Astronomy/new telescope

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Expert: - 3/20/2006


Question
I recently purchased a celestron 10 inch advanced series newtonian reflector telescope and I was wondering if ther was anyone in my area who would be willing to help me learn more about its use. I live in Ripley NY and I am unfamiliar with the hands-on usage. Any information you could supply would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Eric,
 Tom Whiting here, president of the Erie Astronomy Club,
so I'm sure we'll be able to help you.  You don't state the
manufacturer (Meade, Celestron, etc) so I can't do a whole
lot right now.  But we are having an observing session
tomorrow night (March 22) at the Battles Museum at 7 pm in Girard, and another observing session this weekend at the Old LoBoeuf Cemetery 1.8 miles south of Mill Village.  It would be nice (and much easier) if one of us (club members)
personally saw your scope to help you with it.
(Currently we don't know as yet if we'll go out Friday night
or Sat, night, at our cemetery location, as it depends on the weather).

Didn't it come with any directions for its use?
Standard Newt's are usually pretty foolproof; you simply
set them in their mount (or tripod) and point them toward
a bright object like the moon, the light comes in and you
insert an eyepiece at the right angle hole on the side at the top of the telescope, and focus it and observe.

Perhaps, at this point, it would be best to continue to help
you by giving you my phone number, E-mail, and location, and our club website....I am a retired USAF pilot so I'm home
most of the time, usually after 3 pm.
814-864-9203  (Erie PA)
bwhiting@velocity.net  
and our club website is
http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting

Hope all this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA

PS....In fact Eric, if you supply me with your home address,
I might even be able to come over to Ripley later this week
to check it out for you....Tom

FOLLOW UP....
In fact, feel free to call me right now....I'm always up until
11:30 or 12 every night, if you wish.
Tom W.

ADDITIONAL FOLLOWUP
Hey, thanks for the call on Wed. evening but sorry I
was out at an astronomy club meeting...BTW, I'll be at
the Behrend Open House tomorrow night.....
Sorry you didn't give me your phone number there in
Ripley, and also I have not received any of your E-mails...
so please re-check the address....as we're at

bwhiting@velocity.net
Thanks,
and Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting

Astronomy

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Tom Whiting

Expertise

Astronomy has been my hobby/pasttime for over 50 years.  Currently own 3 telescopes, the largest of which is a 30 inch Newtonian truss Dob that is portable.I taught Astronomy/Meteorology at the University Level for 13 years before retiring in 1995. Being retired and home most of the time, I am able to answer all questions relatively quickly, unless it's a new moon weekend with good observing conditions.  No astrology questions please, or questions about alleged UFO picture identifications.

Experience

Experience: Astronomy has been my hobby and study for over 50 years. We currently now own a 30 inch portable telescope (Updated - Pennsylvania`s largest portable telescope). It can be seen on our website at:http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting and also attend several regional starparties during the year, and have been on 5 total solar eclipse expeditions.

Organizations: President, Erie County Mobile Observers Group for over 15 years.

Publications: Wrote the "Over Erie Skies" newspaper article in our local newspaper for 11 years (1975-86).

Education: Masters Degree- Taught at the University level for 13 years. Retired 20 years -USAF Pilot - KC-135 with 180 combat missions;  Also Eagle Scout, Philmont staff 2 Yrs, Order of Arrow Lodge Chief, Ham Radio (inactive).

Awards: two discoveries: The mini-coathanger asterism in Ursa Minor (the little dipper) And the mini-ladle- another asterism in the bowl of Ursa Minor. Clients: Currently President of the ECMOG as mentioned above.

Education/Credentials
BS  Metallurgical Engineering Grove City College, PAMaster's Degree, Gannon University, Erie, PA Also retired USAF pilot, 20 years.

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