Search Results for 'espin telescope'

[Callum Potter]

My LX200 mount failed but not with the same problem – it would slew on one axis but not move at all on the other.

I, and a friend who does some mechanical telescope work, searched for someone to look at it to repair, but we could not find anyone to look at it. 

In the end I had my friend de-fork it, and put a Losmandy doovetail on, so I could mount on a G11.

Callum

[Charles Vince]

My telescope has developed a fault. On switching on the tube turns continuosly in the Dec axis. I have contacted two dealers about this, both of whom are unable to help. I wondered if anyone else has come across this problem and is there anyone who can carry out a service on this telescope as I would very much like to be able to carry on using it. I am located in Wiltshire. 

[Denis Buczynski]

I knew Sally when she lived in Windermere Cumbria. She was a keen visual lunar and planetary observer. A very fine person and so likeable. I helped set up the Elliot Merlin 12 inch reflector ( on loan from the BAA) at her home in Windermere in the 1990’s. She used it regularly and contributed many observations to the BAA observing sections. Picture of the Elloit Merlin telescope is attached. Unfortunately this fine example of a Calver refector so kindly bequethed to the BAA is now no longer usable having passed through the “care” of the last BAA Instrument Curator after it was returned to the BAA after Sally had finished using it. Picture of the telescope last time it was seen is attached.

[Maxim Usatov]

V = 16.17 +/- 0.09 on April 12.

Telescope 0.5 m f/6.8 Corrected Dall-Kirkham with f/4.5 Focal Reducer
Camera  FLI PL11002M

[Maxim Usatov]

V = 15.778 ± 0.07 with slightly better data from tonight.

Telescope    0.5 m f/6.8 Corrected Dall-Kirkham with f/4.5 Focal Reducer
Camera        FLI PL11002M

[Maxim Usatov]

Measured it at V = 14.665 ± 0.04.

Telescope    0.43-m f/6.8 reflector with f/4.5 focal reducer
Camera        FLI PL6303E

[Robin Leadbeater]

Yes you would need a very deep image to be sure but the two  confirmed hostless examples here

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1505.03407.pdf

are at significantly higher redshifts than this one so it should be possible to determine if it is truly hostless given time on a big telescope.

(There is no sign of anything in the DSS, SDSS 2Mass images)

Cheers

Robin

[Andy Wilson]

Another couple of thoughts. Fundamentally, even with a “perfect” telescope a star is a disc due to diffraction in the optics, and you rarely see performance at the diffraction limit as atmospheric turbulence blurs this disc.

Cheers,

Andy

[Maxim Usatov]

I have it at V = 15.77 ± 0.05, although correct PSF fit is a little difficult.

Observatory:  New Mexico Skies at Mayhill, New Mexico – MPC H06
Telescope:  0.50-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer
CCD:  FLI ProLine PL11002M CCD camera

Filter is Astrodon V.

[Jeremy Shears]

Yuji Nakamura (Kameyama, Mie, Japan) has reported the discovery of a possible nova, PNV J23244760+6111140, on March 18.4236 

Tonny Vanmunster confirmed the transient later that day at V = 8.95 +/- 0.03 (CBA Extremadura Observatory using a 0.40-m f/5.1 telescope and SX-46 CCD camera) 

ATel #14471 reports spectroscopic classification of the object as a classical nova (Hiroyuki Maehara (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan), Kenta Taguchi (Kyoto University), Yusuke Tampo (Kyoto University), Naoto Kojiguchi (Kyoto University), Keisuke Isogai (Kyoto University). 

Nova Cas 2021 is at RA 23 24 47.73 Dec +61 11 14.8 (J2000.0) 

This is a bright nova and further observations are encouraged. The field is circumpolar from UK and it should be a binocular object. Charts and sequences are available from the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter.

 

 

 

[Andy Wilson]

Hi Lars,

Rspec is designed to be easy to use but has limited functionality.

BASS is the next level up. It has a lot more functionality and is a lot easier to use than say ISIS. ISIS is pretty much the gold standard in spectral processing, but is the hardest to use.

I suggest starting out with BASS as it is free, and see how you get on.

I also suggest starting simple. The A-type star is used to response correct the spectrum. This is to remove the bulk effect of the Earth’s atmosphere, and to adjust the bulk profile of the spectrum for the telescope and camera sensitivity. Note this doesn’t remove any spectral lines, just large scale features that affect the shape of the continuum. While this is important for getting a correct continuum, I wouldn’t bother with your first few spectra unless you really want to. I took spectra for 3 to 6 months before attempting a response correction.

When you are ready to do a response correction, then you will need to choose an A-type star at about the same altitude and on the night of your observation. The altitude of the star will affect the response correction as when you look lower down you are looking through more atmosphere. Also, atmospheric conditions can affect the response, so a response taken on one night may not work on another night.

Most important of all is to keep it fun! Don’t worry about getting things exactly right at the start.

Best wishes,

Andy

[Dominic Ford]

This morning I (virtually) attended the funeral of Prof Roger Griffin (1935-2021), who passed away on 12 February.

