but still quite faint, stars. rear port, the slightly-sub 2 inch port? A couple of reasons. For one Better at 160x when more stars can threaded hole on the rear cell of the thing, very long focal length, wide- be made out. scope where you attach diagonals, field eyepieces may exhibit some NGC 2539 (Puppis): Very faint and visual backs, cameras and vignetting when used with one of the needs averted vision to see properly everything else. This hole matches two inch backs designed for the at 67x. Located the size of the 8 inch scopes’ baffle small rear port. The 2 inch visual within a curving chain of stars tube (the tube the main mirror slides backs thread over the small rear branching off from a bright star, this up and down on). All SCT opening and accommodate 2” Lies near to a bright star, and accessories, with a few exceptions, diagonals and other accessories, appears at 67x as dozens of faint are designed to screw onto this rear but the hole at the scope end is stars clumped together. Quite loose port or to fit into some other adapter about 1.5 inches in diameter rather and no real increase in that screws onto this port. End of than 2 inches. The EyeOpener density near the core, this is still a story. For sub-ten-inch telescopes, provides a full-size 2 inch opening— very nice cluster, with an apparent anyway. your diagonal is not butting up ‘stardust’ effect, like M37. against a 1.5 inch port as it always But, now, take a look at a bigger is with the all 2 inch visual backs. By 12.30am, it was getting than 8 SCT. One thing you’ll notice ridiculously cold and the seeing was is the larger baffle tube. More like 3” Another reason to consider the horrible (fog was forming at the in diameter. This provides a good EyeOpener is that it provides a very inversion layer) so manfully I put support for the bigger and heavier sturdy and secure home for your 2 everything away, said goodnight to primary mirrors of the larger inch diagonal when you’re using the campers (who had retreated into telescopes, and since it’s bigger in heavy accessories like big honkin’ their tent) and drove home, arriving diameter, Meade and Celestron Panoptics and Naglers or back in Bournemouth at 1.00am. both make the rear port it opens binoviewers. onto bigger, too: 3 inches rather than 2. This isn’t immediately The EyeOpener ($99.95) comes in What a night! obvious, though, as, to provide two flavors: one for Celestron

backward compatibility with scopes, and one for the Meades. accessories designed for the Don’t ask me why, but the two The EyeOpener smaller scopes, Meade and companies use slightly different Celestron both screw a rear port threads for the big ports on their reducer onto this big hole. This scopes (the small ports are identical reducer provides a rear opening of on the two brands). What did I think Peterson Engineering Corporation the standard 2 inch size. You can, of the EO when I finally got my Sky Division however, unscrew this reducer hands on one? I was immediately 405 New Meadow Road anytime you want and use the 3 impressed by this accessory. It’s Barrington, RI 02806 inch port. Or you could if there were beautifully machined and finished http://www.peterson- anything to use on it. Until lately, and threads onto the scope as web.com/SkyDiv/Eyeopener.htm about the only accessory to use the smooth as silk. It’s equipped with larger opening has been Lumicon’s three nylon set-screws, and while

