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Bruce,take care of yourself as summer colds or flu are worse than in
winter.The reason I made a glass horizon was that the wind is so strong here
it would ripple the fluid in my Davis horizon no matter what I tried.I got
tired of being frustrated.The glass horizon can be a pain to level and the
liquid horizon is basically self leveling.That is the minus of the glass
horizon but there is no ripple after leveling is complete and that,to me,is
a plus.
I also have a Tamaya 733 and use it and the glass horizon around the house
for observations with good results.I take the plastic sextant with me
because of the weight factor when hikeing.The levels,in my opinion,are all
that's needed even with a premium sextant.If greater accuracy is needed I'd
get a surveyers transit.That's only my opinion,not fact based on anything.
On another note,I did some experiments in June reguarding the Lunar
intercept method and posted my results.Unfortunetly for me most of you were
on vacation or gone in that time frame.I asked some questions about the
findings,mainly concerning the differances in results useing 2 differant
celestial methods to find the chrono error.If you guys could help enlighten
me on this I'd be greatfull.



-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Stark [mailto:Stark4677@AOL.COM]
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 11:58
To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
Subject: Re: Arificial Horizons and Tea


I think you've got the answer, Doug. Pretty much what Robert suggested.

A couple of years ago I put together something similar using a 9 by 7 inch
piece of top-quality mirror. I used three screws instead of four, one of
them in
the middle of a side. It's a lot heavier and bulkier than your design, which
is one reason I seldom use it. Another reason is that the mirror is so
bright
I'm afraid some bystander will damage an eye by accidentally getting a blast
of the sun's reflection. With you, in the desert, that would be no concern.
Also, with a plastic sextant, the levels you use are probably all you need.

Since I have a Tamaya Spica I bought a Starrett machinist's level -- which
cost nearly $70 -- to finish the leveling.  Perhaps I should see if I can
still
get stars with that mirror. If so, maybe I'll try your more easily carried
system.

But for ease of carrying, and convenience in setting up and putting away, I
don't think you can beat a well thought out water horizon. The foremost
consideration is that the house with the glass roof should not touch the
pan.

At present I'm relaxing around the house, using a fresh cold and incessant
cough as an excuse to avoid physical or mental effort. Later today I hope to
have more findings to add to the body of knowledge we've built regarding
boiled
water and tea.

Bruce

   

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