My First Scope

[MrB (Simon)]

Haha, nice one gman!
Aperture Vs portability?
Aperture wins

Happy Bday too!

[renormalised (Carl)]

Hmmmmm....must be some way around this

Feed her some "time dilation" drug in her coffee or tea that'll make her think it's tomorrow and change all the calendars and such in your house to tomorrow's date

[acropolite (Phil)]

Originally Posted by Grant

Well I do what any budding astronomy enthusiast would do, I upgrade to the 10" and go pick it up.

Good move there's no substitute for aperture. Good luck with the weather.....

[programmer]

Originally Posted by gman

My wife says I have to wait until tomorrow to even unpack it as it is my birthday present
Till tomorrow

Right, so 12:01AM 'tomorrow' you'll be ripping into it then

[Solanum]

Originally Posted by gman

It is sitting in the kitchen right now still in its carton.
My wife says I have to wait until tomorrow to even unpack it as it is my birthday present
Till tomorrow

Ha, that is gentle indulgence. When you start splashing out on eyepieces and other accessories that suddenly add up to more than the initial scope cost her attitude will change, don't you worry. Unfortunately it probably won't be for the better....

[renormalised (Carl)]

All the troubles with various "Ministers for Finance and Homeland Security" are easily solved. Never have joint bank a/cs. Always setup a "commons" a/c for the home finances and keep your own separate a/cs. Agree to put in a certain amount each pay into the "commons" a/c and the rest of the money is yours to use how you like. The said parties need to be able to run it all like a small business..which in a way it is.

But then, all that is just the utopian outlook on how it should be done. Reality, unfortunately, doesn't quite meet the standards of the fantasy

[gman (Grant)]

I haven't discussed the add-ons yet.

Various Eye pieces
The Telrad
The Go-to EQ mount
The property in the country with a purpose built observatory

Gee whiz, this astronomy stuff is a quite an expensive hobby and I haven't even got into astro-photography yet.

Maybe a reason for another thread but how do you guys break the news that that you want to spend another few hundred dollars on your hobby every couple of months

[asterisk (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by gman

I haven't discussed the add-ons yet.

Various Eye pieces
The Telrad
The Go-to EQ mount
The property in the country with a purpose built observatory

Gee whiz, this astronomy stuff is a quite an expensive hobby and I haven't even got into astro-photography yet.

Maybe a reason for another thread but how do you guys break the news that that you want to spend another few hundred dollars on your hobby every couple of months

I don't know how to tell you this, but the "property in the country" will cost more than "another few hundred dollars".

The rest can be smuggled in as they are quite small. The last I have had no luck with, at all. Just a straight out "NO".

[gman (Grant)]

Originally Posted by asterisk

I don't know how to tell you this, but the "property in the country" will cost more than "another few hundred dollars".

The rest can be smuggled in as they are quite small. The last I have had no luck with, at all. Just a straight out "NO".

Just making light of the natural progression on the scope accessory must haves
Fortunatley, I have got my wife and kids interested so a few $ here and there may not go missed from the budget.

On a serious side, I would love to move to the the Southern NSW coast around Tathra, Pambula, Merimbula area.
I don't think the reasoning for being closer to dark sky for the scope will get it over the line just yet.
Looks like a retirement dream. (25yr wait)

[Jen]

good on ya gman well it is neally midnight sit beside it and wait for the clock to strike midnight and go fo it buddy just in time to get a good view of Jupiter wooohoo have fun u lucky thing you

[asterisk (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by gman

Just making light of the natural progression on the scope accessory must haves

I once considered the amount of money I have spent on "must have" accessories, and then I quickly thought of anything else. My comment about costing more than a few hundred was meant in the same vein as your comments.

On a serious side, I would love to move to the the Southern NSW coast around Tathra, Pambula, Merimbula area.

Stay away from the coast - too much dew! Go west!

Cheers

[gman (Grant)]

Well, the day has arrived.
My family sang happy birthday and they went back to bed except for my 5 yr old.
She was as excited, (if not more), about the telescope.
I started with the base of course.
Checked all the pieces and started to put it together.
My daughter handing me every piece I need. (slowed the process)
Stopped short of completing the base and attacked an M/T milk carton for some washers to take some pressue off the teflon pads as per Mikes project article on "Smooth motion with Dob base mods". (In went 5 washer)

Next came the OTA and f/scope.
All assembled and sitting perfectly on the base.

Checked the collimation and all seems OK at this stage - next is the star test (actual use)

I thought, you beauty, I will get this outside tonight as the morning was pretting nice, mind you I had not taken any notice of the weather forcasts.

Wouldn't you know it,this arvo, cloud every where and I hear that they have also predicted rain in Melb.

You guys warned me of this and low an behold, it has happened.
New scope = poor visibility and/or rain.

[Jen]

Oh no Gman that happened to me when i got my scope i had to wait for neally 2 weeks to get mine out under a nice clear sky arhhhhhhh hope the sky clears up for you real soon cheers Jen xoxo

[gman (Grant)]

Had my first real viewing session tonite.
After having the operation on my foot I was down and out for a week and the weather in Melb has been pretty crappy for the past 2 weeks.

Went straight to Saturn, went down ep's to the 9mm
Nice view but I am waiting for the 2x barlow to arrive - I need to see more

Then went to the Jewel Box
Has been looking real good in the bino's and I have been biting at the bit for a view a bit closer.

I was a bit disappointed.

Not really of whats out there, but my ep's
They are the stock issue from Bintel that came with the scope.
Whilst the centre of the view was crisp and in focus, when looking to the outer edges of the FOV, it was like my eyes were driving over rough road.
The stars were in focus but looked like the were travelling over lumps.
These abberations in the ep's left me wanting crisper, smoother and clearer viewing.
Then done a little star hopping to see how I could manage to find my way around with a scope. Lot easier with the bino's but not that hard as long as your finderscope is aligned

All in all I am happy with the purchase but I was left wanting more.
Look out classifieds and Astronomy shops, I am on the lookout for a couple of decent ep's.
Had to pack up early as I had to pick up my boys from the AFL game tonite
I think that bug has bit me good.

[Jen]

yep u been bitten
have fun