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GARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What You BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" THE TOP 5 COMETS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS Few celestial objects excite the imaginations of stargazers and the general public like a good comet. The recent apparition of Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) prompted me to reflect on the all the comets I’ve been fortunate enough to see in the past 25 years. There have been some stunners, some surprises, and a few that Continue reading "The Top 5 Comets of the Past 25 Years" FIVE REFLECTOR PERFORMANCE KILLERS Based on my years of experience building and using telescopes, here is my take on the five biggest reasons your reflector may be falling short of perfection, listed in order of increasing importance. 5. Obstruction. Much has been written on the subject of GARY’S EASY-GO-ROUND BINOCULAR MOUNT Build this simple device for steady binocular views of the night sky. I love binocular astronomy. At least, that’s my excuse for cluttering the house with a dozen (at last count) of these double-barreled optical wonders. Recently, my collection expanded to include particularly heavy 10×50s and inexpensive 15×70s. For the first time I really felt Continue reading "Gary’s Easy-Go-Round THE BIG RED ONE: MY OPTIMIZED 6-INCH F/9 REFLECTOR The Big Red One: My Optimized 6-inch f/9 Reflector. Attention to detail is what separates a regular Newtonian reflector from one optimized for high-contrast performance. This 6-inch f/9 uses every trick in the ATM’s book to deliver superb planetary and deep-sky views. This was the first telescope I made using my own optics. MY 8-INCH TRAVELSCOPE My 8-inch travelscope goes together in about five minutes. The first step is to remove the nested pieces from the case and attach the three legs to the base. The three handknobs used for this operation are the same ones that hold the packed scope together. Next, I place the threeTeflon pads on
HOW TO COLLIMATE AN ASTROSCAN However, things are never exactly perfect, so some fine-tuning of the optical alignment is unavoidable. In the Astroscan that fine tuning is accomplished by adjusting the tilt of the front window by very small amounts, which in turn, adjusts the aim of the secondary mirror and allows for enough adjustment to achieve conditional alignment, that is, alignment that is correct for one focuser UNDERSTANDING BINOCULAR EXIT PUPILS One binocular specification that seems to generate more than its share of contradictory advice is exit-pupil size. I’ve often seen statements to the effect that you should avoid binoculars with smaller exit pupils because the view is “dimmer” than in models having larger exit pupils. But is this actually true, and more importantly, should it Continue reading "Understanding Binocular HOW TO BUILD A CURVED-VANE SECONDARY-MIRROR HOLDER The secondary mirror holder and spider on my 12¾-inch truss-tube Dobsonian is made with scrap wood, a few nuts and bolts, and a stainless-steel ruler. The curved-vane secondary mirror holders I use on almost all my telescopes never fails to excite curiosity. Most people know that the principal benefit of the curved spider is spike-free Continue reading "How To Build A Curved-Vane BUILD A HINGE TRACKER FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This image of the Scorpius Milky Way was captured from Costa Rica with a DSLR camera and the simple hinge tracker mount described here. If you have a DSLR camera and are interested in astronomy, you’ve probably considered dipping a toe into the astrophotography waters. But a camera is only part of the equation — Continue reading "Build a Hinge Tracker for Astrophotography"GARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What You BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" THE TOP 5 COMETS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS Few celestial objects excite the imaginations of stargazers and the general public like a good comet. The recent apparition of Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) prompted me to reflect on the all the comets I’ve been fortunate enough to see in the past 25 years. There have been some stunners, some surprises, and a few that Continue reading "The Top 5 Comets of the Past 25 Years" FIVE REFLECTOR PERFORMANCE KILLERS Based on my years of experience building and using telescopes, here is my take on the five biggest reasons your reflector may be falling short of perfection, listed in order of increasing importance. 