Re: (SNES) Daytime Planet Sighting Primer

["Steve Brandt" <stevebrandt@attbi.com>]

Hi Les (Coleman),

Being the stickler that I am for correct citations (a holdover from the days
when I was actually a real scientist!), I believe that the snippet below can
be attributed to Les Lytton (Slim "Whit" man) rather than Ed Magowan,
although Ed has, indeed contributed to the original thread.  We now return
to our regularly scheduled programming......

Best regards,
Steve


----- Original Message -----
From: "Les Coleman" <les11@cox.net>
To: <snegazers@brainiac.com>
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 4:48 AM
Subject: Re: (SNES) Daytime Planet Sighting Primer


> > After reading your well written primer, I'm thoroughly convinced that it
is a
> > combination of having nothing to focus on at infinity (and the
subsequent loss
> > of contrast), along with the pesky saccades drift problem.  Now that
I've said
> > all this, does anyone have any suggestions to help overcome these
problems
> > while trying to spot a daytime Iridium?  I normally hold a piece of
cardboard
> > alongside my face to act as a sun shield, while also wearing a pair of
neutral
> > density gray sun glasses to cut the sky glare and improve contrast.
Alas, so
> > far, neither of these tools seems to be adequate....  You'd think
something as
> > bright as -7 mag would stand out boldly!!
>
> Ed,
>
> I've been letting the old gray matter cogitate for a while. I think I do
have a couple of
> ways to help relieve the focusing ar infinity and saccades drift problems.
The object at
> infinity really doesn't have to be at infinity, only tp trick the eye. One
way which may
> work is to use a distant tiny object nearby. A plane would be ideal if it
would stay put,
> but a distant limb of a tree or perhaps a distant radio tower might work.
>
> If you are willing to go the high tech route, I have a sure fire way. Get
a TELRAD (or
> similiar sighting device). Mount it on a tripod, or otherwise keep it
firm. Aim it at the
> right part of the sky. TELRAD's use a half silvered mirror and some lenses
to project a set
> of reddish concentric bullseyes on the sky at == FANFARE and DRUMROLL ==
OPTICAL INFINITY!
> The only trick is getting the gadget pointed roughly correctly. I have my
TELRAD mounted on
> a sleeve which fits over my QUESTAR (it looks like a trailer truck rideing
on a
> Volkswagon). I can use the QUESTAR's setting circles to get a pretty good
alignment.  Given
> the TELRADs 4 degree field, it should be nearly ideal. I'm going to try it
fairly soon on
> Mars.
>
> Les Coleman
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