Re: Night away from WORK 9-5

Hi Mean...

I think there isn't enough emphasis on learning to observe. We get aperture
fever and try to chase that great "jaw dropping" view but really, the degree
of gain from scope to scope moving up the food chain isn't that huge----I
think people need to justify spending thousands of dollars on their
telescopes so they always report great views but I have had fun at star
parties with my Orion 120mm f/5 refractor finding and showing targets to
people who couldn't find or see the same target in their equipment costing
far, far more. If you take your 8" back to M109 with a 12-14mm Eyepiece, I
guarantee you'll see it if you: 1. get the star field into your field of
view by matching it to a good chart---not a silly Telrad finder chart, but a
good chart with details---you'll know you're in the right spot. Trust
yourself if the field matches. It's an easy field to match up. That
exercise alone will enhance your ability to see more than if you bought a
bigger or better scope! 2. Leave the focuser alone. Even if it's not tack
sharp, don't touch it. You probably have a R&P focuser----there is image
shift. And it distracts the mind to focus---you'll be looking at a star to
sharpen your view and you'll miss your target. Before you go to the field
of view, pick a dim star and focus on it. Then leave the focuser alone. 3.
Allow the field to drift through your view---don't use tracking, digital
readouts or any other of that junk. Get the field of view right and let it
drift through. Repeat that several times and you'll see it....and then,
you'll be amazed and what you'll be able to see after that experience. That
exercise will greatly improve what you can see----more than just about any
improvement you can buy----to a point. Those 3 things would save most
people who get into this hobby hundreds, if not thousands of dollars trying
to buy better views. Another tip---when you take that8" out, take 2
eyepieces with you one eyepiece and a good barlow. Period. You can take
that suitcase of eyepieces out later---you'll find if you "make do" with
what you have out there, you'll force yourself to "look harder". It's like
golf---Look at those guys with every possible club----and they're still
duffers. I used to play with an old man---he was a hustler. The guy was
quite wealthy---A Fresno farmer who would go to the golf course after being
out in the fields---he'd be dirty and look a little crusty. And, he'd only
carry 3 clubs with him. Something like a 3 iron, 7 iron and a putter. He'd
linger around and then ask if he could play along when he found a nice
couple or somebody heading out alone---after a couple he'd want to play for
a buck a hole----and he'd finish the round with people each owing him
$15----3 clubs. But he always hit the ball straight. Not as far, but always
where he wanted it.


Doink


"Mean Mr Mustard" <macusr023@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1126052600.528697.120750@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I've never had any luck with M109 even with an 8" dob under fairly dark
> skies.
>


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