Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse
It's a much better image than the best view I was able to see. Looks kind of like Schiaparelli's Martian "canals". On 9/27/2015 11:44 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: I went out to try to shoot the Super Moon/Eclipse and I've given up on the photography at least. Not a total bust, but there seem to be high clouds obscuring any detail. I tried to use the SMC Pentax M*300mm f4.0, my copy of which is a bit sharper than the A*300 I also have was also a bust. coupled with the 1.7x AF adapter the camera thought the moon should be in focus but they all looked like the image I'm going to post just because I tried. It's not good, but I did make the attempt. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1604247/PESO/PESO%20--%20superbloodmoon.html Equipment: Pentax K-5II w/vmc Vivitar Series 1 600mm Solid Catadioptric f8.0 and smc Pentax F 1.7x AF Adapter. Note: There was so little light the K-5II just simply refused to try to focus with the AF adapter and the Solid Cat lens mounted, I had to force it to focus to infinity with a different lens then mount the camera onto the Solid cat which was mounted on the tripod. Lest anyone thing this might be the reason for the bad focus, every shot with every lens combination whether manual or auto focused looked pretty much like the one posted, just smaller on the frame. I do kind of like it as an abstract, but I really wish that I had captured more detail. On 9/22/2015 3:18 PM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: From an email I received this afternoon: Total Lunar Eclipse! On the evening of September 27th, skywatchers throughout North America will be treated to one of nature’s grandest celestial sky shows – a total eclipse of the Moon. And unlike the one in April which occurred in the early predawn hours, this one will happen during convenient evening ones. This cosmic spectacular begins with the full Moon entering the Earth’s dark inner shadow (the “umbra”) at 9:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and continuing to become ever-more fully immersed in it for the next hour. Totality itself will start at 10:11 p.m. EDT and last more than an hour until 11:23 EDT, after which the Moon begins to slowly emerge from the cone of darkness in reverse order. Adding to the beauty of the overall scene at this eclipse (especially during totality itself, while the sky is dark), the Moon will be accompanied by some of the early rising bright winter stars. (Use your Scientifics’ Star and Planet Locator to identify them) There are several interesting things to notice as you watch this event unfold. Most obvious are the darkness of the eclipsed Moon and the range of colors displayed, both of which vary from one eclipse to another. These depend on the clarity of the Earth’s atmosphere at the time, which refracts or bends sunlight around into the umbral shadow. There have actually been eclipses so dark that the Moon remained all-but invisible during totality — and ones so pale that you had to look carefully to see that there was even an eclipse in progress! Among the colors that have been seen are shades of reddish-orange, brown, copper, rose, and even blood-red. Notice, too, that the Earth’s shadow is curved at all phases of the eclipse, as the Moon passes through it. This is direct proof that the Earth itself is round — something recognized by many early skywatchers. And finally, realize that you’re actually seeing our lovely satellite move eastward in its orbit — as it first passes into, through, and then out of the shadow at roughly its own diameter each hour. While lunar eclipses can certainly be enjoyed with the unaided eye alone (as they have been throughout most of history!), they are best-seen in binoculars. An ideal pair for this would be a 7×50 or 10×50 glass, the first number indicating its magnification and the second the aperture in millimeters. Telescopes themselves, with their relatively narrow fields of view, typically don’t provide enough sky coverage around the Moon to get the full effect of its globe being suspended in space. An exception here, however, is Scientifics’ amazing Astroscan wide-field reflecting telescope. Providing a 3-degree actual field of view at it low magnification of 16x, it takes in an astounding six full-Moon-diameters of sky — something many have described as looking through the porthole of a spaceship! —James Mullaney Former assistant editor at Sky & Telescope magazine and author of 10 books on stargazing. Dan Matyola http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola -- Science - Questions we may never find answers for. Religion - Answers we must never question. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse
