I read an article that said this stuff helped improve contrast by reducing reflection inside the tube. I have an XT8 (which I love dearly) and am looking to squeeze every bit of performance I can from it. I checked out the Mfg's website and it assures me that the felt-like material does not shed.Also - Does anyone know where I can find an online version of the Sky and Telescope mods for smoothing the azimuth motion (It is evidently from an old issue), or somewhere else I might look for detailed instructions? Does anyone have any other suggestions that I might look into as far as tweeking the scope? Has anyone ever heard of doing adjustments on the box to increase the scope height for more comfortable viewing while standing? I know this is a lot to be asking at one time. Please, leave input on anything you can (even if you can only comment on a particular part of this question). As always, your time in responding is greatly appreciated.
You are right. They never do. It is really weird. If you inspect yearly bring batteries, and filters for the heating, they rarely change those either.
Lightning is caused by a build up of opposite (positive and negative) electrical charges. When the charges get strong enough, there is lightning flashing to equalize the charges again. If the opposing charges are in the earth and the clouds (as opposed to cloud to cloud) the lightning flashes between clouds and earth when the charges build up enough. Lightning rods stop this from happening by dispersing the charge in the earth slowly into the sky, thus keeping the opposing forces from reaching the flash point. The opposite end of the lightning rod you see on a building is an attached wire running to and buried deeply into the ground.