Thinkin’ back to the days of my Giant Cassegrain Easy Guider, an some of the folk down here in the misspent youth, I remember how off-axis photo-guider. That’s Swamp prefer compression rings changed now, though, with the when it comes to holding heavy hard we struggled to save up the bucks for an 8 inch Celestron or release of a couple of other accessories, the set- screws on the Criterion SCT. In this current accessories designed to use the big EyeOpener have done the job very port. well for me. I’ve never had any affluent age (remind yourself it still is, relatively speakin’, anyway), concerns as to whether the diagonal though, it seems like everybody and One of these is the EyeOpener. It’s will be held in place securely even a simple concept. It’s an adapter with a binoviewer or 31 Nagler or 35 their grandma has a big, honkin’ CAT—a 10, 11, 12, 14 or even 16 that screws onto the big rear Panoptic in place. opening of 10 inch and larger SCTs, ...... 7 Other benefits? I don’t tend to use that run the length of the camera really long focal length eyepieces, Shortly after I bought my MX7C I so I can’t comment on the read that the hardware in the MX5C EyeOpener’s ability to reduce and MX516 were the same and all vignetting. But, in addition to the that needed to be substituted was benefit of providing a safe home for the CCD chip. I contacted Terry my heavy diagonals and eyepieces, Platt of Starlight Xpress and asked if the Eyeopener has allowed me to this was the same for the MX7C line dispense with one piece of gear--it’s of cameras. Happily this was the nice not to have to keep track of the case and I put in an order for a Sony 2” visual back I used to use. Plus, ICX249AL CCD chip directly to let’s face it, the thing just looks Starlight Xpress. COOL. Now why bother with a mono chip? Drawbacks? About the only one I Why the heck did I buy a color Figure 1 know of is that you will, naturally, camera in the 1st place? Well, the not be able to use a standard convenience of 1 shot color is still a that hold the optical window housing Meade or Celestron huge plus for me but the possibility in place. These must be removed. reducer/corrector with the of having a mono chip capable of (Be careful not to over tighten these Eyeopener, as these must thread taking more sensitive higher when you put the camera back directly onto the small port. One resolution luminance images to together!) The hexagonal nuts solution is an adapter that JMI sells. combine with color data was circled in red hold the back plate of A better one, however, may be the intriguing. Not having to buy another the camera to the 15-pin plug that is Denkmeier StarSweeper reducer camera to be able to do this was soldered to the circuit board. These mentioned in the binoviewer review what sold me though. must be also be removed. in this issue. I believe this should work as well with a diagonal and a If you're not squeamish about this Once the back plate and the camera single eyepiece as it does with a sort of surgery, the swap is not hard housing have been removed you will binoviewer. This would be the to do and a fairly painless calibration notice a long brass bolt on each perfect setup for use with the is all you need to do to be up and side of the camera. These bolts hold EyeOpener, as the StarSweeper will running. However, I'll insert the the front part of the camera in place thread right on to the end of your standard disclaimer here: This sort - the metal housing for the CCD to which the optical window is diagonal like a filter. I’ll try to test of thing voids your warranty. If this configuration while I still have you're not comfortable or don't know attached. Be careful when removing the eval binoviewer here, and will let what you're doing, try and arrange these as the whole front of the y’all know my results. for the camera to be sent back to camera will come off and the CCD Starlight Xpress or a local distributor enclosure is made airtight with The best recommendation for the and they will most likely do this for thermal heat sink grease. EyeOpener? Since I received mine, you. I have no affiliation with I’ve used it just about every time I’ve Starlight Xpress nor is the If you are going to do this it is be a set up the scope. The Intes 2” VB information in this article endorsed good idea to get some computer sits alone in a case, unloved and by them in any way. Its something I silicone heat sink paste (a.k.a. unused. At its fairly modest asking did myself and wanted to document thermal grease) at Radio Shack or price, I’d say the EyeOpener in case others out there were on-line. The grease under the chip belongs in the arsenal of every big- interested in doing the same. The on my camera was completely dry CAT using amateur. We’ve all spent calibration instructions described and I had to clean it and reapply more than this on a so-so Plossl. here are adapted from a document some. Remember though that a little provided by Michael Hattey of goes a long way with this stuff!

Starlight Xpress. While you're at Radio Shack pick up Starlight Xpress First lets take a look at opening the an anti-static bracelet. CCD chips camera. Figure 1 is confusing but (like most electronics) can be easily there is method to the madness. destroyed by a static discharge and MX7C to MX716 The view is obviously of the rear of it is always good practice to keep the camera. The 2 screws circled in yourself grounded. Conversion green only hold the tripod adapter in place. The screws circled in white Figure 2 is a close up of the chip. Luis Esteves attach the back plate to 2 long bolts The easiest way to remove it is with 8 ...... Skywatch a thin flat-head screwdriver like in yet, as we now have to calibrate it the image or prying it up with an x- Installation of the new chip is easy - for the new chip. For calibration we correctly orient the CCD in the will run a few tests with the camera socket, check that all the pins are open and running so adjustments entering the sockets correctly and can be made to 2 variable resistors press down gently and evenly located on opposite sides of the putting pressure over the pins on printed circuit board. VR1 is located each side. It should just slide in. close to the center of the PCB and is pictured in Figure 4. Under the CCD is the cold finger and under that is the TEC or First of all fire up the camera and Thermoelectric Cooling Device. take a test image through a pinhole or with a camera lens attached. Once the new chip is installed Hopefully you'll get a normal image and we can move on to dark frame Figure 2 adjustment. If there is a problem, power off the camera and double acto blade. Alternatively, places like check the obvious. If the problem Radio Shack have specific tools for persists try reinstalling the color chip inserting and removing chips from and taking an image with that. sockets without damaging the pins. The trick is to gently lift one end and For the dark frame test we need to then the other off of the cold finger let the camera cool down for about 5 until the chip comes loose. It is very minutes. Then, cover the camera so easy to bend the pins if you aren't no light can make it to the CCD chip careful. (Remember how sensitive these chips are to light! I actually put my Note the notch on the left side of the camera in a black cloth bag as well chip. This is not pin 1. (It is in fact as covering the CCD.) and take a 1 close to pin 10) It is there, I assume, second exposure and look at the for leverage to make removing the histogram of the dark frame you just chip from a socket easier. Pin 1 on Figure 3 took. these chips is marked by a circular replace the CCD housing and The histogram of a properly indentation on the underside of the secure it with the long brass bolts. CCD. Since the notch is easily Do yourself a favor and make sure calibrated camera should look a lot like . (Note: I used the visible I used it to mark the that the glass is very clean both on Figure 5 MX716 version of the software - orientation of the chip in the socket. the housing and on the CCD very This is important to take note window before closing it. Any dust Starlight Xpress Star_MX7 v2.0e (04/06/2002)) There should no more of. If the CCD chip is incorrectly specs on these surfaces will show than 1 or 2 entries in the VAL field inserted you could destroy the CCD up as circles or doughnuts and possibly the camera. That said and the values should range from though, the Sony CCD chips are between 006 and 016. very similar and pin 1 (or 10) should be easy to identify. I used a drop of If the values are greater than 16, liquid paper to mark the position of use a small flat-head screwdriver to pin 10 on the cold finger for future turn VR1 a few degrees anti- reference. clockwise. Then take another 1 second dark frame and examine the In Figure 3 you see the cold finger histogram values to see if further with the CCD removed and dried adjustment is needed. grease I had to replace. The grease around the edge of the camera was If the values are lower than 6 use a thick but holding out so I left it. It is Figure 4 small flat-head screwdriver to turn there to make the enclosure airtight VR1 a few degrees clockwise and and prevent moisture condensing (depending on your telescope) when repeat the dark frame histogram and then freezing on the CCD chip you try to image forcing you to take process until the values are correct. as it cools down. This was a major flat field frames. problem I had with my CB245. Don't close the rest of the camera

