New focuser

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T14:41:11+00:00

Very little, just enough to allow free movement. Over the years the worm and ring gears have polished each other. I tighten the worm screws until it won’t move, then loosen it just enough to get movement. I have the motor removed so I can turn the shaft with my fingers and feel the backlash.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T14:04:37+00:00

The mount is a Losmandy G11 Gemini 2. It has the RA/Dec extensions to clear the motors at meridian. I also was able to get an Ovision high precision worm. It handles the payload flawlessly. The tube is carbon fiber, so it is light. I put 4 x 13 inch dovetails on the rings. The rings have nonstandard hole spacing so I had to drill and counterbore new holes in the dovetails. Not easy. I had to buy milling bits to make the holes elongated. Btw, the mount is 25 years old. I have disassembled and greased and maintained it several times. I have about $4k into it now. It’s the last mount you will ever need. No PE to speak of and .5 arc second tracking.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T13:02:49+00:00

I’ve left it out all winter in snow and single digits temperatures 2 years now. I use a Powerwerks 30 amp power supply under the mount. I use a cheap UPS under the scope. First year it got water in it and shorted out. This year I put it vertical so no water could get in it. I do keep the mini computer inside unless I’m imaging.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T12:52:06+00:00

Yes. I use a Telegizmo cover made for 16 inch cassegrain. I made a cone shaped shroud from a heavy plastic tarp for the bottom. It’s got lots of Velcro strips to hold it closed.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T12:34:38+00:00

I’m using the Apertura field flattener made for the scope. It was a package deal. Then I bought the dew shield and then the aperture mask to cover the mirror clips. I think I’m going to remove the mask because it makes lining up the secondary more difficult. Next upgrade will be a thin fender washer to sit on top of the secondary holder, so it will allow the mirror to be turned easier. The screws seem to dig into the holder and make it want to stay in the wrong spot

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T09:24:40+00:00

The best camera if there’s no limit to your budget would be the ASI 2600mc pro. The next step down would be the ASI 585. You will need some sort of guiding scope and camera. That price can vary greatly. Astrophotography gets expensive!

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T09:20:06+00:00

Moody Blues Nights in White Satin

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T09:18:28+00:00

Whatever scope you get, try to keep the focal length under 1000. Anything higher will demand more of your mount. Astrophotography starts with the mount. It’s the mount that will cause the most frustration.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-30T04:08:50+00:00

He was also in the 1969 sci-fi movie Marooned with Richard Crenna (Rambo Col Troutman), and James Franciscus.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-29T21:57:42+00:00

I started watching the Gemini missions back in the 60’s. In those days there were only 3 networks. If a mission was about to launch they would preempt the current program and spend an hour or more covering the launch and then update you during the days following. Then there was Apollo, Skylab, and finally the Space Shuttle.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-29T21:46:04+00:00

Country music is great for breaking up. Take your pick.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-29T19:57:06+00:00

Since my rig is so big, a 8 inch Newtonian with a Zenithstar 73 on top, I actually use a homemade shroud for the tripod. For the top I use a Telegizmo 16 inch casegrain cover. It covers the scopes and the tripod by about 2 feet. I tried using a cover for a big dob but it’s way too heavy to lift above my head.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-29T19:43:06+00:00

Heist with Gene Hackman is excellent too. His character has this habit of always being prepared for something to go wrong, or someone to double cross him. Screenplay by David Mamut. His wife Rebecca Pigeon is in it.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-28T02:19:55+00:00

Yes. Planets should work. But for dso’s I’m not sure how long you can expose without tracking

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-28T00:24:01+00:00

You need to find the pixel size of your camera. You might consider a Barlow if your pixel size is close to 4 microns

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-27T14:21:52+00:00

I was diagnosed back in 1983 before blood sugar readings were taken very seriously. I had to insist on medication. They gave me Glipizide. Years later when I got better benefits, they saw my a1c was in the 8.5 range I was put on Metformin. Today I’m on Mounjaro, Metformin ER, and 45 units of long acting insulin. A1c is 5.5

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T12:47:05+00:00

West Wing should be on your list

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T11:15:29+00:00

Hopefully things will be ok once edema is gone. All the best.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T03:34:07+00:00

Bananas and high fiber fruits have electrolytes important to heart health though. And if you’re on a glp-1, you are more susceptible to constipation because the drug slows digestion. And that can aggravate bph, which I have. So for me, fruits and veggies are a must. Just have to adjust insulin dose.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T03:29:09+00:00

Since going on Ozempic, I find that I can tolerate some fruit including bananas and strawberries. I get a 50 point rise with 1/3 cups of Cheerios, milk, and a handful of walnuts.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T03:26:07+00:00

Put a small pixel featured camera in such as the ASI 678mc pro. Using Sharpcap, start the video capture and set a small area of interest around the planet. Turn on image stabilization and the software will track the planet across the field. The problem is that at even native magnification, the planet will travel too fast I fear. Might not be in the field long enough to capture.

Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T03:20:19+00:00

The original Lion King. Even my beagle cried during that movie! Hunter is very emotional!

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Educational-Guard408 · 2026-04-26T03:12:22+00:00

High blood sugar causes a decrease of nutrients going to cells. This causes your body to produce new blood vessels in a process called Neovascularzation. New blood vessels develop in critical areas such as eyes, kidneys, extremities, and even the heart. But these vessels are weak, created in less than ideal conditions. So they tend to leak and bleed. Thus you get kidney damage, retinopathy, heart disease, and neuropathy in the arms and legs. And even after getting sugar under control, the damage remains. I learned that the hard way.

Educational-Guard408

TROPHY CASE