ted saker, jr. - Astronomy Technology Today

Reader
Profile
TED SAKER, JR.
A native and lifelong resident of
Columbus, Ohio, the astronomy bug bit
me during the heady days of the Apollo
program. My first telescope was a 6-inch
f/7 Edmundscope Newtonian. I soon
developed an interest in astrophotography.
The Total Lunar Eclipse of November 18,
1975, was my first imaging run.
I graduated from The Ohio State
University in 1981. A career in astronomy
was not in the cards for me, but I took
every non-major astronomy course, studying under Drs. Eugene Capriotti and
Gerald Newsome.
The first telescope I purchased was a
Celestron SP-C8. First light was the Total
Lunar Eclipse of June 27, 1992. This
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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY
instrument enabled me to pursue prime
focus astrophotography. I began with the
moon, planets, and brighter deep sky
objects.
Anticipating the future of imaging,
but daunted by the prices of CCD cameras,
I built a Cookbook 245 camera. Once I
surmounted the steep learning curve, the
camera’s capabilities seemed endless, particularly under urban skies. I purchased an
Andy Saulitis color filter wheel and
dichrotic color filters from good old
Edmund Scientific. I was soon capturing
tri-color images of galaxies, nebulae and
clusters. Quickly outstripping the capabilities of the Cookbook 245, I built a Genesis
(Audine) camera around the same chip
used in the SBIG ST-8.
I began attending major star parties
with the 2001 Texas Star Party due to the
reputation of imaging conditions in the
Davis Mountains. I have not missed a TSP
since 2001, and added three Winter Star
Parties (2005-2007), two Starfests (2005,
2007), and my first Green Bank Star Quest
(2007). I discovered ATT at WSP 2007,
signed up for the trial subscription on the
spot, and bought a full subscription at TSP
2007.
Gearheadedness is the predictable
result of imaging’s tech demands. My
imaging rig evolved over the years,
becoming a Gemini-equipped Losmandy
G-11 GEM, an Robo focus equipped
Celestron C-11, an SBIG ST-8, CFW10
and AO-7. I normally save observing for
star parties when the Mark I binoviewer
enhanced with Celestron Ultima and TeleVue eyepieces perform best. I enjoy solar
observing as the hours and conditions
are much better. I used a PST to observe
and photograph two total solar eclipses
with a Meade ETX-90RA, racking
up about 5½ minutes in the moon’s
shadow.
When not imaging or observing, I
practice law in Columbus. I observe and
image from my home and historic Perkins
Observatory. My three children have
attended TSP, Starfest, and Green Bank. I
hope to instill in them a love of the beauty
of the heavens and a sense of community
with all astronomers.
Looking back to the time I got my
Edmundscope (which I still use, it’s a killer
planetary scope), the growth and development of astronomy technology is nothing
short of amazing. ATT is the perfect publication, at the right time, to keep up with
new tech. Its razor sharp focus on that
topic and astronomy events provides timely information in a single, well designed
publication. I read it cover to cover, frequently more than once.
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