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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 2, 2014 7:54:18 GMT -5
Hi Viktor Z. Thanks for your valuable comment..... Hi ALL... Here are some highlights that I would like to share with all of you....especially so much preparation just for 2 to 2 hours of side walk events.... Following photos has been what I have been doing for the past few years on setting up this ISTAR for all the side walk events.... Regards James Ling
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 2, 2014 8:05:40 GMT -5
Hi ALL.... The only difficulty in handling this giant 8" ISTAR is mounting it onto the G11 losmandy mount..... The following photo shots showing 3 young guys assisting me to mount the 8" ISTAR.... REgards James Ling
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 2, 2014 8:15:23 GMT -5
Hi ALL... Balancing for this 8" ISTAR is no easy task....otherwise the losmandy G2 will stall when the slewing this 70 Lbs scope... " Alignment " Jupiter through the finder, is in a sitting position on the concrete flooring...... But once is done, and Jupiter is in the eye-piece, the rest is very easy..... Regards James Ling
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 2, 2014 8:21:24 GMT -5
Hi ALL.... When the visual session starts..... the waiting excitement turned into joy and happiness....... Below are some of the photo shots taken showing people enjoying the fun of coming to understand our solar system..... REgards James Ling
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 2, 2014 8:33:49 GMT -5
Hi All.... Last night although there is no chance of visual viewing at Mars, as it rises quite late.... around 11pm, then is visible, but the view of Jupiter with 3 moons and the GRS , and numerous cloud bands, is already worth the time spent .... As this come to an end for Month of March side walk session, we have plan for end March " Earth Hour " , as well as in April, for the Mars and Jupiter visual sessions.... REgards James Ling
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Post by boomboom on Mar 2, 2014 21:14:25 GMT -5
Fantastic James.
I do hope a few of the people stay around afterwards to help get the scope off the mount!
If I did the same thing here it would be 'Red Tape City' So much can't do this can't do that type of bureaucratic nonsense to get through.
Do you have to get permits to do this or just set up?
Matt
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Post by mikey cee on Mar 2, 2014 23:31:39 GMT -5
Boy Matt don't get me started. So you are from "Red Tape City"? So am I. So is just about everyone. Red tape exists for one reason and one reason only....to make a buck off of something or someone. The main side benefit to making a buck is to keep all of us sheep in line! That's why I try to keep a low profile and cruise under the radar......and avoid as much red tape as possible. Remember there is some degree of safety in large numbers.....just try not to stand out. (rofl)Mike
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 3, 2014 10:41:24 GMT -5
HI Matt , Mikey Cee and ALL....
Our group does not face any problem when we carried out our monthly side walk session, coz the open area is a public area... Since we are just promoting astronomy without involving any buy and sell activities, we does not need to have a license or permit from the relevant authorities.
Moreover just opposite the road, is a police post , and the officers knew what activities we are doing for the past 3 years...My Istar is even setup in the same police post premises , two years ago , for the lunar eclipse......
It took us more than one year , to get the local library to invite my friend, Gary, to give the monthly astronomy talk, in their premises... And now we are in the 2nd year.....
We also been invited to one of our army club house, for both astronomy talk and side walk session, and we did two sessions last year, and being invited again for this month end " earth Hour " observation night...
A few members of our group is even doing weekend weekly side walk at one of our park, and I only join them once a year for the oriental lunar moon cake festival.... Initially when they started , the police came and after knowing that they have no bad intention of staying in the park, they are allowed to continue, and this is already more than 2 years...
Perhaps this is possible in my country , Singapore, but when come to finding a place to park my car , for the astronomy event, I have been fine twice......for illegal parking, hahaha....
Regards
James Ling
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Post by jimcurry on Mar 7, 2014 7:24:01 GMT -5
James: I always enjoy reading about your exploits. I have a 6" f/12 41 lb. OTA, that could be a handful if I were to mount like you. I have a scope mounting suggestion.
Before putting the counterweights to the mount I set the Dec. axis horizontal with clutch released. The mount is balanced in that position. I have a box set next to the scope upon which I stand the OTA vertically on its dewshield. This puts the rings/plate at the correct height to engage the Losmandy plate on the mount. I wiggle the two together and tighten the saddle clamps. From there I slide the counterweights on and balance the scope around the polar axis.
