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Re: Starter Telescope
For a starter you can't beat an 8-10 inch Dobsonian with a telrad finder. I still miss my fast 8-inch Dob from La Maison de l'Astronomie in Mtl.? It was about 200 mm shorter than the standard f6 Dobs on the market and gave wonderful wide views and could pull in bright galaxies from my back yard in west Ottawa.? Under truly dark skies, it beheld wonders indeed. Also, as a beginner the simple pointing mechanism helped me learn to star hop and learn my way around the night sky. A good star atlas (or planetarium software -- I like the free and open source, Stellarium) are a must-have unless you are using a go-to scope. If you want to try before you buy, you can rent a scope, fairly affordably from Focus Scientific (maybe they suspended this under Covid?) at: 1891 Merivale Rd. Unit 4, Bentley Entrance, Ottawa ON K2G 1E5, Canada Phone: +1 613 723 1350 On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 2:21 PM T Pal <rutpal2020@...> wrote: Hi OAF members , novice astronomer seeking advice for starter telescope . Any recommendations .... type / sellers ? -- R. |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Hi Adam, While Gatineau is enticing in some ways, it is a regulated area that can cause some issues with observing scheduling, and obviously even more so right now with lockdowns, etc. On the Quebec side, there are three other semi-obvious alternatives, two that are darker and one that is just more accessible. For accessibility, some have gone simply to Lac Leamy by the beach. Yes, there are lights across the water, but some find it possible to shield without blocking the sky too. In addition, there is the Quebec astronomy group, RAAOQ?() which is the french area astronomy group who does most of their viewing at Lac Echo (about 90 minutes from downtown Ottawa). I haven't been there, but the link gives some details. Of course, there is also the field next to the AstroPontiac Initiative out by Luskville (recommend emailing Stephan Paape at astropontiac@...). The site is located at the base of the Luskville Falls, and when we have events, you can drive on to the field to set up. Outside of events, you could always park and lug to the field (not too far). Great for dark skies not too far out. On the Ontario side, if you joined RASC, you could use the RASC site near Almonte. Another popular spot is the parking lot by the river out by Pinhey's Point.? For the Carp Library/Diefenbunker site, it is not generally a dark site by any stretch of the imagination, but it is "popular" because it is where we hold the monthly public star parties. The light for Diefenbunker is annoying still, but because we have an official partnership between RASC and the Library+Diefenbunker, we can turn the lights off in the parking lot on the nights of public star parties. It all has to be announced in advance, scheduled, sanctioned, approved by City for access to site, insurance, etc., but when we do it, it's not a bad night. Unfortunately, during Covid, we haven't been able to do those public nights. We have also used the fields next to the Aviation Museum but only for official nights. OAFs also regularly do "pop up" sidewalk astronomy in front of Chapters in Kanata, just in regular parking lot, but alas, that's not an option right now either. Good luck! Paul |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
I haven¡¯t looked through very many scopes. Someday, when star parties are a thing again, I hope to meet some fellow astronomers and trade views and tips.
Focus Scientific has an 8¡± dob that you can rent for a week, I think. You could try that, Tom. I was thinking of doing that sometime. The price seemed very reasonable, check their website. -Adam |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
I have a Franken-scope. OTA and primary are vintage Meade Model 4495C (114 mm f/8), bought for cheap on kijiji. Had the mirror recoated by Normand Fullum. The mirror figure is not great, but certainly good enough. Secondary is 31 mm from GSO. Spider and secondary holder are cobled together from many parts. Mount is an ancient german EQ mount from Japan (Tasco from the 70¡¯s or 80¡¯s, got it for free), recently disassembled/degreased/relubricated. Nice and smooth now.
