[Lvas] Meeting and subject ideas

Fri Feb 13 10:53:04 PST 2009

LVAS all...   

This is a forwarded e-mail from me to one of our club officers in regard to a program for our next meeting here in Boiling Springs.

I am sending this to the LVAS primarily for President Rob and his consideration. 

After being president of our local club for at least five or more years I am empathetic as to the difficulty of this position. Trying to come up with new things and the desire to keep people motivated can be a challenge. It can be very hard to find members that are willing to give a program. Eventually it can be a daunting task to find new subject matter.

If you have not had a program on the following subjects you might want to consider them for a future meeting. 

Roger Ivester

We have had both of these presentations but it has been at least five years since...  

My reply:

I can present a couple of options for a possible program at the next meeting.

1. I have been assisting Marty Klein (a local observer) this week...instructions via e-mail of how to properly clean optics and eyepieces. Marty has a 3.5-inch Questar Duplex with the optional broad band coatings and also the optional low expansion "Z" mirror. A jewel of a small scope. His current interest is double star observing and I am helping him with this also. 

Re: Optics cleaning: This is a much more complicated procedure than many realize...as damage can result if not properly performed. I think there may be a new telescope owner or two in the area region that may benefit from this program. We would only clean a few eyepieces and discuss the procedures used for mirror's, corrector plates, and other. 

Regarding the cleaning of a refractor lens of high quality we will also discuss, but recommend that the owner use the procedures recommended by their scope manufacturer. We will also talk about how to properly take care of a telescope. Example, I wrap my refractor in a cloth before I bring it in the house on a cold night. This will avoid condensation, and other problems that can create "mold" on the objective...indeed a terrible thing. The important thing is to keep all optics capped and only clean when absolutely necessary.  

Maybe an ad in the paper or other for this one, as I do not want to present this to our group of already "experienced" optic handlers. 

2. How to draw what you see. This program would also encompass taking detailed notes. Supplemental to this e-mail...Fred Rayworth would do an excellent job on this. 

You may want to run this by the club for a vote.   

Over the past 40 years I have read information from most all the big name companies in regard to "their recommendations and procedures" for cleaning optics.  I have read many articles regarding the same over that period also. I use latex gloves, a blower bulb, washed and dried camel hair brushes that are then sealed in a plastic bag. I also use "100% cotton" balls, and surgical cotton rolls. Everything is always sealed and stored to prevent contamination and dust. I also use at least a 10x magnifier and a pocket microscope to examine the eye lens before and afterward's. I would say that it would be wise and prudent to examine a "brand new" eyepiece to check for sleeks or scratches or coating problems. You may very well be surprised as to what you may find.  

Best regards, Roger

    I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.      Abraham Lincoln

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