Hi Rikki,
Patience pays off! The LS60Ha/B1200 scope and LS50HaF finally arrived
today and I had a chance to get a quick glance at Ol Sol, through the trees,
(remember, I'm at 43 Deg, 48 Min up here in Maine!) and I did see a nice
Prom straight up in the EP. At 4 PM, it was probably NNW.
(N straight up but flipped E/W in the diagonal, right?) Normal,
going clockwise...N, W, S, E. I'm used to looking in the PST where it's
rotated 180 deg.
I screwed on the LS50FHa, DS, and by now the sun was in the bushes and
all I could make out was some "orange peel" between the sticks BUT, that's
good! Tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy/rainy. Kinda figures, doesn't it?
New Astro gear and the rain/snow flies!
Let's get to the "meaty stuff". What a beautiful instrument!
Great fit and finish, smooth controls and very easy to use. I'm using a CG-5
Mount and it couldn't be any more perfect. The extension tube slid out with
little effort, nice and smooth and the dual speed focuser I'll never do without
on another scope. What a dream to be able to get a good sharp focus.
The etalon tuning is a breeze and the control is well placed and smooth operating.
The Double Stack LS50FHa Filter is beautifully finished and fits snugly giving
the appearance of a long refractor, not something that has a "bump" on the end
of a scope! The filter tuned out the "ghost" and left a red orb with a black background.
Awesome! The "orange peel" was very visible, even through the trees. The sun was
quiet today as I didn't see any active regions. I should check "Spaceweather".
The included cases are much appreciated. I thought the Filter case was a little "overkill",
(first impression) but I could see there was ample room designated for EP's. Nice touch.
The Binoviewers are next. All I'm going to need is good weather.
All this from about an hour opening boxes, reading "destructions", mounting and going
outside for about 10 minutes of viewing. Imagine what I'll think after an afternoon of viewing?
WOW! Glad I've had 3 years of Solar viewing experience and know what to expect,
even for 10 minutes of viewing.
Still doing lots of outreach. The Science teacher at a nearby High School has me
teaching Telescopes, Observing skills and I teach his 2 SOLAR chapters from
the "Astronomy Today" text book. Then I take them out and we piggy-back the
PST on the C-8 with Baader filter so they can see the Sun in Ha and White.
I'm into my third school year. They finish the year with a copy of an image of the
sun I took in 2005. Lots of night viewing, too.
Hope to see you at NEAF again next Spring. Hard to believe it's December, already!
Please give Andy my regards and thank him for all the hard work he has put into this
fine instrument! Thank YOU for doing what you do, keeping the "lid" on the operation
is no easy task!
I haven't been on the YAHOO site since October and I hope you didn't have to put
up with lots of grief. Some of those people should be shot!
Wish you and the crew a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! (send lots of presents!)
Blessings and clear skies,
Ron Thompson
Yarmouth, ME