...... 9 will focus (or narrow) the beam of To calibrate the camera, take a 1 light to a finer point. I used a second picture of your light source. University Optics 12.5mm If the resulting image looks like Orthoscopic. I found the beam to be Figure 8 and/or if there is a bright too bright even with the flashlight on streak in the image then the ABG the lowest setting so I added a gate is set too low. Turn VR2 a few variable polarizing moon filter to dim degrees clockwise and take another the light even more. integration.

If the image is gray or grainy then VR2 is located on the opposite side the ABG is set too high. Turn VR2 a of the PCB towards the edge and few degrees anti-clockwise and take front of the camera as seen in another integration to test the result. . This variable resistor Figure 7 If you overshoot too much in the Figure 5 controls the ABG (Anti-Blooming clockwise direction the camera Gate) bias on the CCD chip. Anti- After this process is complete it is a sensitivity will be decreased by too blooming prevents streaking and good idea to take a 5-minute dark much anti-blooming. If you bloating of bright stars but slightly frame to make sure the darks are overshoot anti-clockwise sensitivity and affects linearity. The ABG gate free of hot spots bright streaks. will be higher but stars will be can be effectively turned off by There will probably be a brighter bloated and oval and streaks will turning the VR about 20 degrees area in the upper left area of the appear so proper calibration is anti-clockwise. frame. This is caused by the output critical. This is the hardest and most amplifier and should be quite faint. If painstaking part of the calibration to you have the chance it would be a get right. good idea to compare your dark to the dark frame of a calibrated My suggestion is to turn VR2 anti- camera of the same type. clockwise until you get a bloated star image like mine and then take 1 second integrations turning VR2 clockwise 2 or 3 degrees at a time until the blooming just disappears. For the final step in calibrating the camera point it at a white target and

take an integration that results in a Figure 7 mostly saturated image. Here I To calibrate VR2 we need to focus printed 4 colored boxes and a thin the camera on a light source (as crosshair for reference. The previously described) in a dark room resulting histogram should have a and take a 1 second integration. major peak at a VAL of 255. My camera's ABG bias was set too If the peak does not reach a VAL of low and my image of the light 255 or if the image or looks gray or grainy then VR2 is set too far source looked a an oval due to "bleeding" caused by anti-blooming clockwise and you must go back Figure 6 being almost set to the off position. and adjust it.

And that is it! You now have a MX7 For the calibration of VR2 we are going to need a light with a narrow a with either the color or the mono beam as possible to simulate a star. chip installed, all calibrated and ready to go! Happy imaging and if There are 2 methods for doing this - one easy way is to shine a light or a you have any questions about this laser at a spherical Christmas tree article or need any help; please feel free to contact me at ornament to at a ball bearing and to focus the CCD and camera lens or [email protected]. telescope at the reflected beam. Clear skies!