5. Obstruction. Much has been written on the subject of GARY’S EASY-GO-ROUND BINOCULAR MOUNT Build this simple device for steady binocular views of the night sky. I love binocular astronomy. At least, that’s my excuse for cluttering the house with a dozen (at last count) of these double-barreled optical wonders. Recently, my collection expanded to include particularly heavy 10×50s and inexpensive 15×70s. For the first time I really felt Continue reading "Gary’s Easy-Go-Round THE BIG RED ONE: MY OPTIMIZED 6-INCH F/9 REFLECTOR The Big Red One: My Optimized 6-inch f/9 Reflector. Attention to detail is what separates a regular Newtonian reflector from one optimized for high-contrast performance. This 6-inch f/9 uses every trick in the ATM’s book to deliver superb planetary and deep-sky views. This was the first telescope I made using my own optics. MY 8-INCH TRAVELSCOPE My 8-inch travelscope goes together in about five minutes. The first step is to remove the nested pieces from the case and attach the three legs to the base. The three handknobs used for this operation are the same ones that hold the packed scope together. Next, I place the threeTeflon pads on
HOW TO COLLIMATE AN ASTROSCAN However, things are never exactly perfect, so some fine-tuning of the optical alignment is unavoidable. In the Astroscan that fine tuning is accomplished by adjusting the tilt of the front window by very small amounts, which in turn, adjusts the aim of the secondary mirror and allows for enough adjustment to achieve conditional alignment, that is, alignment that is correct for one focuser UNDERSTANDING BINOCULAR EXIT PUPILS One binocular specification that seems to generate more than its share of contradictory advice is exit-pupil size. I’ve often seen statements to the effect that you should avoid binoculars with smaller exit pupils because the view is “dimmer” than in models having larger exit pupils. But is this actually true, and more importantly, should it Continue reading "Understanding Binocular HOW TO BUILD A CURVED-VANE SECONDARY-MIRROR HOLDER The secondary mirror holder and spider on my 12¾-inch truss-tube Dobsonian is made with scrap wood, a few nuts and bolts, and a stainless-steel ruler. The curved-vane secondary mirror holders I use on almost all my telescopes never fails to excite curiosity. Most people know that the principal benefit of the curved spider is spike-free Continue reading "How To Build A Curved-Vane BUILD A HINGE TRACKER FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This image of the Scorpius Milky Way was captured from Costa Rica with a DSLR camera and the simple hinge tracker mount described here. If you have a DSLR camera and are interested in astronomy, you’ve probably considered dipping a toe into the astrophotography waters. But a camera is only part of the equation — Continue reading "Build a Hinge Tracker for Astrophotography"GARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouMY FIRST TELESCOPE
And one memory that stands out with crystalline clarity, even now, is my very first look at the Moon through my first telescope. The year was 1971. I’d saved every penny from allowances, my birthday, and Christmas, and eventually amassed the astonishing sum of $100. That was a lot of money for a kid in the early ‘70s. THE BIG RED ONE: MY OPTIMIZED 6-INCH F/9 REFLECTOR The Big Red One: My Optimized 6-inch f/9 Reflector. Attention to detail is what separates a regular Newtonian reflector from one optimized for high-contrast performance. This 6-inch f/9 uses every trick in the ATM’s book to deliver superb planetary and deep-sky views. This was the first telescope I made using my own optics. EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" GARY’S EASY-GO-ROUND BINOCULAR MOUNT Build this simple device for steady binocular views of the night sky. I love binocular astronomy. At least, that’s my excuse for cluttering the house with a dozen (at last count) of these double-barreled optical wonders. Recently, my collection expanded to include particularly heavy 10×50s and inexpensive 15×70s. For the first time I really felt Continue reading "Gary’s Easy-Go-Round TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. A CONVERTED-STARBLAST TRAVELSCOPE This ultraportable telescope is ideal for outings in which stargazing is a “maybe” instead of a “definitely.” Although I have a house full of telescopes, I still find myself dreaming up new ones that would be ideal for this or that situation. But that’s one of the real joys of learning to make telescopes — Continue reading "A Converted-StarBlast Travelscope" MY 8-INCH TRAVELSCOPE My 8-inch travelscope goes together in about five minutes. The first step is to remove the nested pieces from the case and attach the three legs to the base. The three handknobs used for this operation are the same ones that hold the packed scope together. Next, I place the threeTeflon pads on
