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Cool! Thanks, much, Sleeping! Which reminds me…I work tonight and should be sleeping myself (at this point–it’ll be a catnap.) But new toys are so fun…

Checked most of the stuff. Scales are photo related, and not worth much (more than I paid, however). I think I have a spool of 35mm film lying around (expired, of course) so I might play with the better Argus just to see. I’ll figure out a way to make use of the rest. And I still love the mechanical timer, even though it’s maybe worth $20. Worse comes to worse, the lens in the candle-projector thingiemabob is worth more than I paid for the whole lot. 🙂

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Sleeping; from what I’m gathering, the projector may have been a candlelight projector. My main problem is Henderson-Ames made military costume stuff–sifting around it is a chore. But one auction site mentioned a ‘Henderson-Ames’ candlelight projector. I did a little work on my end; it does project an image, and it can be focused (though vs. a 100 watt bulb, I can’t see how useful it would be. The lens itself, in much finer condition than mine, sold for $200 on ebay; one more comparable for $149. The company, A. Darlot, was bought out in 1923, so it’s definitely an antique. Given it’s still got a lens cap, and it’s attached to the product it came with, it might be worth more. Damn if antique roadshow didn’t visit earlier this year!

The green window is so dark–can’t imagine seeing through it to a film number–but I’ll take your word for it.

Any idea on the age of the Argus-es? There are a few set screws; I presume that’s how to change the lenses back in the day, perhaps?
Thanks for the info!! 😛

p.s.; yep, one of them set screws allows the lens to screw right off…

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Best of experiences, CD.

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I forgot the caption on Am Gothic; had to add it down the line. *whoops*

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I really liked that one, it’s both novel in content and perspective.

+1 (when the plussing of ones is allowed)

…and the votes shall be ‘two’. 😀

I thought of, and took pictures of, more traditional stuff (USS Az memorial, Hunt’s Tomb, Tovrea Castle, etc), but in the end, figured caradoc would blow me away on those so opted for lesser-known stuff. The Gothic statues are cool; right at Main/Center in mesa, 35 feetish tall.

Shot with Tung setting because I didn’t like the harsh reds otherwise.

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Arizona sucks for monuments. Just saying. I don’t expect many votes, except maybe for the American Gothic statue (and probably not there much, either).

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Pick a Saturday night, and we’ll go. We should have reasonably clear weather for the next three weeks or so. I’m thinking a bit east of Tortilla Flat. Not much out there – not even drug mules.

I can do the 26th of this month or the 10th of July. Either or. Won’t be quite as dark as Hawaii, but for proximity purposes–it’ll do (esp. for the north and eastern skies; and maybe southern.)

6/26 better for McNaught, though depending on the nountain view, it may not be up before twilight breaks.

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I imagine, NBD, that with a camera actually hooked onto the lens, I could do better. The image was taken at f5.6 1/60 second, but just held up to the 18mm lens, and focusing the camera to the image in the scope was no mean feat. Direct focusing would have been better, though the magnification would have only been 45x. Still, 45x makes Jupiter as big as the biggest full moon. This shot is from 4 miles away (give or take 1/2) a bit. Here’s a ‘web’ sized image that gives the scale pretty well.

http://www.fossilspringsaz.com/pics/2010/jun/16/mapweb.jpg

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orionid; GREAT shot of the Milky Way core! M7 really stands out; I’d imagine that’s Jupiter riding above Sagittarius? If so, then it was taken first half of September, 2008? (acutally, betting on August 29th 2008).

What I wouldn’t give for dark skies and 300mb of air pressure pushing down on me.

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Full resolution sample images or it didn’t happen.

Currently, my t-adapter ring is with the telescope, 20 miles away at my parents home (much darker skies, no point using a telescope in downtown Phx. I am working the next 4 nights, 12 hours each–and just got off a 12 shift, as well, so I won’t be out to the folks before Sunday) If you’d like a picture taken through the 18mm kellner lens, that has been arranged.

The picture linked was shot with the 1000mm, using a 18mm lens, for a total mag. of 55.56 (rounded). The camera I held up to it was my xTi (sensor diameter 22mm), using an effective 40mm lens (80mm halved via the ‘macro’ who’s cover I modified to allow me to view through telescope lenses more easily), effective magnification of the set of 1.8, for a grand total of about 100x (I think; anyone can contest my math as I’m not sure camera magnifications are the same as telescopes)

Shot in haste, no editing, no bracketing, quick and dirty; sorry!

Original CR2 canon image (inverted and reversed, of course):

http://www.fossilspringsaz.com/pics/2010/jun/16/IMG_7858.CR2

For comparison, same shot just through the camera; the notch in the mtn most centered in the frame is what’s in my telephoto shot:

And the original of that:

http://www.fossilspringsaz.com/pics/2010/jun/16/IMG_7859.CR2

Feel free to count the pixels, view the exif info, whatever.

And if you can’t right-click-and-save-as, send me an email address that will take 2 10.9 meg files.

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I was thinking of this (posting additional pictures) as well. I was planning on linking to the ‘bigguns’ picture, and there linking to a ad-hoc page with other views and signage. I’ll await further arguments here before doing anything, I guess.

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I will admit that 7.62x39mm and .38+p are two of my favorite friends to take with me, though.

Say the word, and if you’ll bring your two friends along, I’m there. I’ll be bidding for OT for July this week, my ‘natural’ nights off are Sunday through Tuesday, and every other Saturday. I’ll leave something open if you say so.

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I’ve also been toying with some ideas for this years persieds and think I have a good plan of attack come August.

Every year when the Persieds are here, we’re stuck with monsoons. But should I luck out, I’ll be trying it out in the desert, if I can find a spot where I can trust I won’t get shot for some punk who wants to hock my scope for a hit of crystal meth. The scope makes a nice piggyback mount for long-exposure star fields through a more reasonable sized lens.

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Yep, manual only. I don’t plan on capturing moving subjects or such, just stills. Wildlife, perhaps, if it will keep from moving, long enough to capture it at least.

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Soosh, I envy your Alaskan skies; seriously. The November Leonid meteors are probably your best bet to better your already good shots (17th ish). While fewer in number, they can be brilliant, and given the time exposure, ‘brilliance’ is needed to make them stand out against the stars.

It’s too bad you can’t get the August Perseids (I don’t think) due to the light; they are, usually, the best show, ‘by the numbers’ (ahem). But the Leonids have very bright ones, and many leave a vapor trail in the air as well.

The best I’ve ever seen, from the Orionid showers (no relation to ours, and certainly not in a drain-baby way), was from the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon when I was 11. Left a nice trail visible for several minutes (also no relation to ours, and certainly not in a drain baby way). Next best was just after my battery died in my camera, from the bar where I hang out (I was there shooting the patio); it left a trail, too, must have been outstanding from an area darker than Phoenix, but missed either way due to dead battery. It was only 8ish pm, and due to no known meteor shower that I’m aware of. But sometimes these things happen.

Captured on film: 0.

But one day, perhaps.

It must be nice having glacial mountains to use as a backdrop!

How long are your exposures? There’s very little star movement in them. For that kind of starfield, I have to expose for at least a minute at 800 ISO, and by then, stars are just streaks in the sky (unless I piggy back on my scope, of course, then I can go much longer.)

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