The method I used was to tape a Luis Esteves http://www.astroturtle.com high power eyepiece to a flashlight Figure 8 as seen in Figure 6. The eyepiece

10 ...... Skywatch all ads to make sure some of the lunar observing. And with that has prior unscrupulous posters are kept come three new software packages off the site. for lunar observers. Last year I began working with these three Confessions Why buy used? Most amateur lunar software packages: Lunar astronomers take excellent care of Phase Pro (LPP), Virtual Moon Atlas their equipment and you can find of an (VMA), and Lunar Map Pro (LMP). eyepieces, mounts and optical tube This review will attempt to list the assemblies for up to 50% or more Astromart strengths and weaknesses of each discounts. In the past 6 months I along with a comparison. However I have purchased scopes, eyepieces, tested the programs whenever I had Junkie a mount, an electric focuser, filters free time. And since RITI's program and adapters all in good condition at Stu Forster requires you to have the original cd significant savings. Another reason present, I wasn't always able to to buy used, is that if you don’t like a work with it. Therefore, most of this particular product, you can usually 6 AM, alarm buzzes, turn on the review will focus on the first two with sell it for what you paid. Basically try computer, let the dogs out. Cool!! comments about the third where it and sell it if you don’t like it. So , if Windows has booted. Double click appropriate. LMP will be reviewed you’re looking for some used on the AOL icon (yes, I still use a in-depth in a later article. equipment and don’t need it dial up service). Great, got right yesterday give Astromart a try. through. Hit favorites and there it is INSTALLATION & REMOVAL All three programs installed without Astromart. What’s for sale? What How do I access it? any major problems. My testing was don’t I have two of? Ooh! A 10mm . Click assisted by two lunar novices who Radian, more Losmandy on and log in. The first classifieds helped me by installing, using and counterweights, some filters. Nah! time you log on, you will have to then removing LPP and VLA on Price is too high , shipping is too give some personal information. The their own systems. The only much, but that O-III filter I don’t site will store your password and difficulty reported was when one of need is the right price. Well lets e- then you can click on View Ads. the testers had a brief problem mail and see if it’s still available. From there, you can browse the ads finding his longitude and latitude for Shucks! Sold. Well gotta hit the and expand the ones you’re LPP and VLA. (LMP does not shower and get to work. interested in. But be careful. It’s require this input since it does not addictive and you’ll be amazed at Home from work. Let the dogs out. correct for libration --- LPP allows how much equipment you didn’t Turn on the computer (no, I don’t you to enter multiple sites, all know you were missing. leave it on all day long). AOL again. corrected for their own libration). Go directly to Astromart. Do not VLA is downloaded from the pass go, do not collect $200. Be Lunar Software website, and full installation requires right back, gotta check for new manually running seven self- bargains. Shucks, no new listings. extracting zip files. LPP and LMP This sad scene repeats itself several in Review install automatically from a CD. times per day. Chuck Taylor Both testers also removed the programs from their computers at What is Astromart? For many For almost two decades, lunar I saw ads in Sky and the end of the testing. Both LPP & observing has been the forgotten VMA did a fairly good job of telescope for the Starry Messenger. step-child of astronomy. New uninstalling. Both programs left the This along with the classifieds in atlases and guide books for DSOs Sky and Telescope were the directory structure intact, but it was have come out nearly every year, easily removed. Norton reported primary sources of used while the Rukl Atlas of the Moon is LPP had cleaned up all registry astronomical equipment. The no longer even printed (and there is Internet changed all that. A big entries, while VLA left only one no sign of the new Rukl or any other behind. I removed and reinstalled problem with the Starry Messenger new atlas). In the same manner, LMP on my own machine, and was that most of the bargains were there has been a ton of software gone by the time you got it from found it did not leave as clean an written for telescope design, DSO uninstall as the other two. However, your mailbox. Astromart changed all planning, planetarium programs, Norton was again able to remove that. It is a non-profit on line site run and almost anything else not related by Herb York of Anacortes the remaining registry entries. to the moon. But in the last couple Telescope & Wild Bird. At the of years, interest has swung back to SERVICE / SUPPORT current time he personally reviews ...... 11 LPP and VMA are supported by under Win95 but it is not guaranteed North/South Pole views or libration their authors. With LPP there is a or supported (Microsoft no longer correction and libration animation. Yahoo support group as well. While supports this version of Windows)" I was not able to measure response LUNAR PHASE PRO LMP states they require "300 MHz, Do you remember when you were a times for all three packages, I did 96MB RAM recommended, kid and wanted one of those fancy notice that a bug was recently Windows 98 and later, 160 MB Swiss Army Knifes? There in one reported to Gary Nugent (LPP (minimum 85 MB) of free disk red package you could have a saw, author) on the Yahoo group. A fix space." scissors, tweezers, toothpick, bottle was released that same day. The opener, file, slotted and philips individual who had reported the bug I tested the programs on a Compaq screwdriver and even a knife blade! commented that Gary had fixed it in Presario laptop with a 1.4 GHz P4 Well LPP doesn't have the fat red 2 hours and 49 minutes from initial and ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 case, but it does take the same report to the time the new download graphics running XP. The second approach to Lunar software. was available! YMMV :-) Gary also system is an older Celeron 733 solicits feedback to determine what running Windows ME. My two The opening screen shows the features to add next. The LPP group helpers had briefly installed LPP moon with current phase and the is at and VMA on a similar Compaq correct libration, with a marker for http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Luna laptop, and a desktop system the point on the lunar limb that rPhasePro running a 2.0GHz P4 and Windows currently is at maximum libration. 2000. I looked primarily at the two This view can be set for flipped or Patrick Chevalley, the author of the laptops for performance inverted views, depending on what software half of VMA is also the comparisons, as it seems these you use to observe the moon. creator of Cartes du Ciel, an programs would be most helpful on Around that are listed the time and excellent star-charting program. He a system that can be taken to the dates for the four different quarters has a good track record of listening telescope. In both cases LPP was (new, half, full, half), percentage of to the desires of end-users and significantly faster than the other the moon currently illuminated, age, incorporating new features. He has two programs. Pan and zooming the current distance, RA & DEC, Alt & done this with CdC and now with lunar map was quick and Az, angular diameter, time and date VMA. responsive. VMA would have a 2-3 of apogee and perigee, time of LMP is a relative newcomer and second delay before it began the today's moonrise, moonset and does not have a proven track record first pan or zoom. Subsequent transit, sunrise, sunset and sun- in this area. I have written to them zooms or pans in the same direction transit time, twilight start and ending several times, and usually received were much quicker. But if you tried time (civil, nautical and a response. However the responses to pan in a different direction (up- astronomical) and colongitude. were reasons why they couldn't down instead of right-left), there was Additionally, a table of libration data incorporate a given feature again a delay of several seconds. If adds North-South libration, East- (libration). They did not respond to a you went back to the first direction, West libration, degree of maximum request that they remove the there was again a delay. In going to libration, position angle for that ridiculous copy protection scheme. configuration or other screens, there libration and the moon's current However I understand that since I was a delay with VMA. I am used to position angle. But even more wrote, they have allowed some to windows snapping open with the amazing is that all of this data is purchase an additional key that laptop but this did not happen with clear and available at a glance, due allows them to use the program on VMA. However both programs were to the clear layout employed. one machine without having the faster than LMP. LMP's slowness is A dropdown menu accesses original install CD present. confusing when you realize it is not features to find lunar eclipses within correcting for libration but simply a specified timeframe, display a SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS posting a map on a sphere and VMA does not list hardware calendar with phase for each day, portraying it at neutral libration. requirements, simply stating it lunar features database, Equinox & requires Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, Solstice dates, Internet links, basic 2000 or XP. To fully run does lunar data and other features which