HOW TO COLLIMATE AN ASTROSCAN Here’s the procedure: 1. First remove the retaining ring that holds the optical window in place. There are two small holes at the ends of the ring which you use to engage your tool and squeeze the ends of the ring together. The spring isn’t terribly strong, so not a lot of force is needed to remove it. 2. HOW TO BUILD A CURVED-VANE SECONDARY-MIRROR HOLDER The secondary mirror holder and spider on my 12¾-inch truss-tube Dobsonian is made with scrap wood, a few nuts and bolts, and a stainless-steel ruler. The curved-vane secondary mirror holders I use on almost all my telescopes never fails to excite curiosity. Most people know that the principal benefit of the curved spider is spike-free Continue reading "How To Build A Curved-Vane A SIMPLE DOUBLE-PLATE MIRROR CELL FOR YOUR The key to the double-plate mirror cell is the center pivot. Use an acorn nut bearing against a fender washer for this purpose. To complete the mirror plate, attach three angle brackets from the underside so that there is about a ⅛-inch gap between the bracket and the edge of the mirror.GARY SERONIK
Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION I’ve been building and using telescopes for more than three decades and I’ll share with you a secret: collimating a Newtonian reflector is easy. So why does it seem so difficult when you’re just starting out? Probably because you’ve done your homework by Googling the subject and have read and re-read everything you’ve found. And Continue reading "A Beginner’s Guide to Collimation" CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR There’s no getting around the fact that collimating your reflector telescope (Dobsonian or otherwise) is much easier when the centre of the primary mirror is marked with a paper doughnut. Thankfully, these days a good number of commercially made telescopes come with their mirrors pre-marked. But if your scope isn’t so equipped, don’t worry — Continue reading "Centre-Dotting Your MY 8-INCH TRAVELSCOPE Have scope, will travel! This Dobsonian not only gives great views, it also fits into an airplane’s overhead storage compartment. One of the best reasons for learning to build telescopes is that you can make instruments that perfectly match a particular observing need or circumstance. As an editor at Sky & Telescope, my “circumstance” happily Continue reading "My 8-inch Travelscope" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. But for others, Continue reading "Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy?" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION I’ve been building and using telescopes for more than three decades and I’ll share with you a secret: collimating a Newtonian reflector is easy. So why does it seem so difficult when you’re just starting out? Probably because you’ve done your homework by Googling the subject and have read and re-read everything you’ve found. And Continue reading "A Beginner’s Guide to Collimation" CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR There’s no getting around the fact that collimating your reflector telescope (Dobsonian or otherwise) is much easier when the centre of the primary mirror is marked with a paper doughnut. Thankfully, these days a good number of commercially made telescopes come with their mirrors pre-marked. But if your scope isn’t so equipped, don’t worry — Continue reading "Centre-Dotting Your MY 8-INCH TRAVELSCOPE Have scope, will travel! This Dobsonian not only gives great views, it also fits into an airplane’s overhead storage compartment. One of the best reasons for learning to build telescopes is that you can make instruments that perfectly match a particular observing need or circumstance. As an editor at Sky & Telescope, my “circumstance” happily Continue reading "My 8-inch Travelscope" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. But for others, Continue reading "Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy?" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Binocular stargazing is full of surprises. Sometimes you stumble across a pretty cluster and wonder how you’d previously missed it. Other times, you hunt and hunt for a galaxy listed at 8th magnitude, only to come up empty handed. BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" THE BIG RED ONE: MY OPTIMIZED 6-INCH F/9 REFLECTOR Attention to detail is what separates a regular Newtonian reflector from one optimized for high-contrast performance. This 6-inch f/9 uses every trick in the ATM’s book to deliver superb planetary and deep-sky views. This was the first telescope I made using my own optics. Like most telescope makers, I got started the easy way, by Continue reading "The Big Red One: My Optimized 6-inch f A CONVERTED-STARBLAST TRAVELSCOPE This ultraportable telescope is ideal for outings in which stargazing is a “maybe” instead of a “definitely.” Although I have a house full of telescopes, I still find myself dreaming up new ones that would be ideal for this or that situation. But that’s one of the real joys of learning to make telescopes — Continue reading "A Converted-StarBlast Travelscope" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What You NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" FIVE REFLECTOR PERFORMANCE KILLERS The Newtonian reflector is one of the most versatile optical configurations ever created. Whether homebuilt or commercially manufactured, a good Newtonian can rival the BINOCULAR HIGHLIGHTS 2ND EDITION NOW AVAILABLE Sky&Telescope has just released a new, slightly expanded edition of my book, Binocular Highlights. The original had been out for ten years and sold very well, so instead of simply doing another print run, they opted for a new edition. I was happy to help out and select ten new “highlights” for inclusion. For those Continue reading "Binocular Highlights 2nd Edition Now Available" HOW TO BUILD A CURVED-VANE SECONDARY-MIRROR HOLDER The secondary mirror holder and spider on my 12¾-inch truss-tube Dobsonian is made with scrap wood, a few nuts and bolts, and a stainless-steel ruler. The curved-vane secondary mirror holders I use on almost all my telescopes never fails to excite curiosity. Most people know that the principal benefit of the curved spider is spike-free Continue reading "How To Build A Curved-Vane HOW TO COLLIMATE AN ASTROSCAN However, things are never exactly perfect, so some fine-tuning of the optical alignment is unavoidable. In the Astroscan that fine tuning is accomplished by adjusting the tilt of the front window by very small amounts, which in turn, adjusts the aim of the secondary mirror and allows for enough adjustment to achieve conditional alignment, that is, alignment that is correct for one focuserGARY SERONIK
Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time inGARY SERONIK
Binocular stargazing is full of surprises. Sometimes you stumble across a pretty cluster and wonder how you’d previously missed it. Other times, you hunt and hunt for a galaxy listed at 8th magnitude, only to come up empty handed. A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION I’ve been building and using telescopes for more than three decades and I’ll share with you a secret: collimating a Newtonian reflector is easy. So why does it seem so difficult when you’re just starting out? Probably because you’ve done your homework by Googling the subject and have read and re-read everything you’ve found. And Continue reading "A Beginner’s Guide to Collimation" A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR There’s no getting around the fact that collimating your reflector telescope (Dobsonian or otherwise) is much easier when the centre of the primary mirror is marked with a paper doughnut. Thankfully, these days a good number of commercially made telescopes come with their mirrors pre-marked. But if your scope isn’t so equipped, don’t worry — Continue reading "Centre-Dotting Your BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. But for others, Continue reading "Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy?" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What You GARY’S EASY-GO-ROUND BINOCULAR MOUNT Build this simple device for steady binocular views of the night sky. I love binocular astronomy. At least, that’s my excuse for cluttering the house with a dozen (at last count) of these double-barreled optical wonders. Recently, my collection expanded to include particularly heavy 10×50s and inexpensive 15×70s. For the first time I really felt Continue reading "Gary’s Easy-Go-Round TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. But for others, Continue reading "Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy?" BINOCULAR HIGHLIGHTS 2ND EDITION NOW AVAILABLE Sky&Telescope has just released a new, slightly expanded edition of my book, Binocular Highlights. The original had been out for ten years and sold very well, so instead of simply doing another print run, they opted for a new edition. I was happy to help out and select ten new “highlights” for inclusion. For those Continue reading "Binocular Highlights 2nd Edition Now Available" A CONVERTED-STARBLAST TRAVELSCOPE This ultraportable telescope is ideal for outings in which stargazing is a “maybe” instead of a “definitely.” Although I have a house full of telescopes, I still find myself dreaming up new ones that would be ideal for this or that situation. But that’s one of the real joys of learning to make telescopes — Continue reading "A Converted-StarBlast Travelscope"RATING BINOCULARS