I went to bed at my usual 8:00 PM and left the shooting up to you young folks. I may try it in 2033. ;o) J - Original Message - From: "ann sanfedele" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 6:37:56 AM Subject: Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse ActuallY I saw it for about 45 minutes ... but no colors.. up to where it became a very thin ")" - I did make anattempt with the 55-300 but using my dressmaker dummy as a tripod and I'msure all I got ws a fuzzy cresent .. then the clouds rolled in.. saw a faint glimmer of reddish color around 11 but no shape.. but on the local news this morning I saw some neat shots locals got from different vantage points than mine... although not far - I probably should have stayed by the bedroomwindow - wasn't up to going to the roof it gets a little difficult to navigate for me these days. Bummer... I saw the last oneat least. 18 years... to the next one.. if I get to 96 I'll probably need someone to hold my head up ann On 9/28/2015 1:02 AM, Knarf wrote: > I walked along the lake for about a 1/2 hour, hoping the light clouds would > lift, but they didn't. Gave up, went home. About midnight I brought the > garbage out and there it was: about 1/4 obscured by the earth's shadow. > > Quite spectacular! > > Like Ann, I don't have the equipment to do anything about it, but at least I > saw it. 'T'was pretty cool. > > And earlier, after a significant dry spell, I got a few okay street shots > today. Can't wait to look at them on a big monitor and process a few... > > Cheers, > > frank > > On 27 September, 2015 11:59:12 PM EDT, ann sanfedele > wrote: >> LOvely to get to see the colors - glad you and Paul got us something >> anyway... >> >> ann >> >> On 9/27/2015 11:44 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: >>> I went out to try to shoot the Super Moon/Eclipse and I've given up >> on >>> the photography at least. Not a total bust, but there seem to be >> high >>> clouds obscuring any detail. I tried to use the SMC Pentax M*300mm >>> f4.0, my copy of which is a bit sharper than the A*300 I also have >> was >>> also a bust. coupled with the 1.7x AF adapter the camera thought the >>> moon should be in focus but they all looked like the image I'm going >>> to post just because I tried. It's not good, but I did make the >> attempt. >>> >> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1604247/PESO/PESO%20--%20superbloodmoon.html >> >>> >>> Equipment: Pentax K-5II w/vmc Vivitar Series 1 600mm Solid >>> Catadioptric f8.0 and smc Pentax F 1.7x AF Adapter. >>> >>> Note: There was so little light the K-5II just simply refused to try >>> to focus with the AF adapter and the Solid Cat lens mounted, I had to >>> force it to focus to infinity with a different lens then mount the >>> camera onto the Solid cat which was mounted on the tripod. Lest >>> anyone thing this might be the reason for the bad focus, every shot >>> with every lens combination whether manual or auto focused looked >>> pretty much like the one posted, just smaller on the frame. I do >> kind >>> of like it as an abstract, but I really wish that I had captured more >>> detail. >>> >>> >>> >>> On 9/22/2015 3:18 PM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: >>>> From an email I received this afternoon: >>>> >>>> >>>> Total Lunar Eclipse! >>>> >>>> On the evening of September 27th, skywatchers throughout North >> America >>>> will be treated to one of nature’s grandest celestial sky shows – a >>>> total eclipse of the Moon. And unlike the one in April which >> occurred >>>> in the early predawn hours, this one will happen during convenient >>>> evening ones. >>>> >>>> This cosmic spectacular begins with the full Moon entering the >> Earth’s >>>> dark inner shadow (the “umbra”) at 9:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time >> and >>>> continuing to become ever-more fully immersed in it for the next >> hour. >>>> Totality itself will start at 10:11 p.m. EDT and last more than an >>>> hour until 11:23 EDT, after which the Moon begins to slowly emerge >>>> from the cone of darkness in reverse order. Adding to the beauty of >>>> the overall scene at this eclipse (especially during totality >> itself, >>>> while the sky is dark), the Moon will be accompanied by some of the >>>> early rising bright wint
Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse
ActuallY I saw it for about 45 minutes ... but no colors.. up to where it became a very thin ")" - I did make anattempt with the 55-300 but using my dressmaker dummy as a tripod and I'msure all I got ws a fuzzy cresent .. then the clouds rolled in.. saw a faint glimmer of reddish color around 11 but no shape.. but on the local news this morning I saw some neat shots locals got from different vantage points than mine... although not far - I probably should have stayed by the bedroomwindow - wasn't up to going to the roof it gets a little difficult to navigate for me these days. Bummer... I saw the last oneat least. 18 years... to the next one.. if I get to 96 I'll probably need someone to hold my head up ann On 9/28/2015 1:02 AM, Knarf wrote: I walked along the lake for about a 1/2 hour, hoping the light clouds would lift, but they didn't. Gave up, went home. About midnight I brought the garbage out and there it was: about 1/4 obscured by the earth's shadow. Quite spectacular! Like Ann, I don't have the equipment to do anything about it, but at least I saw it. 'T'was pretty cool. And earlier, after a significant dry spell, I got a few okay street shots today. Can't wait to look at them on a big monitor and process a few... Cheers, frank On 27 September, 2015 11:59:12 PM EDT, ann sanfedele wrote: LOvely to get to see the colors - glad you and Paul got us something anyway... ann On 9/27/2015 11:44 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: I went out to try to shoot the Super Moon/Eclipse and I've given up on the photography at least. Not a total bust, but there seem to be high clouds obscuring any detail. I tried to use the SMC Pentax M*300mm f4.0, my copy of which is a bit sharper than the A*300 I also have was also a bust. coupled with the 1.7x AF adapter the camera thought the moon should be in focus but they all looked like the image I'm going to post just because I tried. It's not good, but I did make the attempt. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1604247/PESO/PESO%20--%20superbloodmoon.html Equipment: Pentax K-5II w/vmc Vivitar Series 1 600mm Solid Catadioptric f8.0 and smc Pentax F 1.7x AF Adapter. Note: There was so little light the K-5II just simply refused to try to focus with the AF adapter and the Solid Cat lens mounted, I had to force it to focus to infinity with a different lens then mount the camera onto the Solid cat which was mounted on the tripod. Lest anyone thing this might be the reason for the bad focus, every shot with every lens combination whether manual or auto focused looked pretty much like the one posted, just smaller on the frame. I do kind of like it as an abstract, but I really wish that I had captured more detail. On 9/22/2015 3:18 PM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: From an email I received this afternoon: Total Lunar Eclipse! On the evening of September 27th, skywatchers throughout North America will be treated to one of nature’s grandest celestial sky shows – a total eclipse of the Moon. And unlike the one in April which occurred in the early predawn hours, this one will happen during convenient evening ones. This cosmic spectacular begins with the full Moon entering the Earth’s dark inner shadow (the “umbra”) at 9:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and continuing to become ever-more fully immersed in it for the next hour. Totality itself will start at 10:11 p.m. EDT and last more than an hour until 11:23 EDT, after which the Moon begins to slowly emerge from the cone of darkness in reverse order. Adding to the beauty of the overall scene at this eclipse (especially during totality itself, while the sky is dark), the Moon will be accompanied by some of the early rising bright winter stars. (Use your Scientifics’ Star and Planet Locator to identify them) There are several interesting things to notice as you watch this event unfold. Most obvious are the darkness of the eclipsed Moon and the range of colors displayed, both of which vary from one eclipse to another. These depend on the clarity of the Earth’s atmosphere at the time, which refracts or bends sunlight around into the umbral shadow. There have actually been eclipses so dark that the Moon remained all-but invisible during totality — and ones so pale that you had to look carefully to see that there was even an eclipse in progress! Among the colors that have been seen are shades of reddish-orange, brown, copper, rose, and even blood-red. Notice, too, that the Earth’s shadow is curved at all phases of the eclipse, as the Moon passes through it. This is direct proof that the Earth itself is round — something recognized by many early skywatchers. And finally, realize that you’re actually seeing our lovely satellite move eastward in its orbit — as it first passes into, through, and then out of the shadow at roughly its own diameter each hour. While lunar eclipses can certainly be enjoyed with the unaided eye alone (as they have been throughout most of history!), they a
Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse
Enjoyed "spending" the evening with You pursuing the event, Knarf! 2033(?) may be a clear night. (G) J Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 27, 2015, at 10:02 PM, Knarf wrote: > > I walked along the lake for about a 1/2 hour, hoping the light clouds would > lift, but they didn't. Gave up, went home. About midnight I brought the > garbage out and there it was: about 1/4 obscured by the earth's shadow. > > Quite spectacular! > > Like Ann, I don't have the equipment to do anything about it, but at least I > saw it. 'T'was pretty cool. > > And earlier, after a significant dry spell, I got a few okay street shots > today. Can't wait to look at them on a big monitor and process a few... > > Cheers, > > frank > >> On 27 September, 2015 11:59:12 PM EDT, ann sanfedele >> wrote: >> LOvely to get to see the colors - glad you and Paul got us something >> anyway... >> >> ann >> >>> On 9/27/2015 11:44 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: >>> I went out to try to shoot the Super Moon/Eclipse and I've given up >> on >>> the photography at least. Not a total bust, but there seem to be >> high >>> clouds obscuring any detail. I tried to use the SMC Pentax M*300mm >>> f4.0, my copy of which is a bit sharper than the A*300 I also have >> was >>> also a bust. coupled with the 1.7x AF adapter the camera thought the >> >>> moon should be in focus but they all looked like the image I'm going >>> to post just because I tried. It's not good, but I did make the >> attempt. >> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1604247/PESO/PESO%20--%20superbloodmoon.html >> >>> >>> >>> Equipment: Pentax K-5II w/vmc Vivitar Series 1 600mm Solid >>> Catadioptric f8.0 and smc Pentax F 1.7x AF Adapter. >>> >>> Note: There was so little light the K-5II just simply refused to try >> >>> to focus with the AF adapter and the Solid Cat lens mounted, I had to >> >>> force it to focus to infinity with a different lens then mount the >>> camera onto the Solid cat which was mounted on the tripod. Lest >>> anyone thing this might be the reason for the bad focus, every shot >>> with every lens combination whether manual or auto focused looked >>> pretty much like the one posted, just smaller on the frame. I do >> kind >>> of like it as an abstract, but I really wish that I had captured more >> >>> detail. >>> >>> >>> On 9/22/2015 3:18 PM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: From an email I received this afternoon: Total Lunar Eclipse! On the evening of September 27th, skywatchers throughout North >> America will be treated to one of nature’s grandest celestial sky shows – a total eclipse of the Moon. And unlike the one in April which >> occurred in the early predawn hours, this one will happen during convenient evening ones. This cosmic spectacular begins with the full Moon entering the >> Earth’s dark inner shadow (the “umbra”) at 9:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time >> and continuing to become ever-more fully immersed in it for the next >> hour. Totality itself will start at 10:11 p.m. EDT and last more than an hour until 11:23 EDT, after which the Moon begins to slowly emerge from the cone of darkness in reverse order. Adding to the beauty of the overall scene at this eclipse (especially during totality >> itself, while the sky is dark), the Moon will be accompanied by some of the early rising bright winter stars. (Use your Scientifics’ Star and Planet Locator to identify them) There are several interesting things to notice as you watch this >> event unfold. Most obvious are the darkness of the eclipsed Moon and the range of colors displayed, both of which vary from one eclipse to another. These depend on the clarity of the Earth’s atmosphere at >> the time, which refracts or bends sunlight around into the umbral >> shadow. There have actually been eclipses so dark that the Moon remained all-but invisible during totality — and ones so pale that you had to look carefully to see that there was even an eclipse in progress! Among the colors that have been seen are shades of reddish-orange, brown, copper, rose, and even blood-red. Notice, too, that the >> Earth’s shadow is curved at all phases of the eclipse, as the Moon passes through it. This is direct proof that the Earth itself is round — something recognized by many early skywatchers. And finally, realize that you’re actually seeing our lovely satellite move eastward in >> its orbit — as it first passes into, through, and then out of the shadow at roughly its own diameter each hour. While lunar eclipses can certainly be enjoyed with the unaided eye alone (as they have been throughout most of history!), they are best-seen in binoculars. An ideal pair for this would be a 7×50 or 10×50 glass, the first number indicating its magnification and the second the aperture in millime
Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse
I walked along the lake for about a 1/2 hour, hoping the light clouds would lift, but they didn't. Gave up, went home. About midnight I brought the garbage out and there it was: about 1/4 obscured by the earth's shadow. Quite spectacular! Like Ann, I don't have the equipment to do anything about it, but at least I saw it. 'T'was pretty cool. And earlier, after a significant dry spell, I got a few okay street shots today. Can't wait to look at them on a big monitor and process a few... Cheers, frank On 27 September, 2015 11:59:12 PM EDT, ann sanfedele wrote: >LOvely to get to see the colors - glad you and Paul got us something >anyway... > >ann > >On 9/27/2015 11:44 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: >> I went out to try to shoot the Super Moon/Eclipse and I've given up >on >> the photography at least. Not a total bust, but there seem to be >high >> clouds obscuring any detail. I tried to use the SMC Pentax M*300mm >> f4.0, my copy of which is a bit sharper than the A*300 I also have >was >> also a bust. coupled with the 1.7x AF adapter the camera thought the > >> moon should be in focus but they all looked like the image I'm going >> to post just because I tried. It's not good, but I did make the >attempt. >> >> >https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1604247/PESO/PESO%20--%20superbloodmoon.html > >> >> >> Equipment: Pentax K-5II w/vmc Vivitar Series 1 600mm Solid >> Catadioptric f8.0 and smc Pentax F 1.7x AF Adapter. >> >> Note: There was so little light the K-5II just simply refused to try > >> to focus with the AF adapter and the Solid Cat lens mounted, I had to > >> force it to focus to infinity with a different lens then mount the >> camera onto the Solid cat which was mounted on the tripod. Lest >> anyone thing this might be the reason for the bad focus, every shot >> with every lens combination whether manual or auto focused looked >> pretty much like the one posted, just smaller on the frame. I do >kind >> of like it as an abstract, but I really wish that I had captured more > >> detail. >> >> >> >> On 9/22/2015 3:18 PM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: >>> From an email I received this afternoon: >>> >>> >>> Total Lunar Eclipse! >>> >>> On the evening of September 27th, skywatchers throughout North >America >>> will be treated to one of nature’s grandest celestial sky shows – a >>> total eclipse of the Moon. And unlike the one in April which >occurred >>> in the early predawn hours, this one will happen during convenient >>> evening ones. >>> >>> This cosmic spectacular begins with the full Moon entering the >Earth’s >>> dark inner shadow (the “umbra”) at 9:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time >and >>> continuing to become ever-more fully immersed in it for the next >hour. >>> Totality itself will start at 10:11 p.m. EDT and last more than an >>> hour until 11:23 EDT, after which the Moon begins to slowly emerge >>> from the cone of darkness in reverse order. Adding to the beauty of >>> the overall scene at this eclipse (especially during totality >itself, >>> while the sky is dark), the Moon will be accompanied by some of the >>> early rising bright winter stars. (Use your Scientifics’ Star and >>> Planet Locator to identify them) >>> >>> There are several interesting things to notice as you watch this >event >>> unfold. Most obvious are the darkness of the eclipsed Moon and the >>> range of colors displayed, both of which vary from one eclipse to >>> another. These depend on the clarity of the Earth’s atmosphere at >the >>> time, which refracts or bends sunlight around into the umbral >shadow. >>> There have actually been eclipses so dark that the Moon remained >>> all-but invisible during totality — and ones so pale that you had to >>> look carefully to see that there was even an eclipse in progress! >>> Among the colors that have been seen are shades of reddish-orange, >>> brown, copper, rose, and even blood-red. Notice, too, that the >Earth’s >>> shadow is curved at all phases of the eclipse, as the Moon passes >>> through it. This is direct proof that the Earth itself is round — >>> something recognized by many early skywatchers. And finally, realize >>> that you’re actually seeing our lovely satellite move eastward in >its >>> orbit — as it first passes into, through, and then out of the shadow >>> at roughly its own diameter each hour. >>> >>> While lunar eclipses can certainly be enjoyed with the unaided eye >>> alone (as they have been throughout most of history!), they are >>> best-seen in binoculars. An ideal pair for this would be a 7×50 or >>> 10×50 glass, the first number indicating its magnification and the >>> second the aperture in millimeters. Telescopes themselves, with >their >>> relatively narrow fields of view, typically don’t provide enough sky >>> coverage around the Moon to get the full effect of its globe being >>> suspended in space. An exception here, however, is Scientifics’ >>> amazing Astroscan wide-field reflecting telescope. Providing a >>> 3-degree actual field