All three programs require OpenGL require OpenGL. will be described below. to operate best. Bitmaps are LPP also does not list hardware available for systems not having this As I mentioned, the opening screen requirements but also requires capacity. LPP allows the user to tells the current libration, both OpenGL for the best map image. switch between the 3D view and a graphically and in table form. Both Gary's recommends "Win flat Mercator projection bitmap. The LPP and VMA correct their maps for 98/ME/NT/200/XP300 MHz, 96Mb Mercator projection does not have the current libration. LMP does not, RAM, 23 Mb free disk space. It runs which means that when you are 12 ...... Skywatch observing near the lunar limb, LPP geographical location. Again, the are only prominent for a few hours, and VMA will show you what is small loops caused by the earth when the terminator has passed actually visible, and LMP will not. rotating the observer from horizon to them but not gone much farther. This is a major difference and one of horizon are superimposed on the Looking up a crater that was where LMP's biggest problems. larger monthly libration movements. the terminator would be for best Those wanting to observe features viewing of this cluster of craters, I But while both LPP and VMA in the libration zones can quickly checked LPP and found the date indicate the correct libration, LPP print out the libration results for the and time (my own local time) of takes it several steps farther. full month. sunrise for that crater. This was then Clicking on the Moon Explorer included in the LFM article, as well button brings up a large image of This brings up what I see as an as in my own observing session the moon with current libration. But underlying philosophical difference plans. In the same if you click on the start manner, if you wanted arrow, the phase and to observe or libration shifts to the photograph Rupes first of the month. Recta at sunrise, a From there, it plays quick check would tell like a movie, with the you when sunrise will terminator moving occur. I am presently across the surface and printing out the sunrise the moon shifting to and sunset data for all show the proper the listed features each libration at each point. month. It only takes a A clock at top shows couple of pages but is the date and time for very helpful! each frame in the animation. At this point The accompanying in the review process I visibility charts also ceased to be a lunar help with planning by observer, and became showing how high a kid with a new toy. Lunar Phase Pro above the horizon the This has to be the moon will be at those coolest feature in any of the three in the three packages. LMP particular times of sunrise or sunset programs! There in front of you sits basically presents what is present in on the features I want to observe. the moon, rocking back and forth a printed atlas, but at a smaller Also listed are the moonrise, with the small libration changes scale. There is no correction for moonset and transit times for each caused by the observer's movement libration. VMA takes this much day of the month in question. as the earth rotates. And overall is farther, presenting the actual Once you go out to the scope, the the much larger movement of a libration for the current moment. Lunar Explorer Screen will come month's worth of libration changes, LPP does this as well, but also gives into play. This presents a map of the played out before you. It is fun to you additional tools and data for moon, corrected for libration. LPP just sit and watch favorite craters planning your observing sessions. and VMA have about the same level move up into view and back towards All three give you a map, but LPP of detail. LMP has a slightly higher the limb. Even more centrally helps you plan out your observing detail map, but it is much slower located craters like Tycho, Plato or sessions for the month. when panning or zooming. LPP is the larger Mare Crisium move in and This is illustrated by the second definitely faster than VMA and much out, changing in apparent shape as major feature I discovered (and the faster than LMP. they go. I confess I played with this one that is rapidly becoming my for a long time before moving on to favorite). Instead of simply listing The map and the ability to identify checking out the other features! lunar features, LPP presents them features works both directions. That is, you can click on a feature on the Along with the libration movie and with the date and time for sunrise map, and LPP will give you the the libration data on the initial and sunset at each of those name and information about that screen, there is a clear graph features. Printing this out is a big feature. Or, you can go through a showing the direction and amount of help for planning. For example, in list of features and click on a name. libration for each day of the month. writing this month's LFM (on Tycho) The corresponding feature will then This can be presented for a I wanted to point out a swirl of be highlighted on the map. Lists are geocentric position or your actual craters that are near Tycho. They ...... 13 broken down into 19 categories, VMA supplies more information on exception is features that are including craters, maria, spacecraft lunar features than does LPP. The currently on the terminator. Features landing sites, domes and rima. An description can be helpful, near the terminator can be selected additional category lists all of from a list and they will those items which are Mapping Feature LPP VMA become highlighted on the currently on the terminator. map. Lunar mapping Yes Yes Easily accessed buttons scroll There is also a geologic the display to center the Flip/Invert the map Yes Yes map, dividing the surface section you want to observe. A into several different slider at the top will change the Information on Lunar features Yes Yes geologic categories. zoom so you can zoom in on a Unfortunately this is at a detail, or drop back to have the List features on the terminator Yes Yes very rough scale and only of full moon in the display. Go from list to map Yes Yes limited usefulness. It would Shortcut buttons will zoom to be nice to see all three the 4 lunar quadrants and a Go from map to list Yes Yes programs add higher North or South Pole view. resolution geologic maps in Measure distances No Yes the future. An additional feature is the map of the moon's far side. Print maps Yes Yes One additional feature is the LPP is the only one of the ability to measure distances. three to include this interesting Show current phase Yes Yes Using the "Tools" section of (and fun!) ability. All of the the map you can mark features work on the far side Indicate point of maximum libration Yes Yes points with the cursor and so you can zoom in, pan, Geological map Yes Yes get the real distance identify features etc. between them. As with LPP, you can flip or invert the The map can also be flipped or Feature database Yes Yes image to match the view at inverted to show the view as it Show far side of the moon Yes No your telescope. This is will appear in your scope. LPP especially helpful to those and VLA both have this Take advantage of higher screen No Yes who have a hard time going feature. resolutions (above 800x600) from a "correct" map to a VIRTUAL MOON ATLAS especially for those who are flipped or inverted view at the Virtual Moon Atlas is the latest unfamiliar with the item in question. telescope. The map view can be product by Patrick Chevalley, the The descriptions have apparently zoomed and panned. creator of Cartes du Ciel. It appears been translated from their original FEATURE COMPARISON to use the same map scale as LPP. French, which occasionally gives It is hard to make a table in text It does not include the many session unintended results. For example, files, so for the feature comparison I planning tools of LPP but has some Tycho is described as, "Furnace of have listed the feature and then unique features of its own. Chief the most important radiating yes/no for LPP, followed by yes/no among these is the library of system," rather than being the for VMA. Features are broken down photographs. These can be called center of the largest system of rays. into mapping and planning up for different lunar items you may But overall, the translations are functions. be interested in. Many of these are clear and concise. The information Lunar Orbiter or Apollo photos, and also supplies the page number for As you can see, both programs do a all of the photographs are of high Rukl, Hatfield, Westfall and good job of mapping the moon. LPP quality. Orbiter and Apollo photos Viscardy. Additionally, clicking on simply adds more tools for planning have the disadvantage of being the "Neighbors" button will give a list your observing sessions. taken from a different angle than of lunar features that are neighbors you are observing from --- features with the item you are studying. EDITOR'S CHOICE As you may have noticed by now, I show their actual shape rather than Unlike LPP, the link between the am impressed by both LPP and the foreshortened view you have lunar feature database and the map VMA, and less so by LMP. I am through the telescope. But their is only one way. That is, you can awarding an editor's choice to both unsurpassed clarity and detail easily click on any feature on the map and programs but for different reasons. make up for this. There is also the it will be identified. But you cannot VMA earns an award as it is very ability to add your own photographs go to a list, select a crater or other good mapping software at an and link them to the program. feature and click to have it outstanding price (free). Patrick highlighted on the map. The only Chevalley has developed both VMA