As many of you will know, Roger pioneered the use the spectroscopy to measure the orbital velocities of binary stars in the early 1960s. He continued making spectroscopic observations of binary stars using the 36-inch telescope in Cambridge for the rest of his life, until his final illness made that impossible. His series of papers “Spectroscopic binary orbits from photoelectric radial velocities” in the journal Observatory made it to 265 installments, spanning 1975 to 2019.

Roger is likely to go down in history as the last observer to make systematic professional observations at visible wavelengths from Cambridge Observatory, and his series of 265 papers is almost certainly the longest series of numbered papers in the astronomical literature.

Away from the eyepiece, Roger was an ardent campaigner on light-pollution issues and a good friend to amateur observers both in Cambridge and further afield. I gather several BAA Section Directors corresponded with him at various times. As a newly-arrived 18-year-old student, I remember well visiting Roger in the 36-inch dome, and him allowing me to drive the telescope and explaining to me how his spectrograph worked.

His other big interest in life was marathon running, which he took no less seriously than his astronomy. He ran the London Marathon eleven times, and in 2003, aged 68, ran the fastest time of anybody his age or older (3h30m).

In 2002, he was invited to give a talk to Cambridge University Astronomical Society, and this afternoon I discovered I still have an old tape recording of the talk. Roger gave a rather nice overview of his work, though unfortunately the visuals are, of course, missing. I have uploaded it to YouTube here: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_5DXfwpTj0>.

Attachments:

1. 

   RFG36-inch_crop.jpg
   

2. 

   RFG36-inch_crop.jpg
   

[David Boyd]

Information about the 2021 Symposium on Telescope Science organised by the Society for Astronomical Sciences is available here:
https://socastrosci.z2systems.com/np/clients/socastrosci/event.jsp?event=39&amp;

The purpose of the SAS Symposium is to encourage research using small-telescope observations and amateur-professional collaborations in astronomy.

The 2021 Symposium will be held online. Registration is now open.

David

[Dr Paul Leyland]

I follow @TM_Eubanks on Twitter, aka T Marshall Eubanks, aka (6696) Eubanks.

He tweeted this about an hour ago:

Frpm [sic] MPML and Tomasz Kwiatkowski: 2021 DW is sweeping a very long arc in the sky, at V<18 mag for most of the track. This gives us a rare opportunity to derive its spin axis and shape. They need observers for this observing campaign to collect additional lightcurves.

Would anyone with a fair-sized telescope like to help?  I would do so but the observatory is in La Palma and I am in the UK.

Paul

[Mr Jack Martin]

Australia,

I would describe it as purple.

 I don’t know if the other 2 telescopes show a shield/crest.

I have already corresponded with Jill Campbell, unfortunately she does not know anything about the origin of the telescope, how or when it got into the families possession.

Jack

Essex UK

[David C Rayment]

Thanks for posting the picture – very interesting. I downloaded the image from the website and put it through Photoshop but unfortunately I am unable to make out any details on the shield.  My first thoughts are it relates to Blethyn or, as I think more likely, it relates to the person who commissioned the making of the telescope. Either way, it’s a new angle to research.    Is there a motto below the shield and if so what does it read? No need to translate. Having actually seen the item would you describe the dark red in the picture as purple?  Do you know if the other two telescopes show a shield/crest etc, and is the colouring the same?  

I think it may be worthwhile you contacting Jill Campbell, the archivist at Knebworth House.  If you tell her you are writing an article about the telescope she may be able to tell you when and by what means Knebworth House obtained it. Often such places will itemise such objects in stock checks or keep a record of items given to them. To know the date it was first recorded as being at the house could prove useful, as would be the name of the donor, if there was one. I expect it would take her sometime to find that information, if she can.  Her e-mail address is on the Knebworth House website.  Go to, About Us/Archive. You could also ask her about the motto, which should be a quick and easy question to answer, if you do not already have that information. 

[Mr Jack Martin]

Australia,

To the best of my knowledge Theodorus made the telescope.

I don’t know about the artwork.

Notice the coat of arms above his signature what does that tell us ?

Jack

Essex UK

[David C Rayment]

You say the telescope is signed with the name “Theodorus”. Interestingly, and at the risk of confusing matters, Wikipedia has “Theodorus” as the Dutch equivalent of the English and French “Theodore”. Welsh is “Tewdwr”.  Is there a Dutch connection?

Did Theodorus actually make the telescope or does his name simply refer to the artwork?  Does the type of art work give any clues to the telescope’s origin?

Blethyn mentioned above was baptized as Theodore, not Theodorus. However, “Theodorus” may have been used as a marketing ploy due to the popularity of telescopes in the Netherlands at the time. 

[Roger Dymock]

The MicroObservatory Telescope Network has relaunched its DIY Planet Search project so, if exoplanet transits float your boat, but you don’t have access to a telescope then why not give this a go. See Remotely operated robotic telescopes – the MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network for a full description

[Mr Jack Martin]

Australia,

Seems there was a 5th (first) child born 3 years after they were married, unusual as children are usually born soon after marriage.

Blethyn’s telescope is signed ‘Theodorus Blethyn fecit’, so that’s how he spelt his surname.  

What is IGI ?

Thank you for all the information you have provided.

Jack

Essex UK