Note: this page optimized for viewing with at least 800x600 pixel ratio screen display.


Regina Roper & the Roper Piano Studio
present...
free hobbyist software for astronomers
Added: Spring 2007
   Use our new Online Resources to explore astronomy and how to use your telescope.

Added: June 2006
   Take a Fully-Illustrated TOUR of "Eyepiece": see how the program works, step by step, for setting up a scope, choosing oculars and filters, and observing deep-sky objects and double stars efficiently.

   Or, click for the Article list. Page down for information about our free telescope-user software. You may skip directly to the Downloading Intructions by clicking here.



= = New: Now Patched & Updated for Use On Modern Fast Computers! = =
Eyepiece 2.0 Program

Waldee-Wood Astronomical Software
DOS Computer Program: EYEPIECE© 2.0
 This webpage revised on 31 December 2005


  M-42, the Orion Nebula - © 1992, 2007 Ron Wood - All Rights Reserved Orion Nebula, photo by Ron Wood
This program is the full (former) commercial edition of our program Eyepiece© 2.0 for Telescope Users and Celestial Observers, which we are now offering free to individual astronomy hobbyists for their personal use (the program, information and data files, and images are protected by copyright.) It provides a computation engine for determining the appropriate eyepiece for specific sky objects: double stars, nebulae, and galaxies; assists in selecting nebular filters; and performs prime-focus astrophoto calculations. This program is not written for use in the WindowsTM environment; it is a DOS version as explained below. As someone recently wrote, "the program is showing its age", so Ron Wood and Steve Waldee were anxious for as many DOS buffs and astronomy enthusiasts as possible to have it without cost, before we all forget how to use pre-GUI operating systems!

And please note: this software is FREE. You don't owe us a farthing; you needn't send in money for licensing or registration, or feel obligated to do so within any period of time; it won't expire; it's not shareware. Keep it and enjoy it for non- commercial private use. (It is identical to what we sold for a number of years, and states on-screen that it is a 'commercial' product; we have not recompiled it to take out that message. We now consider it "freeware".)

Orion Nebula, Simulated Eyepiece View
At Right: a Simulated Eyepiece View of M-42, Orion Nebula, As Shown in the Program.

A database of sky objects and multiple stars is included, and a mouse is supported. Pictures of a number of interesting sky objects (the Horsehead nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Ring Nebula, etc.) are included, in color as well as in monochrome renderings that replicate eye views under specific telescope aperture sizes and in skies of varying darkness.


Below: Learn About Telescope and Optical Designs
Example of Telescope Designs

Eyepiece© 2.0 offers the equivalent of a helpful book about telescopes, eyepieces, optics, deep-sky observing, and prime-focus astrophotography techniques. For example, the image above shows the typical amateur telescope designs used by most hobbyists. Learn how to buy a proper telescope & accessories, what to expect in using it for observing and photographing, and the appropriate sky objects for study in your environment.

Eyepiece Nebula Filter Bandwidth Above all, "Eyepiece" will train you to use nebular filters correctly for the highest- contrast views of deep-sky gaseous nebulae and planetaries: even in light-polluted city skies, you may be able to enjoy many thrilling objects that are almost impossible to see without filters!

Yet, for all the usefulness of "Eyepiece©" in teaching beginners many important concepts, the program also has advanced features for experienced amateur astronomers, including the unique "object visibility" calculator; prime-focus astrophotographic exposure time calculator; descriptions of Messier objects, many NGC objects, planetary nebula viewing file and charts; an advanced tutorial on dark adaptation; nebular filter suitability calculator; and informative files about deep-sky objects.

Observing Challenges: "Viewing the Ferguson Planetary Nebulae List"
Planetary Nebula eyepiece drawings
We've added a special essay about observing many of the sky's most interesting planetary nebulae, with specific objects chosen by Donald Ferguson, a Houston, Texas amateur astronomer who studies them with the aid of nebular line filters. See the Help system in Eyepiece, under the "Observer" sections, for the article.