14 ...... Skywatch and CdC as freeware to encourage companies employed copy Bear in mind that this is a simpler amateur astronomers around the protection schemes. They are all version and does not have all of the world. His vision and generosity are inconvenient, and manufacturers planning features of Lunar Phase to be commended. And, even slowly realized that people were Pro. I think you will find the though it costs nothing, it is good simply not buying programs that additional features in LPP to be software! I would encourage anyone required them to lug around their worth the $40 expense. who has a computer to download VMA and start Planning Feature LPP VMA http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar there. Monthly libration movie Yes No -observing/ LPP is also an VMA is presented as freeware and outstanding value. LPP Calendar with phase for each day Yes No is available at goes beyond the Visibility chart (showing moon’s Yes No http://www.astrosurf.com/avl/UK_ind mapping abilities of the height above the horizon) ex.html other two and adds a great lineup of tools to Lunar Eclipse finder Yes No A description of LPP with plan your observing screenshots can be seen at sessions (lunar feature Graphs of monthly libration Yes No http://www.nightskyobserver.com/Lu sunrise/sunset times, changes narPhaseCD/ You can also ordered visibility charts, libration the installation CD at that site. LP is charts), as well as the List of sunrise and sunset times Yes No presented as shareware with a $30 cool libration movie. The for Lunar features registration. It is available at cost is only $40. You can Table of Lunar rising, setting and Yes No http://www.nightskyobserver.com/Lu also download a simpler transit times narPhase/ LPP is the full version. version (Lunar Phase) as shareware ($30 LMP is available from RITI and can List libration by degrees and Yes No be ordered at registration and any position angle http://www.riti.com/prodserv_lunarm registered LP user can later upgrade to LPP for Internet links Yes Yes appro.htm $15). As helpful as VMA Clear Skies and enjoy the Moon! is, I think that most will List of sunrise, sunset and sun- Yes No Chuck Taylor Moderator: Lunar- find it worth the expense transit times Observing List to purchase LPP and original disks. They were buying the gain the planning tools. competitors’ programs instead. RITI

