Just wondering if any of you peeps do any star gazing in your spare time? Something I've always been interested in, so I might get me a decent home telescope the other side of Xmas (been reading reviews, looking at prices recently), and was wondering if anyone already had a set up?
Any pics would be good. Of either your set ups or, like, Jupiter. It's all good.
G8ina is into it if i remember right. Does photography through his telescope as well.
http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/Vie...e=PON08J000100
That's the one I've been lead to believe is a nice entry level model.
Still dabling at the photography side, but do have a setup. Biggest problem for me is find places to use it, no garden, and one likely looking place ended up being a local dogging spot, and idiot boy here was wandering around it with a little red torch.
Anyway, luckilly I have a large importer near to me, and they do ex demo offers. I needed a resonably mobile setup so opted for a meade etx105, does the job for me. As its getting colder and cear skies should be out with it a bit more soon, mates got a lovely tal refractor. if you want something cheap avoid tasco like the plague, look at the cheaper tal scopes, built like tanks, heavy, but good optics.
Extra bit of advice, try and find al ocal club, they will probably have an open evening this time of year. Most of this stuff can be a pig to setup without help.
The only astronomy i do is at night whilst flying looking out the cockpit windows. You get some really good views but i've never thought about taking it up. I can spend ages just looking at the stars though
I can't remember what I got my gf but it was considered at the time to be a sort of.. top of the beggining range. I think it was a Skywatcher of some description.
It was closer to £200 though as I wasn't sure how serious she was but she seems to like it for the basic near by stuff
Just remember to look at the controls once in a while eh ?Originally Posted by handscombmp
The only astronomy i do is at night whilst flying looking out the cockpit windows. You get some really good views but i've never thought about taking it up. I can spend ages just looking at the stars though
~'Armaments, universal debt, and planned obsolescence--those are the three pillars of Western prosperity'~ Aldous Huxley
Eh, s'all autopilot these days!Just remember to look at the controls once in a while eh ?
Good view of the stars from up there?Your photo's wouldn't be amazing either, i imagine you'd have an issue with motion and keeping the camera steady
Yeah they wouldn't be to good. You'd have motion as you'd have to have the shutter open for a long time but keeping the camera steady would be ok on a calm flight.Eh, s'all autopilot these days!
Good view of the stars from up there?
Shame though as you can see pretty clearly up there as you don't have as much light pollution. But you do have the lights on the outside of the plane
Yes all very good boys.
Now, as I said, does anyone actually do any star gazing?
You know, do you go outside, when it's dark, with a telescope, point it at the sky, and look at things?
Whoops.Yes all very good boys.
Now, as I said, does anyone actually do any star gazing?
You know, do you go outside, when it's dark, with a telescope, point it at the sky, and look at things?
No i don't go and get a telescope but i think i'd like to. I'll have to wait and see what you find out Stewart
Yeah, everyone seems to like the idea of it, just seems very few of us take the plunge and get a 'scope.
This has made my mind up, I will get me a decent home telescope after Xmas, and look at Saturn 'n that.
To the skies!
Well, you can see the rings of saturn on a relatively small 'scope. Our mechanics lecturer said you only need one around £50 (though he didn't mention the diameter) to do that.
Your best bet is to set a budget and then pick a telescope that's the best value for money.
You might also want to look into the proper notation and things, so Right Ascension, Declination, using arc minutes/seconds, etc.
http://ukastroimaging.co.uk/forums/index.php
http://www.cloudynights.com/index.php
You'll want to buy the largest mirror diameter you can afford really. Also bear in mind if you're planning on doing things more seriously, like going into astrophotography, getting motorised telescope mounts, there's also this which is a bit pricey but you might like the look of:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/956a/ or http://www.celestron.com/skyscout/index.php
Last edited by Whiternoise; 01-12-2008 at 06:43 PM.
Yeah, I have heard that the universe is quite roomy... finding things can be tricky.
I thought about it, then just downloaded google earth (sky) instead.
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