This carefully-developed program has been optimized for practical and rational telescopes and eyepieces, using standard specs and accepted optical design limits so that the user won't make mistakes by declaring "impossible" telescope systems for analysis.

Screen Capture of Main Display
Screen Capture, Main SYSTEM Data Page

The screen capture image above shows the Main SYSTEM Page, with data about a specific telescope: an 8-inch aperture 'fast' f/4 Dobsonian scope, used at a moderately- low power, appropriate for all nebular filters for best contrast on many types of deep- sky objects. There are also functions to select astronomical objects from a series of databases of galaxies, nebulae, and multiple stars; to choose an object for calculation of prime- focus astrophoto exposure time, and to select eyepieces for desired magnification, field of view, or other characteristics appropriate to specific viewing choices. Indeed, complete program operation is too diverse to explain on these brief pages: astronomical hobbyists may spend countless hours of study to absorb all this program offers!

Safe Solar Observing: Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Prominence Study
Author Waldee views the Sun

Advanced amateurs will find information about solar prominence filters, with eyepiece simulation samples in visual light and hydrogen-alpha wavelengths.

Added: June 2006
Take a Fully-Illustrated TOUR of
"Eyepiece 2.0": see how the program works, step by step, for setting up a scope, eyepieces, and filters, to observe deep-sky objects & double stars efficiently.


The program -- offered free only on this website -- will run on DOS 3.3 and later versions, and was developed for use from "raw" DOS rather than from within MicrosoftR WindowsTM. But we have found that usually the program works fine in modern versions of Windows, though occasionally some functions are more reliable by running from a PC booted to DOS.

The original version, compiled back in 1996, would not run on new fast computers with a CPU clock speed of about 400 MHz or faster. But thanks to Michael Covington, the famous astrophotography expert and author (who advised us on the newsgroup sci.astro.amateur) we have patched the program and find that it runs on our fastest machine (a 1.8 GHz Pentium IV system.) We have taken down the earlier versions and have now replaced them with a new zipped edition containing all the program files.

In experimenting with it, we were even able to get Eyepiece© to start and run in WindowsTMXP ProR by making a desktop shortcut. Expert Windows users may want to adjust the shortcut's properties of DOS program parameters (we recommend "windowed" display mode in XP with high-res 19" monitors; 256 color setting and Windows 95 compatibility; to protect the memory; and to use HMA) but such changes are not always necessary. Eyepiece© also worked under Windows 3.1 ("full screen mode" absolutely essential), as well as generally in W95, 98, and ME (usually "full screen" mode) in various tests; but for RELIABLE service for every one of the program functions -- including printing capability -- use it under "raw DOS", with which the program was designed, developed, and debugged. 99% of the time, the program's authors now run it in Windows.

This program is ideally useful if you have an old DOS/Win 3.1 era machine, the type of system for which it was originally developed, for there is not much astronomy software now available for such an outdated computer. (But the authors now use it themselves almost exclusively on their Windows machines.)

A mouse is supported automatically under Windows (except in some functions such as the Double Star applet.) If used under DOS, to employ a mouse you must first load a Microsoft compatible mouse driver in DOS. It will also work without a mouse, utilizing keystrokes for program navigation.

Full installation from the compressed distribution files on this webpage requires about 4.5 megabytes of hard drive space.

M-20, the Trifid Nebula - © 1992 Ron Wood - All Rights Reserved Trifid Nebula, photo by Ron Wood
Installation & Uninstalling Eyepiece

Being an old DOS program, it lacks some of the automatic features of the newest Windows software.

To install, first make a directory (folder) on your hard drive: we suggest naming it EYEPIECE. Then download (below) the zipped version into this folder or to a temp file, and use pkunzip or an equivalent utility to unzip the files (even old versions will work since the files conform to the DOS/Windows 3.x name protocols): that's all! The program does not copy files into the Windows folder or anywhere else.

