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Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
Skyhound web page dedicated to Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann and its observable fragments. There is a news section, fragment tracker, nightly observability by latitude, and finder charts.
Archive of 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann pictures and info by Dennis Persyk
Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann pictures
Meade LX200R 10 inch Telescope Review
by Art Stithem
I am relatively new to amateur astronomy. I’ve had a Meade ETX-125 for about 6 years, but it is only within the last 2 years that actually I found time to use it. Although it is a very capable telescope for its size, I wanted a bigger light bucket that was better suited for deep sky objects. I spent several months investigating all the available telescopes in my planned price range, but couldn’t really make a decision. I was seriously considering the LX200 model, although I was concerned about the weight. Then in January Meade announced the LX200R with Ritchey-Chrétien optics. I immediately placed my order for the 10-inch UHTC version, and waited.
The telescope arrived approximately 6 weeks after I ordered it. It came by ground delivery in two boxes, one for the OTA/fork unit, and one for the tripod. Both boxes appeared to be undamaged, although the box with the tripod produced enough rattling noise when handled that it made both the delivery driver and my wife nervous. Click here to see the entire review
60mm Finder Scope Project
by Joe Guzman
I have never been satisfied with the finder scopes that the telescope companies provide with our instruments. Most are cheap junk, some even with plastic lenses and not even worthy for spying on the neighbors.
The better constructed ones do a decent job for what they are supposed to do...locate the object in low power, but I have always been disappointed in the "Straight-thru" mini refractor types, regardless of superiority. What is needed is a right-angled diagonal for comfort and ease of use. Straight thru finders not cool.
For some years now, I have been using a homemade finder scope made from 10X50 binocular parts and other doo-dads, and have been quite satisfied with it's performance. It utilizes a focuser, right angled diagonal and interchangeable eyepieces...and sat on a modified microphone stand. But I always wanted to use one of my 60mm refractors as a low powered finder scope for some time now. What kept me from accomplishing this was proper mounting rings. Now, I have experimented in constructing my own rings, but it never worked the way I wanted, so I abandoned the idea...until recently. And besides, the longer focal length of a regular 60mm tube would put the eyepiece waay on the other end of the main OTA...close to the primary mirror. It would work, but very inconvenient. Click here to see the entire project
