Space Forum / Amateur Astronomy / September 2006

Hi all, I'm a beginner and was wondering if I should purchase a star
atlas or a software program like Starry night. I have several beginner
type astronomy books but none really have detailed star maps. I would
like to begin to practice star hopping to objects. I figure with the

I got a NEW 35mm SLR camera off of a ebay auction, it's a little bit older
than my Topcon Super D, it's a 1930's Exacta and what's nice, the "B"
setting is wonderfull for astro photos, as when tripped at that setting, the
mirror go up, the shutter slides open and it will stay ...

Very, very sad.

I got to bed early last night, 8 PM. I woke up at 3 AM and looked
outside from my balcony and I could see Orion in all its light polluted
glory. So I dressed into my flannel shirt and pants, and rolled my rig
out of the garage and into the driveway. I practiced Polar aligment

Ok, I d/l skychart (3.0.1.0) and installed it.  It gives me an access
violation every time I search for an object (Planets, m57, etc)  I realize
this app is beta but something more must be wrong.
Oh, I did get the Windows 2.76 working, the catalogs must have been

I've just read the review of both a 10inch and 12kinh in S&T, I am wondering
if anyone here has gotten one and what they think of them?

Saw on the news a group of them demostrated to get Pluto re-instated as
a real planet instead of a dwarf.  Someone should tell these people
that being a nostalgia nut does not mix particularly well with being a
scientist.

I have the Tele Vue hat. I purchased it through Astromart a number of
years ago.
The Tele Vue hat is very well made. All curves seem to be well matched
and the quality of materials and assembly is equal to the vocational

I seem to recall seeing windup sidereal tracking drives on some
older telescopes from before the days of cheap electronics.
Anyone still make these?  Seems like it would still be a good
choice for a portable setup, not have to worry about batteries,

Why does the NASA plot in the control room of the orbit look like a sine
wave ?

I took the scope (Celestron 127mm, EQ mount) up to the roof last night
and didn't find any of what I was looking for. My first target was M31.
If I did manage to stumble upon M31, I certainly didn't know it.
Everything in the scope was so dark that if I panned across it, it was

i have a new hp photo smart 425 and i want to take some pictures with
my celestron c130mm telescope i was wandering should i be placing the
camera telescopic zoom barrel in the eypiece holder using focus on the
scope or what the

Any feedback on Orion Ultraview or Scenix 10X 50's appreciated.
Thanks.
Bruce

Anyone own a pair  Nike Action 10 X 50,  Nike Ex extreme 10 X 50, or
Scenix 10 X50 binculars?
Thanks.
Bruce

When light energy is emitted, Mass increases,: Einstein’s Sep.1905
derivation.
  It is not consistent prediction from Einstein’s Sep 1905
derivation.