The Mysterious Cone Nebula

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 12:09 am

OK, Denny, you mentioned that that your telescope is above the hot walker. But the photo that you show looks like very good resolution to me. Tell me please, what kind of telescope are you using to get such good photos? I saw a telescope at Walmart for $79.95. Would you recommend something better?

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 4:59 am

Doug, these photos were taken by Nasa from the Hubble Telescope... $79.95 won't quite pay for it. I'd go with the $90-100.00 dollar variety... just to be on the safe side.

djm · Post by **djm** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:25 am

Doug, are you just interested in a telescope for viewing, or did you want to get into astrophotography as well? Prices have fallen quite a bit in the last few years. You should be able to pick up a nice 8"or 10" for only a few thousand.

djm

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 11:11 am

djm wrote:Doug, are you just interested in a telescope for viewing, or did you want to get into astrophotography as well? Prices have fallen quite a bit in the last few years. You should be able to pick up a nice 8"or 10" for only a few thousand.

djm

I used to work for Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, AZ. Back in the 70's I was an assistant liaison officer for Cerro Tololo, the sister observatory in Chile, S.A. I have a large photo of M16: Gaseous Nebula in Serpens taken at Kitt Peak hanging on the wall of my bedroom. I don't know, a part of my personality is that I like to play ignorant and ask dumb questions. Where I am living now in Indiana, we have very few days where the night sky would be clear enough and dark enough for very good viewing or photography. If I every decide to move back to Arizona, I may think of getting a small telescope.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Thanks, Denny, for the excellent photos. Another idea: I hear that NASA is going to discontue funding the Hubble telescope. Maybe we could take up a collection to see if we could purchase some last-mimute viewing time.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 12:16 pm

Doug, I had just typed a, for me, long response, at 7:40 here, when we lost power as I clicked on the submit button!

I don't remember mentioning anything that would have dispelled the local confusion...ah well! I did enjoy the helpful posts from JES and DJM.

General disclaimer...I am responsible for the sunrise shot of the "observatory" only.

djm · Post by **djm** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 1:34 pm

Since the C&F community is so good at raising money for trivial pursuits such as disaster relief and world hunger, surely we can do something truly constructive for all mankind and just buy the thing from NASA. How about it? What would you say to the C&F Space Telescope? And Denny could post beautiful images twice a day.

djm

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 3:03 pm

djm wrote: What would you say to the C&F Space Telescope? And Denny could post beautiful images twice a day.

djm

A great idea. However, it must meet with approval from Dale... and, of course, taking detailed photos of Daleforce 1 would be strictly forbidden.

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 4:50 pm

Hadn't the white house, awhile back, mentioned using the Hubble for target practice or something?
Tony

brianormond · Post by **brianormond** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 2:14 am

-I like spotting new objects and happened upon the Coathanger cluster one cold night. I relayed my excitement to my sweetie pie whom was able to contain her glee. She asked if there was an Ironing Board nebula closeby.