http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/ Special Interest Group for owners of Starmaster telescopes Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:00:54 GMT Vic http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17867 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17867 ... I ran the calculator and to get a 0.37-inch offset requires a 6-inch minor axis secondary mirror! Is that correct? Regardless, a 0.37-inch offset will Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:48:31 GMT John VeDepo http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17866 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17866 Hi Jon, thought I would chime in on the 16.5". I actually purchased the very first 16.5 FX at F3.6 and it is unbelievable in its performance. I will have to Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:04:04 GMT John Mahony http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17865 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17865 ... That's exactly the term I made up for it here (and/or the bigdob group) when I heard about Vic's method several years ago. The optical differences between Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:08:13 GMT parabola30 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17864 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17864 Sorry guys (and Bob), I misread that paragraph and thought that Bob was suggesting contacting the telescope company, not Vic! Vic is a great resource and I Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:21:33 GMT gumbydad2002 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17863 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17863 I am on my second 20" Starmaster and owned a 16" Starmaster. The 16.5" is very sweet as Mike said because of the thinner, lighter, faster equilibrating mirror Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:22:22 GMT Paul Leuba http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17862 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17862 ... Whatever - but easy there big fella - Vic Menard is friend of this group and used to own a StarMaster. I don't think anyone except, perhaps you, took Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:07:00 GMT parabola30 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17861 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17861 ... Agreed. 75% more light also helps me personally see more detail as planetary magnifications get higher. Another major advantage of the 16.5" is the fast Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:28:13 GMT Charlie Miller http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17860 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17860 John: If you are talking about wanting more light collection, then here are important numbers. One magnitude fainter stars require a 2.5x increase in light Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:08:46 GMT jondannehy@... http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17859 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17859 I hope to be stepping up from my 12.5" in the not too distant future, Being very vertically challenged ( I am just over 5'2") I am looking at the 16.5" FX. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:38:29 GMT Peter http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17858 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17858 I set up the 24" FX last night outside on my driveway and pointed the scope at the bright gibbous moon. I put a strip of translucent frosty adhesive tape Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:22:19 GMT parabola30 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17857 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17857 ... Not true. Proper alignment procedures that use an autocollimator to close the optical path effectively introduce offset. Read on below. ... Well, if Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:20:34 GMT parabola30 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17856 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17856 ... Yes, 18" * 4 = 72", the same focal length as the 22" F/3.3. It is a VERY convenient height for someone about 6' tall, with lots of seated observing Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:08:21 GMT gumbydad2002 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17855 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17855 Allen, That should be a great telescope at a very convenient height. Look forward to seeing it and you at CAV. Bob Schilling Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:01:51 GMT Jan van Gastel http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17853 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17853 Yes, that's also possible, but only when the wheather is good enough. The way I do it, it's not necessary to assemble the telescope. Only the secondary cage is Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:52:51 GMT Eric Greene http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17852 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starmaster_scopes/message/17852 You've got it, John. You are now the owner of the group. Thanks! Eric da ex-moderator