supplies a lengthy explanation that it LMP is the only nonwinner. But let is not because they don't trust their me add that it is not bad software. customers but rather they must Many will prefer it even with the "protect their investment." It is time higher price ($89.95). The map resolution is higher than either LPP to realize this is true for all software makers. And obviously they do not or VMA. But it is the slowest of the trust their customers because their three programs. Even more critical, the view is not corrected for customers are the only people they are selling this software to! Costing libration. Yes, I know --- If you more than twice as much as LPP, Seven Strangers? contact RITI they will explain that the terminator has been corrected not correcting for libration, being the slowest of the three programs, and Dr. Tony Phillips for libration to make sure it is in the having a very inconvenient copy right place. But when I observe on At the dawn of the space age some 40 the Lunar limb, I want to know what protection scheme put LMP in last place in this review. Still, others will years ago, we always knew who was can and can't be seen. If I go to a not hesitate to spend the extra and orbiting Earth or flying to the Moon. map, I want it to match the view I Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin, John have at that particular libration will have all three programs installed. Glenn. They were household names-- angle. If it doesn't, I am ahead to everywhere. stick with paper charts and maps. If money is very tight, I would And, my own personal pet peeve is definitely start with VMA. You can Lately it's different. Space flight has stupid copy-protection schemes. In also download the simpler become more routine. Another flight of the 1980's, many software shareware version of Lunar Phase. the shuttle. Another visit to the space ...... 15 station. Who's onboard this time? Unless you're a NASA employee or a serious space enthusiast, you might not know. Dave Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool, and Ilan Ramon.

Now we know. Those are the names of the seven astronauts who were tragically lost on Saturday, Feb. 1st, when the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) broke apart over Texas.

