The 365 Days Of Astronomy, The Daily Podcast Of The International Year Of Astronomy 2009

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. actualastronomy@gmail.com Episode 483! Today we have a returning Special Guest, though it’s been a  while. Dr. Brian Ventrudo is author the Cosmic Pursuits web page and a contributing editor for S&T. He has a Ph.D in Laser Spectroscopy and helped measure the fingerprints of the molecules found in interstellar space and planetary atmosphere.    In an email Brian mentioned the TV NP127 being a dream scope…which is remaining just a dream for the time being. But why is the NP 127 such a fantastic design? - Fast, flat field, reasonably portable etc. - What have you configured on the cheap? 120mm, mount eyepieces etc. - Wide field eyepieces and the TS Flat2? Field curvature. - My love from 80mm f5 to apo to giant achromats. - 80% or more of my observing is not the 5 objects that show color, Moon, M, V, J, S - Binoculars, budget 80mm/102mm ED refractors, lower-cost eyepieces, mounts and so forth. - Wide Field Objects to Observe: