Instrumentation and Equipment

Hello! I just set up my Meade LX200 Classic telescope in humid east Tennessee after moving from dry southern New Mexico. I've never had to deal with such dew before!

    I've been looking dew controllers.

    For those of you with SCTs who use dew control strips - do you put a strip around the corrector plate AND the primary mirror, or just the corrector plate?

    Is a small strip useful on the tube where the CCD connects to the telescope back as well? Thank you and best regards.

Mike

Hi,

has anyone ever used a smart phone camera for photometry? In combination with a telescope or better even without?

My interest is not really scientific applications but rather education. I want to give a course at a local "junior university" (for kids aged 14+) and I assume most of them do not have DSLRs anymore but certainly all have 1-n smart phones...

I was wondering if putting my rig on either a JMI Wheeliebar or Scopebuggy  will be stable enough for diff photometry?  If so, which is a best option? TIA  

I'd like to use telescopes on iTelescope.net for photometry. Or possibly telescope.live.

I'm interested to know if any of you are using either of these? How well does it work? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

I'd like to use telescopes on iTelescope.net for photometry. Or possibly telescope.live.

I'm interested to know if any of you are using either of these? How well does it work? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

Is there an up to date reference about the various photometric filters. I am considering buying a set (B.V,R,I) of photometric filters, 2 inch diameter. A quick search identified Baader and Uptolong as potential sources. I would appreciate to know about possible other manufacturers. Also, opinion about the performance of these various filters would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Damien

Similarly to the YSO Section, I'm looking at putting together a periodic newsletter. Unlike Michael, I'm considering a frequency far less than his! Perhaps one per quarter. 

Whatever I put out, I would like to both A)send to those interested via email and B) link to it from the I&E webpage.

I already have someone interested in submitting an article!!

If you are interested in receiving an occasional (less than 1 per month) emailed newsletter, please send me you email address through AAVSO member system or by email at pbealo@comcast.net.

Clear Skies,

Hi,

Hello, This is Nasir Rizwan, a new AAVSO Ambassador from Pakistan. 

I currently have a 4" inch reflector that I'm using for outreaches and currently looking to upgrade to a better telescope. 

What I'm Looking For:

i- Something portable for outreach activities, nothing more than 8" or 10" at the most
ii- A telescope that I could use for Variable star astronomy or something that would help me with research in AAVSO (I'm still figuring out what works for me LOL!)