I hope this make sense, I've never taken a photo of this operation.
Regards, Jim Curry
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Post by boomboom on Mar 9, 2014 23:18:35 GMT -5
I know what you mean Jim. There is a you tube video of someone doing that with an observing chair, a G11 and a 14" SCT. Never thought about doing the same with a 2 metre long tube but would solve all sorts of lifting problems. Brilliant! Matt
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 28, 2014 10:55:28 GMT -5
Hi ALL.... Is just one day away from tomorrow night Earth Hour event..... And I will be participating with my 8" ISTAR , for this major event organized by one of our local army club.... Hope the weather allows a good view of Mars, although is just very near to opposition.... Below attachment shows the poster for tomorrow night event..... Regards James Ling
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Post by Mike on Mar 29, 2014 15:02:20 GMT -5
James, be sure to post pictures of the event. I love seeing those long lines.
Mike
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 30, 2014 8:47:00 GMT -5
Hi Mike..... I am afraid I am going to disappoint you this time..... Hi ALL.... As I just returned from last night Earth Hour Event, and the following are the update........... 1. Yesterday weather is not promising, with thick clouds all over the place.... Even the noon shower did not clear the sky for the evening event..... 2. The evening time is still cloudy , but cooling, as I travelled to the venue for setting up my 8" ISTAR.... 3. I arrived at 7pm, and quickly setup my 8" ISTAR for standby, even the weather is so cloudy and nothing is seen above the night sky.... 4. We have 3 telescopes supporting this venue , as the rest are at other part of the island also doing the same setup for public viewing... 5. We waited until around 8pm, when out of sudden, the patch of cloudy sky whereby Jupiter is hidden , broke up , and Jupiter shines through this patch of hazy sky.... 6. Without further delay , I swing the 8" ISTAR at Jupiter and power it up to 225X with a zoom ep at 8mm. and the view is terrific... There are 3 moons of Jupiter on the left, and one on the right... then there are 2 stars within this FOV, one is below and other is at the right... 7. I even put a 2X barlow after half and hour of viewing with the public, but the view become soft at 450X, and I lowered it to around 350X.... 8. As the patch of sky in the Eastern side is so cloudy , and seems that there is no chance to see Mars, the scope continues to provide the public the view of Jupiter..... Then around 9.30pm , Mars shines through a thick layer of clouds, as it climbs higher, and I quickly move the scope to Mars.....coz I am also eager to see how Mars look through the ISTAR.... 9. Surprisingly, I can power Mars all the way to 450X with a 2X barlow and setting the zoom ep at 8mm... Mars looks orange-red and there are 2 dark patches.....clearly seen at 450X.... No ice cap is seen last night.... 10. Mars is very small even at 450X, but I know in 4 years time, it will be 25 arc sec ,as compared to only 15 now... 11. Below are some of the photos sent from my friends to me for last night Earth Hour Event...
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 30, 2014 9:02:08 GMT -5
Hi Mike..../ ALL....
Although Last night the crowd is not much, unlike previous occasions, we can easily have one hundred people viewing through our scopes...
Perhaps this place is a private club house, and during last night, due to the poor weather, not many people are here for dinner or swimming...as well as for this side walk event.... Unlike our usual local library area, is a town area, whereby many human traffic move through the place....
The other reason, is for the past 2 occasions when we are here, we have a talk, whereby already more than 50 participants are here for the talk, and then proceed for the side walk .....
But those who turned up, are rewarded with the terrific view of Jupiter and its 4 moons...while those stayed behind, even got the chance of seeing Mars ....
Last night, we also packed up early around 10.30pm, as this place will close around 11pm....
But come to next weekend , Gary will be holding his once a month astronomy talk at the local library, and I will be there , if I can make it , due to my work schedule....
Hope this coming weekend , the weather is good, and a good turn out form the public.........
Regards
James Ling
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Post by jamesling1000 on Apr 4, 2014 20:19:27 GMT -5
Hi ALL... Just want to share with all of you on our side walk activities that has been published in one of the magazine which are being distributed to 300,000 household quarterly....in that central region of our country... Below is the link.....And there is a photo of the 8" ISTAR and myself doing the setup...... www.centralsingaporecdc.org.sg/voices-71/group-dynamics.htmlREgards James Ling
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