A bewildering assortment of binoculars awaits at your local camera store. But when it comes to stargazing, some binos are better than others. Binoculars come in a dazzling variety of magnifications and sizes. Many stargazers recommend 10×50s — binoculars that magnify 10× and have 50-millimeter-diameter objective lenses. A trip to your local camera store will Continue reading NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" FIVE REFLECTOR PERFORMANCE KILLERS The Newtonian reflector is one of the most versatile optical configurations ever created. Whether homebuilt or commercially manufactured, a good Newtonian can rival the GETTING THE MOST FROM ASTRO BINOCULARS Binocular stargazing is full of surprises. Sometimes you stumble across a pretty cluster and wonder how you’d previously missed it. Other times, you hunt and hunt for a galaxy listed at 8th magnitude, only to come up empty handed. It’s enough to make you wonder — what makes one object a binocular standout and another Continue reading "Getting the Most From Astro Binoculars" HOW TO COLLIMATE AN ASTROSCAN However, things are never exactly perfect, so some fine-tuning of the optical alignment is unavoidable. In the Astroscan that fine tuning is accomplished by adjusting the tilt of the front window by very small amounts, which in turn, adjusts the aim of the secondary mirror and allows for enough adjustment to achieve conditional alignment, that is, alignment that is correct for one focuser REVIEW: CANON 10×30 IS II IMAGE-STABILIZED BINOCULARS Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time inGARY SERONIK
Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version IIGARY SERONIK
The Moon approaches first-quarter phase in a deep blue twilight sky. When the Moon is nearly at first-quarter phase, the terminator sweeps across some of the most unusual lunar terrain. Aim your telescope toward the region lying between little Mare Vaporum, and the expanse of Mare Tranquillitatis. There you’ll find oddly furrowed featuresand
CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR Step #3: Dot the centre of the mirror. Gently lay the paper circle onto the face of the primary mirror so that its edge aligns with that of the mirror. Using a fine-tip permanent marker, make a mark on the mirror’s centre. Step #4: Add the “doughnut.”. This step is necessary because seeing a tiny dot while looking in your scope’s A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION Just kidding! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. Collimation is a 3-step process. Step #1 is to roughly align the primary mirror. Step #2 is to position the secondary mirror. Finally, step #3 is to fine-tune the alignment of the primary. Most nights, step #3 is the only one you’ll have to perform. BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What YouGARY SERONIK
Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time inGARY SERONIK
Binocular stargazing is full of surprises. Sometimes you stumble across a pretty cluster and wonder how you’d previously missed it. Other times, you hunt and hunt for a galaxy listed at 8th magnitude, only to come up empty handed. A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLIMATION I’ve been building and using telescopes for more than three decades and I’ll share with you a secret: collimating a Newtonian reflector is easy. So why does it seem so difficult when you’re just starting out? Probably because you’ve done your homework by Googling the subject and have read and re-read everything you’ve found. And Continue reading "A Beginner’s Guide to Collimation" A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography. Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of CENTRE-DOTTING YOUR SCOPE'S PRIMARY MIRROR There’s no getting around the fact that collimating your reflector telescope (Dobsonian or otherwise) is much easier when the centre of the primary mirror is marked with a paper doughnut. Thankfully, these days a good number of commercially made telescopes come with their mirrors pre-marked. But if your scope isn’t so equipped, don’t worry — Continue reading "Centre-Dotting Your BINOCULARS BY THE NUMBERS Choosing binoculars is easy once you understand the specs. Shopping for binoculars at your local camera store or on-line can be a bewildering experience. And if stargazing is your goal, the task becomes even more confusing — there are so many factors to consider and so many (often contradictory) opinions about what matters and what Continue reading "Binoculars By The Numbers" EXPLORING LOW-POWER LIMITS Low-magnification views of the night sky can be breathtaking. It’s only with low power that we can fully appreciate the splendor of the Pleiades, the foggy expanse of the Andromeda Galaxy, or the wispy filaments of the Veil Nebula. But if discussions on internet forums are anything to go by, there’s a lot of confusion Continue reading "Exploring Low-Power Limits" TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. But for others, Continue reading "Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy?" SIZING UP THE NEWTONIAN SECONDARY The Newtonian reflector has many strengths, not the least of which is that it consists of just two elements: a precisely shaped paraboloidal primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. Yet for all its intrinsic simplicity, confusion abounds when it comes to the optimum size of the diagonal. Many amateurs, and apparently even some