There is no automatic way to uninstall. Merely delete the Eyepiece files and then the folder. No operating system files or OS folders will be affected.

If you would like more detailed information, at the following links you may download the program's readme.txt file and manual, both readable in any browser, word processor, or ASCII text reader program.

We have also just written a lengthy and candid Imagined FAQ page of questions we'd have liked people to ask us about the program, including some "secret" stuff about its technical details; how we acquired the know-how and information that was used in its development; some of our (occasionally frustrating) experiences in marketing it in past years; and images of some colorful photos and screen displays from the program.
Installation Process - One Large Zip File
    • Place it in a subdirectory (folder) named EYEPIECE

    • Unzip file, using your pkunzip or other compatible utility

    • Read through the text file "readme.txt" for information on memory and video requirements. From "raw DOS" start a mouse program (usually "mouse.com" which is typically found in the root directory, as installed by most mouse driver software for DOS.) Of course, if running it from within Windows, you don't need to start a mouse program first.

    • Then execute eyepiece.exe from the DOS prompt (or, if running Windows, click on the executable file "eyepiece.exe") to start the program. Windows users will want to make a desktop shortcut or install the program in the START menu, which may be done easily.

    Please do not mirror this program on any external server! Link to this page instead.

    Mirroring our program elsewhere prevents our updating the software and insuring that users get the latest version of our files. Thanks for not doing it and maintaining our own control over the distribution.

M-22, globular in Sagittarius - © 1992 Ron Wood - All Rights Reserved
M-22, photo by Ron Wood

    • Users who wish to try to operate "Eyepiece" with various versions of Windows will find a handy telescope icon available: Win 3.1 requires a few keystrokes to add this to a program group (explained in the manual) but later versions will do this automatically when you create a desktop icon by right-clicking eyepiece.exe in the folder and then selecting "send to desktop (create shortcut)". You may find that it is necessary, depending on your video card and monitor's native resolution mode, to set the parameters for "window" or "windowed" screen display mode in XP, or specifically for "full screen mode" under Windows 3.1 and also usually in that mode for W95 through ME. If the program does not maintain the proper screen display size ratios when switching between text and graphics modes, experiment with the screen display parameters to select display mode (right-click the desktop shortcut, select "Parameters", and then click on the "Screen" tab.) None of this fussiness is necessary when used in a system booted to DOS, because "Eyepiece" then sets the video adaptor display mode with direct hardware commands, not through the operating system. The program will automatically select a video mode that fits your graphics card, from basic monochrome or color text, to VGA color.

    • If "Double Star" sub-applet does not start and function from within "Eyepiece" running in DOS, your memory management is not effective; consult the text files for memory management to get proper amount of required free memory (about 600 kB.) Usually you will have no difficulty running the Double Star program when operating "Eyepiece" under Win 98SE and above, as the virtual DOS memory allocation will supply enough memory automatically. If all else fails, consult the section "DOUBLE STARS MEMORY LIMITATIONS" in our readme file.

    • You may read -- or print -- the "Eyepiece©" operating manual from within the program, but its printing capability has been optimized for use in "raw DOS"; printing under Windows may not always be 100% reliable with all printers. You may, if necessary, print all manuals and text files (which have .doc, .eye, or .txt extensions) with Windows' Notepad or Wordpad, as they are standard ASCII-text files.

    • Feel free to experiment using "Eyepiece©" with Win 3.1x but be sure to run in "Full Screen Mode" -- and also in W95 through ME -- so that graphics work properly (however, generally for XP use "windowed" screen display mode to retain proper video modes between text and graphics.) With XP, you may not always get good performance from "Eyepiece©" unless you experiment with particular requirements for DOS software, using PIF files or other methodology to set memory, compatibility, mouse functionality, and screen display: we cannot assure you that it will run correctly in all advanced OS's above Win 95 or always correctly switch between text and graphics modes and screen sizes, as the internal commands for this were intended for operation from "raw DOS", not Windows.