Re: PESO -- Cloudy Moon (was) Re: Total Lunar Eclipse
LOvely to get to see the colors - glad you and Paul got us something anyway... ann On 9/27/2015 11:44 PM, P.J. Alling wrote: I went out to try to shoot the Super Moon/Eclipse and I've given up on the photography at least. Not a total bust, but there seem to be high clouds obscuring any detail. I tried to use the SMC Pentax M*300mm f4.0, my copy of which is a bit sharper than the A*300 I also have was also a bust. coupled with the 1.7x AF adapter the camera thought the moon should be in focus but they all looked like the image I'm going to post just because I tried. It's not good, but I did make the attempt. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1604247/PESO/PESO%20--%20superbloodmoon.html Equipment: Pentax K-5II w/vmc Vivitar Series 1 600mm Solid Catadioptric f8.0 and smc Pentax F 1.7x AF Adapter. Note: There was so little light the K-5II just simply refused to try to focus with the AF adapter and the Solid Cat lens mounted, I had to force it to focus to infinity with a different lens then mount the camera onto the Solid cat which was mounted on the tripod. Lest anyone thing this might be the reason for the bad focus, every shot with every lens combination whether manual or auto focused looked pretty much like the one posted, just smaller on the frame. I do kind of like it as an abstract, but I really wish that I had captured more detail. On 9/22/2015 3:18 PM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: From an email I received this afternoon: Total Lunar Eclipse! On the evening of September 27th, skywatchers throughout North America will be treated to one of nature’s grandest celestial sky shows – a total eclipse of the Moon. And unlike the one in April which occurred in the early predawn hours, this one will happen during convenient evening ones. This cosmic spectacular begins with the full Moon entering the Earth’s dark inner shadow (the “umbra”) at 9:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and continuing to become ever-more fully immersed in it for the next hour. Totality itself will start at 10:11 p.m. EDT and last more than an hour until 11:23 EDT, after which the Moon begins to slowly emerge from the cone of darkness in reverse order. Adding to the beauty of the overall scene at this eclipse (especially during totality itself, while the sky is dark), the Moon will be accompanied by some of the early rising bright winter stars. (Use your Scientifics’ Star and Planet Locator to identify them) There are several interesting things to notice as you watch this event unfold. Most obvious are the darkness of the eclipsed Moon and the range of colors displayed, both of which vary from one eclipse to another. These depend on the clarity of the Earth’s atmosphere at the time, which refracts or bends sunlight around into the umbral shadow. There have actually been eclipses so dark that the Moon remained all-but invisible during totality — and ones so pale that you had to look carefully to see that there was even an eclipse in progress! Among the colors that have been seen are shades of reddish-orange, brown, copper, rose, and even blood-red. Notice, too, that the Earth’s shadow is curved at all phases of the eclipse, as the Moon passes through it. This is direct proof that the Earth itself is round — something recognized by many early skywatchers. And finally, realize that you’re actually seeing our lovely satellite move eastward in its orbit — as it first passes into, through, and then out of the shadow at roughly its own diameter each hour. While lunar eclipses can certainly be enjoyed with the unaided eye alone (as they have been throughout most of history!), they are best-seen in binoculars. An ideal pair for this would be a 7×50 or 10×50 glass, the first number indicating its magnification and the second the aperture in millimeters. Telescopes themselves, with their relatively narrow fields of view, typically don’t provide enough sky coverage around the Moon to get the full effect of its globe being suspended in space. An exception here, however, is Scientifics’ amazing Astroscan wide-field reflecting telescope. Providing a 3-degree actual field of view at it low magnification of 16x, it takes in an astounding six full-Moon-diameters of sky — something many have described as looking through the porthole of a spaceship! —James Mullaney Former assistant editor at Sky & Telescope magazine and author of 10 books on stargazing. Dan Matyola http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.