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Charles Dunlop
- Male
- Laguna Beach, CA
- United States
- Blog Posts (62)
- Discussions (137)
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Charles Dunlop's Groups
Charles Dunlop's Discussions
CCD autopilot vs ACP
Started this discussion. Last reply by Marc Basti Nov 11, 2014. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Kind of liking CCD autopilot. Have both systems, but I'm preferring CCD autopilot. Just easier to understand. Now that my guider is picking up stars easily CCDAP seems to be doing the job. Of course…Continue
Howie Glatter Laser Collimator
Started this discussion. Last reply by Charles Dunlop Jun 1, 2013. 2 Replies 1 Like
Best telescope tool I ever bought. Little pricey, but got a discount. My scope was way out of collimation as I was overscrewing around stars at night trying to get it perfect. Thing was way out of…Continue
This is awesome. Our skies will get better over our lifetime
Started this discussion. Last reply by Ian G Dec 4, 2013. 4 Replies 0 Likes
hotech CT collimation
Started Nov 25, 2012 0 Replies 0 Likes
http://www.hotechusa.com/category-s/23.htmWhat you guys think of this thing?Continue
CharlieD.
Charles Dunlop's Photos
Profile Information
- To avoid Spam and Bots, to join we simply ask you to describe your primary telescope setup.
- I started astrogab to have fun, chat with others and learn more. My learning curve has been off the charts since starting this site.
Telescope Setup
Observatory
Technical innovations PD10 automated dome
Paramount Pier
Telescope
Paramount ME
12.5" AG optical corrected Dall-Kirkham
FLI Atlas focuser
optec pyxis 3 rotator
Starlight xpress adaptive optics
Software
Maxim and CCDsoft
SkyX pro
ACP observatory control
Photographic stuff
Flatman XL
QSI 683 wsg-c-8
SBIG Planetcam
Baader Filters: LP for luminance, Red, Green, Blue, Halpha, OIII, Hbeta, SII
Charles Dunlop's Blog
Switching to ACP
Posted on September 25, 2012 at 4:20am 4 Comments 0 Likes
CCDap is so unstable. Actually going to try the free program Steve Coates turned us onto tomorrow, but man CCDap is just unstable. When it works it's awesome when it doesn't it blows a night, and it seems to be 50/50. ACP apparently much more stable.
personal hubble
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 6:23pm 4 Comments 0 Likes
Wonder how much it would cost to have your own like 20 inch orbiting telescope.
Mars one
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:58am 3 Comments 0 Likes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QoEEGySGm4
OK, these guys are actually doing this. Would you go?
I made it into scientific American!!!
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:44am 2 Comments 0 Likes
Not too big a deal, but I'm pretty stoked. Irony is, I share a step mother with David Goldstein but I've only met him once or twice. funny.
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mi sono sempre dimenticato di farti i miei ringraziamenti per la tua amicizia e accoglienza presso l'astrogab, grazie c.colombo astrofilo milanese
Congrats to you and Mom. Life will never be the same, it'll be better-enjoy!
What, no pics of your new baby!?!
I know you have been shooting, where are your posts!?! And for Christ's sake, shoot some darks!
Hi Charles
If you are looking for a Ha Solar Scope there are a few nice options you may wish to consider. Solarscope http://www.solarscope.co.uk/products.html and Daystar http://www.daystarfilters.com/Quantum.shtml have Premium Ha filter systems that will mount to your existing refractor to turn them into very high quality solar instrument. One of my friends has a Solarscope filter system that just blows away the Coronado or Lunt scopes. I have heard nothing but good about Daystar but have no experience with them.
Something to consider since you tend to like the best
Clear Skies
Mark
Interesting you said that because I've been of the same mind. I considered starting small and stretching to better, but finally after all I've read I decided to go for a higher end from the get go - an aplanatic 11" with CGEM DX mount. My only hesitation was a) it may be more than I can handle (I'm quite fit now at 59, but in 15 or 20 years a 110 lb mount may prove daunting to haul around) and b) building that old 6" from scratch was an adventure. Buying a 'ready to go' scope may leave less opportunity for creativity and discovery. But I suspect I will have ample opportunity to tweak and upgrade and I get my feet wet in this. Time will tell.
Well... maybe I can grow into something that ambitious! What do you think of the Celestron CGEM DX mount?
well, forgot to mention that I have a 6" ~ F6 newtonian I built years ago and also picked up a used 3" refractor that have both languished for lack of a decent mount. a priority is to get a good solid mount. my skies are pretty good when clear (mountains of Pennsylvania)
that's part of my dilemma - both. So I wanted something I can enjoy viewing with and cultivate a serious AP hobby too. I was torn between a large aperture SCT and large newtonian. I'd read that for viewing a short F newtonian was not ideal, but a 10" F5 newtonian would have a 48" tube - kind of cumbersome on for viewing with an equatorial mount.
I think where I've settled is the reality that there is no one perfect scope for both viewing and AP - I'll eventually want an SCT and a newtonian; maybe even a big dobsonian. I'm strongly motivated to go with a SC to start and build from there.
Totally agree with Mark. I wish I started out with this gear and skipped the SCT. There are a lot of folks who are using an Orion 80mm ED and are getting excellent results.
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