Above photo: During a recent inspection - not a speck of dust and no imperfections in this pristine new Celestron Nexstar 6SE corrector plate and optics, flawless optics, bright clear images, remarkable true color viewed in objects, no visible aberrations, and the latest improved StarBright XLT coatings. This performs like a serious baby EdgeHD when compared to its big family: the 9.25" and 14" with clear sharp images across the FOV clear to the edge. No visible coma or achromatic aberrations. No astigmatism or spherical defects.
Astro Log for Monday April 11 2022
The logs will contain log diary astro entries for things happening, various thoughts and ideas, projects being cultivated, suggestions, ponderings, and the addition of notes at the end with with various resolved discoveries made.
* I will think twice before observing with an open window after a visitation by a very large beetle bug. It's conjectured that it hitched a ride or flew in from the mountains into the city. (Blister beetles, sometimes called acid flies, belongs to the Meloidae family of beetles that secretes toxic Cantharidin, which is harmful to humans and livestock. Others reported beetles landing on their shoulders and it took a wild scuff to get rid of their tenacity presence.)
* A number of people are envious that I have access to a great view of the mountains and trees. Location can be an advantage when living in the concrete jungle.
* The bucket list is long, but some simple things are aligning the finderscope, repositioning the telescope closer to the window for a larger sky view, testing the Apple iPad for compass function, washing the windows and deck area, and moving the accessories & astro imaging lab table.
* With the iPhone XS not having a working compass, the automatic sky positioning and calibrations will be delegated to the older Apple iPhone 5. Does this have something to do with app software versions? Check this.
* Now waiting for delivery of an IKEA bookshelf unit that will serve as an outdoor mount, by replacing the tripod. The telescope will set on top and there may be some sort of anchoring devised.
* Recent purchase of a remote camera shutter from the Night Market has tested perfect for the iPhone XS Max, and will stop camera vibrations from spoiling the images. The older remote shutter works with the older iPhone 5 and it currently needs a 3v lithium ion battery.
* There are two items on the USA purchase list, both manufactured by Celestron - the passive dew shield and the updated solar filter. A heated solar filter would assuredly destroy lunar/planetary images with the bubbling and instability of mixing different temperature air.
* The new solar filter will fit the larger 6-inch telescope for the solar observing program and is more safe in the way it attaches. The prime solar telescope will change from the Orion 4.5-inch RFT f/4 StarBlast to the Celestron Nexstar. The 6-inch has a larger image scale at f/10 for better sunspot data.
* Some people talk the talk and don't do the walk. Their teeny unrequited lens sets idle on the shelf. Here at HSO we are making progress rapidly by putting new systems into place, developing new programs, exploring the realms of science, and making new discoveries.
* The Chinese astro order is almost ready - it will include a negative projection lens set to gain the largest lunar and planetary image scale at 300x. At a 5x multiplier and 60" FL, it reaches 5x60=300. Years ago I used a simplistic variable optics train with spectacular results and I expect this simple device will perform equally well. Tests with $700 optics are no better than $7.95 optics for all things considered.
* One thing to try is the workability of a negative projection lens with the smartphone and camera mount. So far, positive EP projection is working fine.
* On the bucket list is also to try out all the EPs with the 6SE. The other RFT telescopes at f/4 have some eyepieces that do not work well as they show the shadow of the diagonal obstruction towards the center. This effect was seen both visually and photographically. However, at f/10 on the Schmidt-Cassegrain that problem should not exist.
Notes: Celestron Nexstar 6SE Power Jack
It's discovered that the power jack on the Celestron Nexstar 6SE is not meant to be threaded. The power plug just plugs into it without any way of permanent connection, therefore it can pull out if yanked hard enough. The extra power amp AC to 12 volt DC supply accessory is threaded but just ignore the threads. Use a cable loop around the mount base to secure the cable. As the telescope is not rotating in circles, the changing cord position is not a concern (due to the one cardinal direction sky viewing window).