Continue reading "Sizing Up the Newtonian Secondary" COLLIMATION TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON'T Aligning the optics of your reflector telescope is crucial for optimal performance — all the more so if you have a telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 or less. A good tool can make the difference between successful collimation, and an exercise in frustration that encourages you to settle for “good enough.” But selecting Continue reading "Collimation Tools: What You Need and What You GARY’S EASY-GO-ROUND BINOCULAR MOUNT Build this simple device for steady binocular views of the night sky. I love binocular astronomy. At least, that’s my excuse for cluttering the house with a dozen (at last count) of these double-barreled optical wonders. Recently, my collection expanded to include particularly heavy 10×50s and inexpensive 15×70s. For the first time I really felt Continue reading "Gary’s Easy-Go-Round TELESCOPE ECONOMICS: TO BUILD OR TO BUY? I built my 12.75-inch Dob for less than $700 — much less than a comparable commercially made scope would have cost. But is making your own scope always a money saving proposition? That’s what inquireing minds (canine or otherwise) want to know. For diehard ATMs, building telescopes is a way of life. But for others, Continue reading "Telescope Economics: To Build or To Buy?" BINOCULAR HIGHLIGHTS 2ND EDITION NOW AVAILABLE Sky&Telescope has just released a new, slightly expanded edition of my book, Binocular Highlights. The original had been out for ten years and sold very well, so instead of simply doing another print run, they opted for a new edition. I was happy to help out and select ten new “highlights” for inclusion. For those Continue reading "Binocular Highlights 2nd Edition Now Available" A CONVERTED-STARBLAST TRAVELSCOPE This ultraportable telescope is ideal for outings in which stargazing is a “maybe” instead of a “definitely.” Although I have a house full of telescopes, I still find myself dreaming up new ones that would be ideal for this or that situation. But that’s one of the real joys of learning to make telescopes — Continue reading "A Converted-StarBlast Travelscope"RATING BINOCULARS
A bewildering assortment of binoculars awaits at your local camera store. But when it comes to stargazing, some binos are better than others. Binoculars come in a dazzling variety of magnifications and sizes. Many stargazers recommend 10×50s — binoculars that magnify 10× and have 50-millimeter-diameter objective lenses. A trip to your local camera store will Continue reading NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION For optimum performance, precisely aligned optics are a must. Luckily, achieving this goal doesn’t have to be difficult. Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require Continue reading "No-Tools Telescope Collimation" FIVE REFLECTOR PERFORMANCE KILLERS The Newtonian reflector is one of the most versatile optical configurations ever created. Whether homebuilt or commercially manufactured, a good Newtonian can rival the GETTING THE MOST FROM ASTRO BINOCULARS Binocular stargazing is full of surprises. Sometimes you stumble across a pretty cluster and wonder how you’d previously missed it. Other times, you hunt and hunt for a galaxy listed at 8th magnitude, only to come up empty handed. It’s enough to make you wonder — what makes one object a binocular standout and another Continue reading "Getting the Most From Astro Binoculars" HOW TO COLLIMATE AN ASTROSCAN However, things are never exactly perfect, so some fine-tuning of the optical alignment is unavoidable. In the Astroscan that fine tuning is accomplished by adjusting the tilt of the front window by very small amounts, which in turn, adjusts the aim of the secondary mirror and allows for enough adjustment to achieve conditional alignment, that is, alignment that is correct for one focuser REVIEW: CANON 10×30 IS II IMAGE-STABILIZED BINOCULARS Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time inSkip to content
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DIVING INTO THE MOON’S BAY OF RAINBOWSThe
Sinus Iridum “Golden Handle.” North is up and east is to the right (keeping in mind east and west on the Moon’s surface are oppositesky directions).
Gary Seronik
As mentioned below
, most of
my writing these days is for _Sky & Telescope_. I have a new item up on the magazine’s web site, which you can read by clicking here.
Enjoy!
_Gary_
Author Gary Seronik Posted on March 3, 2020March 3, 2020Categories
Viewing the Moon
EXPLORE THE WINTER HEXAGONM35
and NGC 2158.
I’ve posted this item on the _Sky & Telescope_ web site. You can read it by clicking here clicking here.
Author Gary Seronik Posted on February 19, 2020March 3, 2020Categories
Binocular Stargazing WINTER’S HIGH MOONI’ve
posted this item on the _Sky & Telescope_ web site. You can read itby clicking here
.