Note: download time may exceed fifteen minutes with 56 kbs modem, and might be more than 20-25 minutes with 33.6 or slower modems; with fast broadband connections the download will be just a minute or two at most. There is NO tech support available for this old program other than the information included, so if you encounter difficulties, please read the extensive documentation, plus the suggestions on this webpage; also check the documentation of your OS for setting up compatibility for older DOS software under MS Windows.

M-27, the Dumbell Nebula - © 1992 Ron Wood - All Rights Reserved
Dumbell Nebula, photo by Ron Wood
Program Functionality on Old/New Systems and OS's

Eyepiece© was developed and tested with DOS 3.3 to DOS 6.22, and last compiled in 1996; when it was commercially sold, the fastest computer was likely to be about 200 MHz. After we began to give this program away, we discovered that it would not start up on fast modern systems that ran above about 400 MHz: but this new upload of Eyepiece has been patched to work correctly on fast computers.

The program Eyepiece© runs well in "raw DOS" but to get the Double Star module to work, you likely need to have at least 600 kB of conventional memory available, not a severe problem if the machine has extended or expanded memory (as any Win 3.1x era machines would.)

On modern faster machines, there are a few anomalies:
    • The mouse cursor may not be solid but transparent or "shimmery", since the program was developed in the days of slow video cards with 1M or less memory. Modern fast video cards may not render the hardware video calls flawlessly; ironically, in that regard, Eyepiece© may look better under Windows than DOS!
    • With Win 95+, sometimes when Eyepiece© switches back to text mode, after showing a graphic, the program may jump from full screen 25-line display mode to 50-line mode on an SVGA monitor. The solution is to run the program under Windows in "full screen mode" or to boot and run it in "raw DOS" instead.
    • Windows users with versions 3.x to ME will most likely find that the program will work correctly only when set for "full screen" mode. However, Windows XP may use it best with "windowed" screen display mode, depending on your graphics display and monitor, in order to keep the proper display modes for the text and graphics modules.
    • Users of modern computers with huge monitors that allow display parameters greater than 800 by 600 pixels may find that the graphics look crude. We were not able to develop a DOS version of this program with SVGA graphic mode and were limited to 256 colors maximum: displayed full screen on a modern monitor, the color photos will look coarse. Back in 1992, however, on a 13" VGA screen, the images were impressive! But today we have progressed way beyond the graphic capabilities of this old piece of software. The upside of the way we wrote the program, however, is that it will work even on the oldest text-only pre-VGA systems without showing color images, so that even the most elderly lap-tops are likely to be able to run the program in the field beside your telescope.
    • Printing charts when running the program under Windows may not always be successful, as the built-in DOS printer driver hardware status checking is intercepted by Windows, sometimes returning an erroneous "Printer not ready" error (common to many old DOS programs, run under later versions of Windows.) Two workarounds exist: (1) run Eyepiece from DOS when desiring to print charts; (2) print chart to "File", which creates a short file called "SCOPE.TXT" in the Eyepiece program's folder. This file is over-written each time you repeat the printing process. So, access it from the folder, using Windows to print it, or save it with a new name (and location if desired) to preserve the values. We prefer to open the file with Wordpad, and copy the contents into a new document, using various Windows fonts and highlighting to make up fancier eyepiece charts than this program was originally devised to do under DOS.
      Note: When we run Eyepiece under a late version of Windows, we prefer to create formatted eyepiece parameter charts by exporting the data via the file scope.txt, and then pasting it into a rich-text formatted file we have created; then we place a shortcut to the file on our desktop. Here is a sample we made for our new Celestron C-11 GPS scope; it is readable under most later editions of Windows from 98SE forward.
    • You may not be able to use the 'Dos Shell' function from the "Config" menu on some Windows systems, especially those running XP (which does not have a true DOS mode but creates instead "virtual DOS machines".) Activating the Dos Shell could cause the program to crash, one of the few function in EYEPIECE that is unstable in the XP OS (but, we've found, not on all XP systems.) The Dos Shell function was added for use in standard DOS, which is not a multitasking OS, so that users could save or rename the data export file. This may be done in Windows by ordinary means since DOS programs may be multitasked, so the Dos Shell function is not needed when running EYEPIECE from Windows.
