Hello Folks!

As you've probably noticed, we've run a little short of fresh content for the club website lately. I'm writing today to make an official request for club members and other interested parties to submit articles for posting on the website. We are looking for product reviews, observing reports, how-to articles or any other type of content that can be posted on the site for our readers to enjoy.

In particular, we would really be interested in seeing articles of a recurring nature, such as an recurring article on what is going to be in the sky for a particular month. If you've always wanted to be a columnist this could be your stepping stone!

Seriously, we can really use your help. You don't have to be a great writer - we will function as your "editor" and make certain that your article is spell checked, factual and easy to read. You do not have to be a web guru at all - we can take your information in many forms (such as a Word document or email) and get it online with no trouble at all. While we would like for you to provide any pictures your article would need (and in the case of a "how-to" or product review it's pretty much essential that you provide some images), we can always use stock photos to dress up your article if you don't have any pictures to share.

What we cannot do without is your input. If you would like to help out in this way, please contact us at info@sfaaa.com, and we'll get back to you to work out the details!

thanks,

Charlie

Eva-Dry High Capacity Dehumidifier Systems.
by Steve Cox
 
The Weapon:
Welcome to South Florida, and the wonderful conditions of moisture that go along with it.  The enemy comes to astronomers in the form of dew. Our equipment takes the punishment night after night. Now there is a new weapon to fight back, behold the Eva-Dry High Capacity Dehumidifier Systems. They come in all shapes and sizes and range in price from $14-$80 each. Their one mission is to remove moisture from our astronomy equipment. Inside these units are thousands of tiny crystals that remain active for 10 years and offer a limited 5 year manufacture warranty.

A Review of the William Optics Zenithstar 70ED f:/6.1 refractor
by Steve Cox

I recently purchased a William Optics Zenithstar 70ED f:/6.1 refractor. The purpose of the purchase was to use it as a guide scope, and an imaging refractor. Since I already have the Megrez 110ED, I thought this little refractor would make a nice match. After patiently waiting nearly three weeks it arrived. I was so impressed with how William Optics kept me posted on the status of the scope shipping out to me. The company has been a true delight every time I have used them. When I unboxed this small refractor I was amazed at its weight. At a little over five pounds you can still easily hold it with one hand, but lets not get tricky here, after all it is not inexpensive.

WO FLT 110MM TMB and Polluted Sites
By Howard Lazarus

When I started out in astronomy about 20 years ago there were several sites in the New York area that were fairly good for those long cool nights.  Naturally, I got involved in the quest for the best equipment for I always sought to get the best views....the most dramatic views of those objects that my fellow astronomers often marveled at.

Equipment often took first place over the real purpose of the hobby, the study of the skies.  What I did and so many of us do is start collecting equipment.

I had the Meade LX 200 Classic, the Meade LX 200 GPS 7" Mak and if that was not enough I purchased and used the Astro Physics 130MM with their 600 GOTO mount.  No that was not good enough for when I moved down to Boynton Beach Florida I installed a steel pier (cemented into the ground) to be used with the AP mount and 130MM scope.

GOTO mounts and the larger apature scopes have their place but to me, I was exhausted with the weight of the setup, with the wires hanging everywhere, with making sure all batteries were fully charged and of course setting up the observing chair which was too often in the wrong position due to the changing positions of the goto scope to seek out different objects!

Two years ago I just sold everything and decided to give the hobby a rest. I started to seek out a way to really enjoy the night skies. I wanted a first class refractor (those are the scopes I favored) and a simple but reliable mount... without wires all over the place and if possible NO batteries.