Author Gary Seronik Posted on February 6, 2020February 19, 2020 Categories Viewing theMoon
A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT GARYSERONIK.COM_It’s
been a busy autumn, full of transition and change for me—the effects of which will become subtly apparent here at GarySeronik.com. Most notably (and happily!) I’m once again with _Sky&Telescope_ magazine, this time as a consulting editor. (Those familiar with my bio will recall I was previously an associate editor there.) As a result, it’s likely this site will see less frequent updates. I’ll still post here as the urge strikes and time allows, but most of my writing will end up in the pages of _S&T_._ _Hope to see you there!__Gary_
Author Gary Seronik Posted on December 1, 2019December 6, 2019Categories
Odds and Sods
REVIEW: CANON’S IMAGE-STABILIZED BINOCULARS Over the years I’ve tested virtually every affordable image-stabilized binocular on the market for reviews appearing in _Sky & Telescope_ magazine. Canon is the clear leader where astronomy isconcerned.
Continue reading “Review: Canon’s Image-Stabilized Binoculars” Author Gary Seronik Posted on November 24, 2014January 12, 2020Categories
Binocular Stargazing BINOCULAR HIGHLIGHTS 2ND EDITION NOW AVAILABLE_
Sky&Telescope_
has just released a new, slightly expanded edition of my book, BINOCULAR HIGHLIGHTS. The original had been out for ten years and sold very well, so instead of simply doing another print run, they opted for a new edition. I was happy to help out and select ten new “highlights” for inclusion. Continue reading “Binocular Highlights 2nd Edition Now Available” Author Gary Seronik Posted on January 21, 2018December 28, 2019Categories
Binocular Stargazing REVIEW: CANON 10×30 IS II IMAGE-STABILIZED BINOCULARS Canon’s updated 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars remain a fine choice for stargazers and birders. Canon recently refreshed their line up of image-stabilized binoculars with new versions of their venerable 10×30 and 12×36 models. (They’ve also released three completely new binoculars utilizing a different image-stabilization mechanism: 10×32, 12×32, and 14×32, due out some time in November, 2017.) The 12×36s go from version II (reviewed here)
to III, and the 10×30s are updated to version II. What are the differences and are the changes a reason to upgrade? To find out, I obtained a 10×30 IS II to evaluate. Continue reading “Review: Canon 10×30 IS II Image-Stabilized Binoculars” Author Gary Seronik Posted on October 15, 2017January 11, 2020Categories
Binocular Stargazing A TRACKING PLATFORM FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY _This simple, easy-to-build mount provides the perfect introduction to long-exposure astrophotography._
Round stars. That’s the difference between astrophotos captured with a camera that tracks the sky’s motion versus one that doesn’t. Traditionally you’d make a tracked photo by placing your camera piggyback on a telescope with a motorized equatorial mount. But that’s a lot of equipment to deal with if all you want are some nice-looking constellation portraits or a shot of a newly discovered comet — especially if you have to travel to reach your favorite dark-sky destination. Continue reading “A Tracking Platform for Astrophotography” Author Gary Seronik Posted on September 3, 2015January 11, 2020Categories
Telescope Making
NO-TOOLS TELESCOPE COLLIMATION _FOR OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE, PRECISELY ALIGNED OPTICS ARE A MUST. LUCKILY, ACHIEVING THIS GOAL DOESN’T HAVE TO BE DIFFICULT. _ Most telescope users know that the only way to get every last drop of performance from a reflector telescope is to ensure that the optics are in good collimation. Here’s a method that’s simple and doesn’t require tools or even a centre-dotted primary mirror. Continue reading “No-Tools Telescope Collimation” Author Gary Seronik Posted on April 21, 2014January 11, 2020Categories
Telescope Making
FIVE REFLECTOR PERFORMANCE KILLERS _ THE NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR IS ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE OPTICAL CONFIGURATIONS EVER CREATED. WHETHER HOMEBUILT OR COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED, A GOOD NEWTONIAN CAN RIVAL THE PERFORMANCE OF ANYOPTICAL DESIGN._
Knowledge is power. The more you know about your Newtonian reflector’s potential and its pitfalls, the better equipped you’ll be to ensure it’s delivering peak performance. Continue reading “Five Reflector Performance Killers” Author Gary Seronik Posted on October 26, 2014January 11, 2020Categories
Telescope Making
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