Before the accident, perhaps, they were strangers to you. But if that's so, why did you have a knot in your gut when you heard the news? What were . those tears all about? Why do you feel so deep-down sad for seven strangers?

Astronauts have an unaccountable hold on us. They are explorers. Curious, humorous, serious, daring, careful. Where they go, they go in peace. Every kid wants to be one. Astronauts are the essence of humanity.

They are not strangers. They are us.

While still in orbit Dave Brown asked, jokingly, "do we really have to come back?"

No. But we wish you had.

Please see the NASA Home Page (http://www.nasa.gov) for more information on the Columbia nvestigation.

This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

16 ...... Skywatch

My Back Pages “Crimson flames tied through my ears Rollin' high and mighty traps Pounced with fire on flaming roads Using ideas as my maps "We'll meet on edges, soon," said I Proud 'neath heated brow. Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.”

Time for the Boom-Booms! For all y’all benighted Yankees and others, I mean the PARADES! Mardi Gras parades, that is. You know, drink all day, eat junk food, holler, wander around downtown and yell at the dudes riding on the passing floats to “throw me somethin’, mister” (if you’re a female you may use different tactics). It’s amazing the value we begin to place on plastic beads and moonpies in our slightly altered states of mind. So, yer ol’ Uncle was standin’ on the corner waitin’ for the next parade to come by on this just passed Fat Tuesday. That Rebel Yell SHORE was good! Lookin’ sideways at my combination fan and parade schedule, I noted that the “Krewe of Fools.” was up next. “Hmmm…haven’t heard of that one before. But there are a lot of new parading mystic societies these days. BUT ONLY ONE FLOAT?” And man, how ratty can you get? A flatbed trailer being towed by a 1964 Mercury Monterey! And only two maskers? And,”OH MY GOD, IT’S THEM!” . Went the hermetically sealed mayo jar (kept on Funk and Wagnal’s porch for a fortnight). Tossed by Butt- Head in lieu of beads and which contained the very, very, very latest—heh-heh--

Rumours

Whatever happened to the lawsuit between Meade IN HONORED MEMORY and Celestron that we were all so worried about a while back? Well, on 2 March, the following appeared on Celestron’s web site: ...... 17 slipping to “midyear.” On the question of whether or not the OTA will be removable from the forks, the last Torrance, CA — March 03, 2003 On February 28, 2003, the U.S. District Court of the I have is “NOT”. Central District of California entered its Order Fat Tuesday is over an’ my head hurts. So I hope you granting Celestron’s Motion for Summary Judgment won’t mind if I call it quits here for now. Actually, I that Celestron’s NexStar GPS 8 and 11 products, don’t care whether you do or not! The Anonymous NexStar 5, 5i, 8 and 8i Products, NexStar GT 4, 60, 80, One is goin’ to bed! ☺ and 114 products do not literally infringe Meade Instrument’s U.S. Patent No. 6,304,376 related to Meade’s ETX/Autostar telescope technology. In the Order, the District Court also Denied Meade’s --The Anonymous Astronomer motion for summary judgment of infringement that Celestron’s products listed above infringe on Meade’s U.S. Patent No. 6,304,376 related to Meade’s ETX/Autostar telescope technology.

Celestron, based in Torrance, CA, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of computerized and non- computerized telescopes as well as binoculars and sport optics products. Celestron products are sold and distributed both domestically and internationally.

Chances are Meade’s lawyer’s haven’t played their last card, but if the Fat Girl ain’t sung yet, she’s warmin’ up. Which in the opinion of the Anonymous One is a good thing. With this foolishness over, maybe both companies can get back to building scopes. Is Lumicon back?! I’d have thought the famous astrophotography shop and scope/accessory dealer was gone for good after they declared bankruptcy a little while ago. But a visit to www.lumicon.com shows a big COMING SOON banner. A bit of digging has revealed that the Lumicon domain is now owned by Parks Optical/Scope City, the long-time California scope maker and dealer. So, it appears that Lumicon may be back (and selling filters and OAGs) as a The doors of Chaos Manor South are always open to visiting “wholly owned subsidiary” of Parks. astronomers! Here’s Tom Clark, Dob Guru and editor of Amateur Astronomy Magazine posing with Miss Dorothy in AstroPhysics to make eyepieces? I hear that Roland the front parlor of our beloved manse! and Company have entered an agreement with Valery and Company (Aries) to produce a line of high-toned planetary eyepieces.

Where’s my 14 inch LX200 GPS? That’s what a lot of folks wanna know; especially those who preordered these new big dogs of the CAT world. Apparently, putting one together was not quite as simple as the Meade boys had imagined, and steps are having to be taken to beef up fork and drive system from that used on the smaller scopes. Right now I’m hearing “sometime in March”…but that appears to be rapidly

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