Hi all.
I'm headed to Melbourne on 4th Oct and was considering buying some 20 x 80 binos in the $300 - $350 range.
I see Oz Scopes have the Celestron Skymaster 20 x 80 at $350 which l could pick up and a few online offerings from $280 but l have left my run too late for delivery, even if l choose to deliver to Melb.
Does anyone have any suggestions for stores l could ring and enquire with.
I'm on to Ted's already but they're in the city.
Hoping to finally see Andromeda from the top of the hill in Ruffy, NE of Yea, got rained out last year.
For Andromeda, just north of Perth at ~32 degrees south is going to be better than Yea at ~37 degrees south.
Personally, I suspect much further north than either is what you need for Andromeda. I think that even in FNQ it doesn't get that high over the horizon.
Yes Perth is more North but it's a long drive to see the horizon and no light pollution.
Yea, or Ruffy to be precise, l walk up the paddock to the top of the hill and see every horizonwith very little light pollution.
It will be 10° above horizon at 1am, and stupidly cold.
Hi
I find talk about seeing M31 most confusing, the 1st time I viewed it was from near Yamba NSW at approx 29*S in the 80s' with 7X50 binos. The next time was in the 90s' from near Holbrook NSW at 36*S wit the same binos and have seen it many times since and imaged it from near Goulburn NSW at 34*S a few years ago.
It is not hard to find from anywhere north of 36*Sth if you have dark skies and a clear northern horizon, obviously being an hour either side of the meridian is key and I've seen it many times through 70mm binos from home, in bortle 5 skies.
If you can wait until Nov, you can come over and see M31 from my backyard when it transits around 9pm. It's about 16° above the horizon at that time. To see it I place my dob on top of a table to gain extra height
All this talk about M31, l just suggested l could buy some binoculars and view it from near Yea in Vic
My post was about binoculars, hence the begginers equipthread.
Thankyou all.
I have decided, after the forecast of 40mm of rain on my arrival to Vic, I'm going to buy gumboots.
Looking forward to meeting up with EpickCrom, another sand groper and a passionate observer.
We've spoken on the phone and he's definitely a wealth of knowledge.
No clear skies in Vic next week.
No binoculars purchase.
Stand down.
As you were
Just tried out my 20x80 binos.
WOW!
I'm in Ruffy, Vic, up high in the hills.
There are no clouds tonight, despite there being "clouds" in the sky. These "clouds" are space dust, nebulosity and very distant stars. They are big "clouds" too.
Amazing viewing, binos work a treat for $300.
I can see distant fuzzies, moons of Jupiter and just so much stuff.
I got completely lost in the sky.
Freezing cold here, tomorrow will be a few degrees warmer and better prepared.
I'm in astro nirvana!
Just tried out my 20x80 binos.
WOW!
I'm in Ruffy, Vic, up high in the hills.
There are no clouds tonight, despite there being "clouds" in the sky. These "clouds" are space dust, nebulosity and very distant stars. They are big "clouds" too.
Amazing viewing, binos work a treat for $300.
I can see distant fuzzies, moons of Jupiter and just so much stuff.
I got completely lost in the sky.
Freezing cold here, tomorrow will be a few degrees warmer and better prepared.
I'm in astro nirvana!
Hey Rod, glad you made it safely to Melbourne and that you are now in observing nirvana there with your 20x80's!