    • When running Eyepiece under Windows XP, we suggest that you set up a desktop shortcut and then start with these properties to test the program: PROGRAM TAB - Run maximized; check "close on exit"; FONT and MEMORY - choose "Auto"; COMPATIBILITY - Run in Windows 95 mode; turn off advanced text services; run in 256 color mode; SCREEN - run in "Window"; check "Restore Settings at Startup"; other tabs - use default values.
    • Another XP operating system caveat: we have run every function of the program -- except for the DosShell -- on our desktop XP Pro systems using CRT's with no difficulties. Yet we found that our new laptop PC is more sensitive to the old code's hardware video calls. If you are running XP and have set EYEPIECE for full-screen display, with a large wide LCD monitor (such as ours, which runs 1280x800 pixels mode) exercise caution with the Slideshow function. It crashes our laptop after a few pictures have been displayed! Yet the Slideshow runs fine on our XP desktops; we haven't a clue about curing this problem, so don't expect these old (c.1993) graphics functions to work perfectly on the latest hardware! Furthermore, with a screen display ratio greater than 1.33:1, the object images, with EYEPIECE running under Windows, may be stretched horizontally more than intended (as they were originally created to be displayed on a 640x480 VGA monitor.)
    • We recently discovered that on one of our older DOS computers (running Version 6.22 of the operating system) that an aggressive memory manager was conflicting with the function in our program that checked for the data files when using the "Object" menu, and kept telling us that the "file was not found". The file WAS indeed in the directory. The solution was to close the program and start it again; or -- better -- to use the program under a Windows DOS box! This problem would require extensive debugging and recompiling on that specific DOS system with its memory manager: not practical since there is such a simple workaround.
    • On one particular Windows XP system, "Eyepiece" refused to recognize the PgDn key. This may be due to a particular keyboard driver, since the problem was not repeatable on other systems. Applying "NumLock" enabled the PgDn key.
    • One of our XP systems stubbornly refuses to run our program reliably without a run-time error related to the video system unless we start Eyepiece© in "text" mode, which eliminates the opening and closing graphic: thus, we have used the command line parameter /t as follows in this example:
      C:\EYEPIECE\eyepiece.exe /t
    in the program shortcut we put on our Windows desktop.
Consider the use of Eyepiece© with modern computers to be an experimental one: try and try again until you get a good setup with correct functionality in the various program modules of text and graphics (in summer of 2005, we managed to get it to function on a brand-new fast laptop computer, using XP Home Edition, to be used out in the field with our computerized "goto" telescope; it also generally works fine on every other one of our Windows PCs, running Win 3.1x, 95, 98, ME, and XP.) Older systems made before about 1997 or so will generally pose no difficulties. (All trademarks are copyright their respective trademark holders.)



THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED FOR NON-COMMERCIAL EXPERIMENTER USE ONLY! It is supplied WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. NO tech support is available, other than the program documentation and the information on this website!

The usual boilerplate disclaimers: we will not be held responsible for any damage to the user's computer system, hard drive, or data files. We do not warrant that this program is free of defects. Use at your own risk. We will state that it was developed carefully and sold commercially; has been downloaded for years by many astronomy enthusiasts with few reports of difficulties; and it was reviewed in SKY & TELESCOPE and ASTRONOMY Magazines, as well as astronomy club newsletters, and promoted on the Internet newsgroup sci.astro.amateur. In addition, earlier simplified versions of this program may be found in the book ASTRONOMER'S COMPUTER COMPANION by Foust & Lafon (pp. 326, 320), though the later and more complete edition is located here. You may use this program for private enjoyment, entertainment, and education; we do not license it for commercial sale or distribution by any means whatsoever. Please do not copy it to commercial CD-ROM astronomy program compilations! Thanks for keeping this program restricted to non-profit use for astronomy enthusiasts and educators.