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
T Pal
Hi Adam , what type of scope did you get , are you pleased with the results ? Just looking for ideas of what scope to buy , Tom On Fri, 2 Apr 2021, 09:34 Adam Bell, <adambell714@...> wrote: Right. Thanks for pointing that out. I will have to change my plans tonight! |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Quebec is on curfew mow , not a good idea to there after 8 pm , you'll get a big fine . Like yourself I'm also new to astronomy and looking for a viewing place . Live downtown.? What type of telescope do you have .? On Fri, 2 Apr 2021, 09:08 Adam Bell, <adambell714@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Adam You won't regret North Frontenac!? A great place to observe - dark skies.? The drive it worth it.? The Ontario lockdown begins tonight at midnight.? Hopefully there will not be complications for you. Jim
On Friday, April 2, 2021, 12:27:05 p.m. EDT, Adam Bell <adambell714@...> wrote:
Excellent tips on pest control. -Adam |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Ingrid
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Sent: Friday, April 02, 2021 10:43 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OAFs] Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau? ? I find the Thermacell products work really well.? ? On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 10:10 AM Adam Bell <adambell714@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Ingrid
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýAnd if you want something directly on you that keeps mosquitos away but doesn¡¯t eat plastic, kill fish, or smell like toxic waste, I recommend Picaradin/Icaradin especially when combined with oil of lemon eucalyptus/para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), but works well enough on its own. ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Greg Berezowsky
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2021 10:43 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OAFs] Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau? ? I find the Thermacell products work really well.? ? On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 10:10 AM Adam Bell <adambell714@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Greg Berezowsky
I find the Thermacell products work really well.? On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 10:10 AM Adam Bell <adambell714@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
+1 to that. Take some notes on conditions, what you can see, and how easy you find locating things. That¡¯ll give you some basis across different nights. Or just get out a ridiculous amount and build some intuition. Just accept and embrace the psychotic episodes. Eventually the day-walkers around you will do the same ;) On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 10:31 AM Graeme Hay (Ember Sky Media) <ottawamovie@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
As far as I know dark sites are open. And I just posted a video about why dark skies matter yesterday... They make a BIG difference, especially on faint objects. Graeme On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 10:29 AM Adam Bell <adambell714@...> wrote: Wow, that does look impressive. And less than a 2-hr drive. I don¡¯t have all night (literally, lol). Would you trade 3 hours at a mediocre site for an hour at a dark site? --
- - - EmberSkyMedia.com MegaPixelTravel.com |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Wow, that does look impressive. And less than a 2-hr drive. I don¡¯t have all night (literally, lol). Would you trade 3 hours at a mediocre site for an hour at a dark site?
Looks like they are probably still open. The website lists some public facility closures starting Saturday, and the dark site is not listed there. -Adam |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Last time I was out at the Diefenbunker was July 2020. They had all the exterior lights on and it was pretty obnoxious in the parking lot. Maybe there¡¯s a secret path to a sheltered spot that I don¡¯t know about? I may try again tonight, since Gatineau is not an option. It would certainly be better than the city!
The mosquitos were pretty intense in July. Obviously not an issue right now! I will definitely need to raise my anti-bug game this summer, lol. Bug spray is not good enough (it was also a pretty old bottle, that doesn¡¯t help). Thanks for the suggestion, Mike. -Adam |
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
10/10 would recommend North Frontenac. Good skies, pad, power, bathroom (not sure if it is still open due to Covid though). On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 9:58 AM Graeme Hay <EmberSkyMedia@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
There is the North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve, it's dark, a bit of a drive (1h48m from downtown Ottawa according to google). ? its darker then the Lennox and Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area near me and closer to Ottawa.?? -- (Astro)Photographer / / FilmmakerOn Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 9:53 AM Mike Wirths <mikewirths1@...> wrote:
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Re: Recommendations for Observing Sites in Gatineau?
Hi Adam! What about the carp library/Diefenbunker site? Is that allowed/ viable? Mike On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 9:34 AM Adam Bell <adambell714@...> wrote: Right. Thanks for pointing that out. I will have to change my plans tonight! |
Randy Legault