Wisconsin's Moon...ain't it mind blowing?

[OPC'n]

 

[turmeric]

Yes!

 

[Beth Ellen Nagle]

Very nice. Looks like the one I tried to capture awhile back. Actually, I have one that is all blood red...in some folder...on my computer...

 

[OPC'n]

You should post it! I would like to see it!!!!!

 

[Beth Ellen Nagle]

I'll look for it. If I recall correctly I had trouble getting a good exposure and it got a bit over exposed but I think the red does come through.

-----Added 1/30/2009 at 10:05:53 EST-----

I hope this doesn't end up being too anti-climatic as a red moon but it is over exposed but it was one of those situations where you don't have time to run around gathering a filter or two. When the moon is that low it seems to zip down quickly behind the horizon. At least it seemed so to me.

 

[Hamalas]

 

[OPC'n]

Sweet! You should start an album on your user space! I'm doing mine as we speak!

 

[Rangerus]

did we just get mooned?

 

[OPC'n]

You did and weren't they lovely?

 

[Theognome]

Nice moon. Too bad we don't have the same moon in Kansas City- ours is not cheese flavored. Nor is the same moon in Los Angeles- that moon is smog colored.

Theognome

 

[OPC'n]

Hey! You can just pretend that the smog is fog and take a great pic!

 

[Theognome]

Hey! You can just pretend that the smog is fog and take a great pic!

Hard to do that when you have to breathe the stuff- one reason why I don't live in the area anymore.

Theognome

 

[Ivan]

Enjoying the pics...keep 'em comin'!

 

[VictorBravo]

Enjoying the pics...keep 'em comin'!

OK, the Moon in Tacoma, through my homemade 8" telescope on lowest power:

 

[OPC'n]

Ivan, I've updated my album if you want to see more. Oh, now Vic! That is just lovely! How did you make your telescope?

 

[Ivan]

Ivan, I've updated my album if you want to see more. Oh, now Vic! That is just lovely! How did you make your telescope?

Thanks, young lady. I've been to your album. I soon visit again to see any new pics. You are a gifted photographer.

Vic, you made a telescope? How cool is that?!

PB is a wonderful place!!

 

[VictorBravo]

Ivan, I've updated my album if you want to see more. Oh, now Vic! That is just lovely! How did you make your telescope?

Ground, polished, figured the mirror by hand, measured the optics with a homemade Foucault tester, put together a tube out of 1/8th in plywood, mounted on a Rube-Goldberg type equatorial mount.

In small steps it isn't too hard. I used Texerau's classic book "How to Make a Telescope" as the main reference. Other than the thick pyrex glass and the various grades of grinding compound, everything else I found or made at home. I already had a set of eyepieces from an earlier project.

 

[OPC'n]

Ivan, I've updated my album if you want to see more. Oh, now Vic! That is just lovely! How did you make your telescope?

Ground, polished, figured the mirror by hand, measured the optics with a homemade Foucault tester, put together a tube out of 1/8th in plywood, mounted on a Rube-Goldberg type equatorial mount.

In small steps it isn't too hard. I used Texerau's classic book "How to Make a Telescope" as the main reference. Other than the thick pyrex glass and the various grades of grinding compound, everything else I found or made at home. I already had a set of eyepieces from an earlier project.

Or you could just go to Walmart.

 

[Ivan]

Ivan, I've updated my album if you want to see more. Oh, now Vic! That is just lovely! How did you make your telescope?

Ground, polished, figured the mirror by hand, measured the optics with a homemade Foucault tester, put together a tube out of 1/8th in plywood, mounted on a Rube-Goldberg type equatorial mount.

In small steps it isn't too hard. I used Texerau's classic book "How to Make a Telescope" as the main reference. Other than the thick pyrex glass and the various grades of grinding compound, everything else I found or made at home. I already had a set of eyepieces from an earlier project.

Or you could just go to Walmart.

I don't know about other Walmarts but our store no longer has them.

 

[OPC'n]

Ground, polished, figured the mirror by hand, measured the optics with a homemade Foucault tester, put together a tube out of 1/8th in plywood, mounted on a Rube-Goldberg type equatorial mount.

In small steps it isn't too hard. I used Texerau's classic book "How to Make a Telescope" as the main reference. Other than the thick pyrex glass and the various grades of grinding compound, everything else I found or made at home. I already had a set of eyepieces from an earlier project.

Or you could just go to Walmart.

I don't know about other Walmarts but our store no longer has them.

Or you could order one from Vic.

 

[Southern Presbyterian]

Ivan, I've updated my album if you want to see more. Oh, now Vic! That is just lovely! How did you make your telescope?

Ground, polished, figured the mirror by hand, measured the optics with a homemade Foucault tester, put together a tube out of 1/8th in plywood, mounted on a Rube-Goldberg type equatorial mount.

In small steps it isn't too hard. I used Texerau's classic book "How to Make a Telescope" as the main reference. Other than the thick pyrex glass and the various grades of grinding compound, everything else I found or made at home. I already had a set of eyepieces from an earlier project.

Are you sure your last name isn't "MacGyver"?!

 

[OPC'n]

Do you have your own private stash of icons hidden somewhere? You ought to share more!

 

[Southern Presbyterian]

Do you have your own private stash of icons hidden somewhere? You ought to share more!

I do.

 

[OPC'n]

 

[Southern Presbyterian]

LOL

It's the new improved smilie page. I used to have another one but it got shut down when I switched ISPs. I hope I well be able to keep this as it is on a free web hosting site.

 

[TimV]

Vic, that's crazy cool. How long did it take you? It would seem the hard part was the shape of the lenses? How did you do that?

 

[PresbyDane]

Pretty

 

[VictorBravo]

Vic, that's crazy cool. How long did it take you? It would seem the hard part was the shape of the lenses? How did you do that?

It's Newtonian reflector, so the main optical element is an 8" diameter mirror. Same basic design as the Mt. Palomar telescope.

It took me about a six weeks of evenings for the optics. You grind for a hour or so at a time, then let the temperature stabilize for optical tests. It's not something you can rush.

But I had more fun than buying one. And I don't think Walmart ever had 8" telescopes.

 

[nicnap]

Vic, that's crazy cool.

Thanks too, to all of you for posting. Those are amazing.

 

[Beth Ellen Nagle]

Vic, that's crazy cool. How long did it take you? It would seem the hard part was the shape of the lenses? How did you do that?

It's Newtonian reflector, so the main optical element is an 8" diameter mirror. Same basic design as the Mt. Palomar telescope.

It took me about a six weeks of evenings for the optics. You grind for a hour or so at a time, then let the temperature stabilize for optical tests. It's not something you can rush.

But I had more fun than buying one. And I don't think Walmart ever had 8" telescopes.

Make me one! I actually did buy an 8' from Walmart years ago but did not keep it as the tracking motor wasn't good. Decided to get something else but I did search for nebula in Orion in the higher elevations of Arizona (Heber/Overgaard) where you could easily see the Milky Way swipe the sky. I miss that.

-----Added 1/31/2009 at 06:16:01 EST-----

Sweet! You should start an album on your user space! I'm doing mine as we speak!

Oh, I didn't know you could do that. I might look into it but I already post photos elsewhere and it might only add to my work. lol