Authors of Program
Authors (center) & Friends: L-R: Rich Page, Steve Waldee, Ron Wood, Ryan Wood, 1988
At Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, with historic "Willard Lens" Telescope
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Steve Waldee, as the primary writer of "Eyepiece©" and deviser of the program's interface, algorithms, text files, and functionality, hacked out most of the code. He is a retired broadcasting engineer, amateur astronomer (since the days of Sputnik) and computer programmer, and husband of piano teacher Regina Roper, also an astronomy buff and Lick Observatory volunteer. Ron Wood is a computer professional, working for many years in the Silicon valley for a prominent manufacturer of modems. He supplied many of the more complex sections of code for the database system and printing functions. Ron also provided photographs taken with a variety of telescopes, advice on the photographic algorithms and articles, and was an invaluable viewing companion for many years. Ron and Steve both served as telescope salesman, and grew tired of answering the endlessly repeated questions about magnification, field of view, and resolution that could be so easily determined by software: thus the idea of this program was conceived. Ron's son Ryan Wood was only 14 years of age when he contributed to our activities in field-testing optics, eyepieces, filters, and photographic processes. Our great friend Rich Page is a San Jose, California native who has been an amateur astronomer since the 1950s. He is a telescope maker (owner of an exquisite 14" aperture German equatorial reflector, with which he confirmed a Don Machholz comet discovery) and also possesses (among many other instruments) a 7" apochromatic refractor of superlative quality, which enabled us to test and define some practical limits of double star and planetary resolution, using his numerous excellent eyepieces and filters for some of our most critical observations. An exceptionally erudite historian of astronomy, Rich also assisted with research on nebulae at Lick Observatory in Santa Cruz and at Mount Hamilton, and provided invaluable suggestions for many of our viewing experiments as well as implementation of the software simulation of telescope performance. We should like to express our great thanks to John Sanford, who graciously provided material from Observing the Constellations (Fireside/Simon & Schuster), and to UC/Lick Observatory for permission to include their double star data. Dr. Jack B. Marling of Lumicon in Livermore, CA., advised the development of procedures for measuring filter response and photographic exposure times, and Kevin Fly Hill of Rose Star Products (developer of "Astrogoggles") provided extensive technical information about dark adaptation.

Finally, we graciously acknowledge the cooperation of the fine astrophotographers Ron & Ryan Wood, Chuck Vaughn, Charles Chew, and Jim Molinari, who permitted the reproduction of their sky photos in this program.

Steve and his newest refractor
Steve's latest telescope Piggybacked C-11, refractor
Charlie Chew and Steve's new C-11 Steve's new commercial telescopes

TOP, CENTER:Steve and his newest refractor, 2008; BELOW, LEFT: Our little dog Quito poses with Steve's f/8 planetary scope. RIGHT: Steve's C-11 is now piggybacked with an Orion 80mm refractor for narrow & wide field viewing. BOTTOM, LEFT: San Jose amateur astrophotographer Charles Chew assists in setting up Steve's new Celestron C-11 GPS scope in Waldee's garage workshop, 2006. RIGHT: Steve, with his 2007 crop of telescopes, eyepieces, and laptop used for astronomy.




Moon: Gassendi region - © 2005 S. Waldee - All Rights Reserved (digital image, Celestron C-11, Meade LPI) Moon, digital image by Steve Waldee

User Comments & Reviews:

A lot of thought and time have gone into your product and it shows. We have carefully tested your program and have found it to be very well done...I would like to take this opportunity to wish you much luck and success with your program. - Tim Gieseler, Orion Telescope Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

I did in fact spend two separate sessions last summer torture-testing the program, systematically going through every screen and data-entry point attempting to enter bad data and other garbage. I'm happy to report that I was totally unable to make the program malfunction in any way...the program ran crisp and fast. I found the instructions and the program itself very straightforward and easy to use. There is almost no learning curve since the on-screen directions are so clear...I put the program to immediate use and analyzed several eyepieces before utimately purchasing two new ones. I hope you have good commercial success with this product - it deserves it. - Charles Carlson, Englewood, CO.

