06/10/2010, THO
First light in the Pocket Watch Adjunct Observatory
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How's this for an Ultralight setup?
I borrowed the manfrotto tripod from the swift 818, and took the Carton out for a trial run. The altaz tilthead mount works surprisingly when the offset bracket lowers the balance of the scope in line with the pivot point.
The "observatory" Ameristep hunting chair blind, comfortable, small, around $50, roomy enough for a mid-sized refractor, and even has a cup holder and pockets for maps.
It blocks out the lights from the neighbors all around, and sets up in about 20 seconds.D. got it for me on ebay , came with with a stuffsack with backpack straps. The setup pictured, including the new Carton Refractor, Manfrotto travel tripod, gearbag with pocket atlas, eyepieces and notebook AND the "observatory" altogether slung over my shoulder with my binoculars thrown in, just tops 30 lbs in weight.
And leaves a free hand for a mug of tea.
This has replaced the folding screens/ tupperware shed observatory on our second floor balcony, in fact all fits inside a quarter of the closet sized shed .
The Carton objective star tested just about as perfect as one could get, every bit as good as the old Swift 839. Still to come, the shootout with the Swift 818 and the Sky Cheif 900mm......
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04/17/2010, THO
April 17, 2010
I just so happened to order a Carton 60mmx70mm objective from Sheldon Faworski the other day to rehabilitate a little classic yoke-mounted refractor. Less than 2 hours later, Doug76 from CN invited me to join the
carton Telescope Club, Must be a sign.
Well, I finished painting the new 60mm x700 scope, and it came out pretty good !
I had to sneak it in to oven cure while D. was at band practice, but its mostly
assembled now.The paint was Rustoleum Deep Blue hammered, and the tube was Krylon "Catalinamist" with a testors pearl overcoat. Dreamy combination....
New holes still to drill in the Meridian 1.25 focuser so it lines up with the
holes in the tube and fits right with the finder.The finder and finder mount both came out of the parts drawer. They were not from the same scope, as the finder has a groove for the allignment screws that does not quite line up to the ones on the
bracket. Still, its a great little finder for its size.
I wish i could tell you more.
Its tanatliziningly sunny today, but with that filmy haze that just won't go
away. Maybe Luna tonight!
I'm happy with everything but the rain coming in over the weekend.
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04/12/2010, THO
Comforting, the stars are always waiting. Our turnings and revolutions make no difference to them. Whatever greifs or tumults have been this year, a few moments in the dark, with months in between them, restore balance, and set me in my place.
A tormentuous winter, and blustery damp spring are giving up their hold. Soft sweet nights ahead, and a clear path, through the glass to the stars.
It feels like coming home.
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06/15/2009, THO
A library in light and constellation,
Their stories wrote in worlds and suns, a presentation
In firmament's delight
of heaven's glories.
A parent wonder birthed our maths and reason,
Spawned progress for a century's polluted season-
Denying us
our fathers' stories.
For power robbed for prideful immitation
Those midnight fears to fade in false ilumination,
We've lost our soul,
And cannot see it.
If peak-oil's crest and global change
Return to us our stars again.
and dim the lights
So be it!
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02/24/2009, THO
"So she's sharp as well as blonde?" D. asked as he saw my grin coming in from the balcony.
Last Thursday night a little calm devided the storms and the winds died down to silence. D was off to band practice and I peeked out side. The lights went out and I quickly bundled up, gathered eyepiece box, and headed out the back door with the "new " scope in hand.
There in my window of sky, the old braggart Orion, trailed by his dogs, strode confidently through the suckerholes.
Unusual for a clear night, neighboring patio lights were off, and I didn't bother to set up the shades.
How easy to flip open a stool, set down a scope and pop in an eyepiece!
Of course, the first item on this serendipitous agenda, M42, to see what this spotter was capable of.
I pocketed my glasses, bent my head and
Oh, My!
This lady knows her A B C's and D too! First thing my eye beheld was the three pointer stars off to the right, and a split Trapezium,clean and sparkling!
A hazy greenish glow surrounded the stars, which twinkled a little in the moist air. I moved the view up the sword to the open cluster above the nebula ~not sure what its called, but it always reminds me of a cat shape. ..NGC1981...
10 minutes of wonder is all that was written in the stars. The front door banged with D. returning just as the renewed breeze drew the celestial curtain closed for the weekend.
That's all the stars for the month of February so far. Burnham was right. Where else can we have the masterpieces of art available for our own pleasure to examine, but the treasures in the sky?
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