Quote:
Originally Posted by hlokk
Good idea erick. How do you keep the laser pointer on the block/turn it on?
|
Very manual operation - I hold it in place in the groove on the block with my right hand and just use my index finger to operate the button/switch. I hold/move the tube with my left hand (as usual, fingers curled around into the light path, thumb outside), right hand holding laser on wood, perhaps eye at eyepiece to check the end of beam is visible in the eyepiece (that I haven't knocked the wood out of place).
When sure that laser is aligned with scope (ie. end of laser beam is visible in the eyepiece (doesn't have to be well centred), then look at sky and move scope until laser is pointing to the object or location of interest. I'm forever working from charts saying to myself something like - OK, it's 3/4 of the way from that star to that star and up a bit off the joining line - then I point the laser/scope to there. Once I get there, it's laser off and popped back into top pocket to keep warm, long distance glasses tossed off so they hang from the cord I have them on, then eye to eyepiece and enjoy.
Shouldn't need photos? - it's so simple.
(got the idea from seeing someone who had removed finderscope and bracket and was balancing the laser inside the dovetail saddle, up against one side.)
(Of course, my recently commissioned Argo Navis should see the end to regular laser pointing.)