It seems to have a lot of nice functionality and useful information...Thanks very much, and best of luck with your future projects.- Emil Bonanno, MEGASTAR developer, E. L. B. Software, Houston, TX.

Takes the guesswork out of choosing the right eyepiece to observe double stars, galaxies, and nebulae. - David Bruning, ASTRONOMY Magazine ASTROBYTES editor, (12/93)

Wow - quite a potent program. Runs just dandy under Win98 on my NEC Pentium 75 laptop...many thanks for EYEPIECE! - sci.astro.amateur, Jim Horn, Pengrove, CA. (7/15/02)

Have I got a deal for you! We are in the same boat, I'm also in the decision stage of telescope purchase. I thought I had decided and then I found a great program called "eyepiece" by Regina L. Roper. You can play with all the scope and ep numbers and get some "eye opening" information. It is free... - sci.astro.amateur, "glathrem" (10/20/99)

Good eyepieces are a major investment, and this program is designed to tell people what they want to know about their eyepieces' performance..."Scope" has very specific objectives (no pun intended), and it meets them economically. If you want to judge eyepieces, this program does it. - John Mosley, Griffith Observatory, astro computing editor, SKY & TELESCOPE (11/92)

Also, see reviews in ASTRONOMY: 1/96, SKY & TELESCOPE: 3/96

Copyright (c) 1992-2008 Regina Roper, All Rights Reserved.
All trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective copyright holders/owners. Prepared 5/26/99 at 12:27 am; last update on: Friday 16 May 2008 at 3:05 am.

New ONLINE RESOURCES
In early 2007 we have converted many of the information files in "Eyepiece" into illustrated webpages to provide even more useful information to learn astronomy; about using your telescope; and for the best astronomy links on the web.

For Families, Youngsters, and Beginners:

For Beginning to Advanced Deep-Sky Observers:

Techniques & Telescopes:

The Best Astronomy Websites:




Mercury Transits Sun, by Steve Waldee
Mercury transit of Sun, November 8, 2006, imaged by Steve Waldee with Orion Sky Pro 120 mm aperture f/8 refractor using modified Logitech webcam: stack of 63 individual frames of best steadiness from a 25 second AVI file, processed by Registax 3 © S. Waldee 2006 - All Rights Reserved

Click for these articles:  
FAQs about "Eyepiece"
Full-Moon Essays - articles and ramblings about observing
Regina's Report on the 2003 Mars Opposition
Regina's Report on the 2001 Leonid Meteor Shower
and Regina's Lick Observatory Concert Experiences
Astronomy related bios of Stephen and Regina

Our other websites:
The Horsehead Nebula Website
Roper Piano Studio Home Page
Shortwave Listening Our Way - archive

Like older astro software? See Chris Kronberg's Astro Tools archive.


New Article: Aug-Dec. 2006 & Later:
Don't miss our "magnum opus" observing hints article, "Faint Fuzzies: near city lights!", including just about all the suggestions that we could think of for improving your chances of seeing deep-sky objects, even near the light pollution of a giant metropolis! Read it in our "Full Moon Essays" at this link, followed by more than 100 in-depth reports of challenging celestial wonders seen by the author, not far from his home in the SF bay area.


Visitors: 
Copyright statement: permission is not granted for reprinting these articles anywhere. Aside from brief quotes of a few sentences allowed under "fair use" permissions that may be allowed by copyright law, we do not sanction the use of these articles on other websites or in newsletters, or on CD-ROM astronomy compilations. You may link to this page or to individual articles.