Arkansas Sky Observatory

OBSERVATIONAL GUIDES AND REFERENCES

Last updated: May 15, 2008

BASIC GUIDES FOR PROTECTING YOUR TELESCOPE FROM A LIGHTENING SURGE

ASO fine optics CLEANING SYSTEM: Part I & II
PRECISION COATED OPTICAL Lenses, Mirrors, Corrector Plates and other REFRACTIVE GLASS

RESULTS OF COMPARTATIVE TESTING
Meade UHTC Enhanced Coating Group vs. Standard Coatings
Objects for Suburban Observers (Courtesy of Brian Webb)

Photographing Satellites (Courtesy of Brian Webb)

Tips for Training Your LX 200 GPS Telescope In Polar Mode

The Advantages of the Newtonian Design for Planetary
Imaging and Viewing

A Mars Guide for 2003 and beyond!

Observational Guides - The most comprehensive easy-to-understand observing guides to get YOU started!
Searching for Nova and Supernovae - New
Observing Asteroids and Comets (3/03/01)
Observing Meteors - The Leonids (10/24/01)
Observing the Sun (3/28/01)
Observing the Moon (2/24/01)
Observing Planets - Jupiter (Part 1) (2/13/01)

Observing Planets - Jupiter (Part 2) (9/06/01)
Observing Planets - Jupiter (Part 3) (10/10/01)
Observing Planets - Saturn (2/13/01)

Observing Planets - Venus (3/12/01)
Observing Planets - Mars (3/12/01)
Observing the Sirius Companion Star (3/09/01)
Observing Variable Stars (3/06/01)
Observing the Pleiades (2/18/01)

Observing Variable Star Algol (2/16/01)
Messier Objects Listing (6/30/01)

Observing Globular Clusters (3/31/01)
Daylight Observing (4/03/01)

Doc Clay's Constellation Guides - A collection of mythology, legends, science and finest objects of each Constellation! Each of these "GO TO" TOURS is written for today's modern telescope with a very easy-to-read format that literally invites you to search out the discoveries, mysteries and thrills awaiting within each constellation's border! A click-on chart for use at the telescope is provided for each constellation.

Orion, Part III (The Constellation Guide)

Orion, Part II (Messier 42, The Sword and Belt of Orion)

Orion, Part I (The Constellation in History and Lore)

Lepus (11-01-01)

Eridanus (10/21/01)
Taurus (10/13/01)
Perseus (10/06/01)
Auriga (9/26/01)
Camelopardalis (9/19/01)
Cassiopeia (9/08/01)
Cetus (8/10/01)
Aries (8/04/01)
Triangulum (7/15/01)
Andromeda (7/12/01)
Pisces (7/03/01)
Lacerta (6/30/01)
Pegasus (6/25/01)
Aquarius (6/20/01)
Capricorn (6/17/01)
Sagitta and Vulpecula (6/11/01)
Delphinus (6/07/01)
Libra (6/03/01)
Virgo (5/31/01)
Coma Berenices (5/29/01)
Sagittarius (5/26/01)
Aquila (5/19/01)
Cygnus (5/13/01)
Scorpius (5/10/01)
Lyra (5/08/01)
Draco AND Ursa Minor (5/05/01)
Hercules (4/30/01)
Ophiuchus (4/28/01)
Bootes (4/25/01)
Leo (4/22/01)
Ursa Major (4/22/01)

TELESCOPE PERFORMANCE - The most comprehensive easy-to-understand guides to get the MOST out of YOUR telescope!
MEADE AUTOSTAR UPDATING
Using your computer to maximize your GO TO potential

Controlling Heat Currents - NEW - Added Nov. 21 2001

MEADE AUTOSTAR DOWNLOADS:
Magnification (2/10/01)
Resolving Power (2/10/01)
Seeing Conditions and Transparency (2/7/01)
Star Testing Your Telescope (2/5/01)
Limiting Magnitude Charts using the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters! (2/5/01)
NOW INCLUDES A CHART IN LYRA FOR THE SUMMER SKIES! (7/12/2002)

Dealing With Pollen and Telescope Optics - alerts/pollen.html

Performance Enhancement by P. Clay Sherrod
Creating The Perfect "GO TO" ETX , LX 90 or Autostar II LX 200

Part 1 - Mechanical Considerations and Adjustments
Part 2 - AutoStar Downloads and Post-Download Initialization
Part 3 - Training the Drives and Celestial Alignment
Part 4 - Eliminating Common "Rocking" in ETX Altitude Axis
Part 5 - Polar Alignment Position (computerized fork-mounted scopes)

The Ultimate Pier and Wedge for an ETX or LX 90 Telescope!

Modifying the Factory Tripod for Small Telescopes

Slipping Declination Circle Fix

Modifying the RA Locking Lever for Convenience

Cheap and Easy Leg Lights for Tripod or Pier

Fixing the Light Leak on Many Schmidt-Cass and Maksutov Telescopes

Repairing the Ultra Wide Angle Plossl Eyepiece

Repairing a Slipping or Missing Baffle Tube

Smoothing the Azimuth (RA) Axis in a Meade Telescope

Maintaining Your Telescope

Miscellaneous - Tips on using your telescope to its fullest.....simple things you should know!
High Temperature Warning (8/07/01)
Eyepiece Selection Guide (4/13/01)
Using Setting Circles (3/25/01)

Precise Portable Polar Alignment (Kochab's Clock) (3/20/01)
Getting Started in Astrophotography - PIGGYBACK photography(3/15/01)
The Human Eye in Observational Astronomy (2/13/01)
Clay Sherrod's ETX 125 Experiences

BRIGHT STAR AND "GO TO" TELESCOPE ALIGNMENT CHARTS - Seasonal, series of 9 charts! (1/19/01)

Polar Alignment Near the Equator

CLAY'S KOCHAB'S CLOCK Precise Portable Polar Alignment (Kochab's Clock) (3/20/01)

This is the easiest and most accurate method for all instruments to attain PERFECT polar alignment for viewing and astrophotography whether your scope is portable or permanently mounted. This method, devised by P. Clay Sherrod in 1982, has been in use worldwide much to the success of astronomers since its inception! All it takes is a view of Polaris, the "beta" star in Ursa Minor, "Kochab" and a simple knowledge of YOUR finderscope! Doc Clay tells it all in this descriptive lesson on precise polar alignment!

Dr. Clay's Permanent Polar Alignment Without Polaris

P. Clay Sherrod

Arkansas Sky Observatory
drclay@arksky.org