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Charles Dunlop

Male

Laguna Beach, CA

United States

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.

Comment Wall:

Trevor Woodrow

Now you are stylin'. Nice page!

Dec 27, 2010
Trevor Woodrow

Need to set up a template for the contributed photos...I mean the data that goes along with it. Not only what set up, but like how long the subs are and total exposure time too.

Dec 27, 2010
Trevor Woodrow

How did you get the skyline along the top of the page?

Dec 27, 2010
Emma MacPhee

Thanks for doing this.... It's great to see what other astronomers are doing out there...

Dec 29, 2010
David Klooz

The Skyshed Pod was too difficult setting up. It's unwieldy is all. The weight of each of the domes - main and secondary - are too heavy and bulky to lift on your own. I had to get another guy over to do that. Other than that it wasn't difficult. Make sure you watch the video - it saved me an hour or two. I had a small leak when the wind and rain were from the East - directly at where the two domes join. I took off the secondary dome and bought some additional weather stripping, made sure I had the 'gutters' long enough where the pivots attach and everything was fine. Wayne Parker was fine with me. Responded promptly to all my email questions and phone calls. Got a great deal on shipping - took a month exactly from order date to actual delivery - four huge boxes with only one guy delivering so I had to help unload and move the boxes - then did everything myself. Took about 8 hours over two days, but most of the slowness is doing it yourself with no help. Just awkward holding and measuring and kicking things into place.

Dec 30, 2010
Trevor Woodrow

Dick...just checked my weather....best report says fair...but I am desparate...may set up anyway!

Dec 30, 2010
Trevor Woodrow

Very cool Nasa pics!

Jan 1, 2011
Trevor Woodrow

Celestron images has not updated since 12/24....this site has posted 180 pics since the 26th!

Jan 1, 2011
Jeffrey P Nunnari

Thanks, man. It was one of the last images I took in .jpg before switching to raw. I'll be happy to send it to you! I took it with a Celestron C6R-GT (stock set-up) and Canon 1000D. I also have an AT72ED that I mount on my CG-5. Today I am receiving delivery of an Orion 8" f/4 imaging newt that I am really looking forward to trying out. We have had a terrible Nov & Dec, here, with hardly any clear nights at all. Forecast isn'tlooking too promising, either. BTW, cool site!

Jan 3, 2011
Conor

Thanks for the welcome, Charles.

Feb 5, 2011
Matthew Dieterich

Excellent site Charles great work!

Feb 9, 2011
Melissa Schmidt

Here is another great group that you would love...
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/skyshed-pod/

Feb 9, 2011
Robert C. Mills

Charles,
Thanks for the kind words. I am amazed at this site and what it provides for us amateurs. So far I enjoy AstroGab very much. I find a lot of excellent imagers and people willing to guide and help others.

Bob

Mar 30, 2011
Emile.M. Pulinx, MD

Other people may think differently ,Mr Dunlop;
You have to accept that different musical tastes do exist on this earth.
E-M Pulinx,MD
Internal Medecine -Endocrinology
Nuclear Medecine
Gold medal of Brussel's jazz academy 1985

Apr 20, 2011
Alistair Symon

It's very good for giving you absolutely pinpoint stars without any tracking errors as it corrects mount errors very quickly and accurately compared to the relays. I image at 2.3 arc/secs per pixel and it ensure I get every bit or resolution I can get at that scale

May 1, 2011
Alistair Symon

I worked through a number of setups over the last 10 years to get to this one. I started imaging with an LX10 back in 1998 with a Starlight Xpress MX5 doing manual guiding. That got me hooked and I wanted to get better pictures so then I went to an LX200 and ST7-E and things got better but not great. I made a real breakthrough when I moved to an RCX400 and ST-2000 camera with AO. The AO sorted out all the issues with the Meade mount tracking but I was never happy with the focus I could get on the RCX. So then I decided to simplify. Use a top of the line refractor with no electronics to go wrong and combine it with a good quality camera like the STL-11000. The image quality from that was great. Now I just wanted to go deeper than wheeling the setup out on my driveway and sitting with it would allow. So last year I build my backyard observatory and put it on a good pier. Now it images all night long controlled by CCD Autopilot and the images are now really looking good.

May 1, 2011
Trevor Woodrow

"Telescoping soon"? Don't tease

Jun 27, 2011
Trevor Woodrow

I thought the parents left a long time ago!

Dec 16, 2011
Vladimir Rojankovski

Thanks for your post, however, I try to separate software-wise the main from the guiding sensors, for which purpose I try to install the ASCOM driver as well - to be more flexible

Jan 1, 2012
Eric Hughes

I'm afraid those are quite a bit out of my budget. The SE 8 is right at my budgetary limit. If you can suggest anything within the 1000$ range, I would appreciate it. :)

Jun 18, 2012
Eric Hughes

Thanks, Charles, I was actually just looking at that one! I've been a space junkie my whole life, and wanted a telescope for as long as I can remember, and now that I can afford one that will see further than the moon, I'm learning just how deep the rabbit hole goes, so to speak. I'm learning as I go, so I'm gonna be patient and not jump into something then regret it. Thanks a ton for the advice and info!

Jun 18, 2012
Eric Hughes

Hey Charlie! I spoke with Chris at OPT, and said that you recommended the Orion Sirius 80ED setup and he said that was a great idea. Turns out, by the time I get the C6RGT and an auto guider, I'd be pushing the limits for that mount. And I need to get a camera before I need the auto guider (the one I have won't mount), so I'm just gonna go with the Orion and build from there. Looks like my Christmas list is written for the next few years! :) the rabbit hole is deep indeed...

Jun 19, 2012
Steve Coates

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.

Jun 20, 2012
Frank Bastian

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.

Jul 7, 2012
Frank Bastian

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)

Jul 7, 2012
Frank Bastian

Well... maybe I can grow into something that ambitious! What do you think of the Celestron CGEM DX mount?

Jul 8, 2012
Frank Bastian

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.

Jul 8, 2012
Mark Roberts

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

Apr 24, 2013
Trevor Woodrow

I know you have been shooting, where are your posts!?! And for Christ's sake, shoot some darks!

May 4, 2013