Hello Earth!

[Telstar]

Hey everyone,

Many years ago, on a camping trip, my Dad told me that every star in the sky was a sun. He also told me that the milky way, shining brightly above, was not a cloud, or mist, but millions of stars packed together in the night sky. The arm of a spiral of stars that is our "Milky Way" galaxy. Just one of billions of galaxies in the universe.

I was awed by this information, as any kid is when they finally grasp the reality of it.

Back home, he piqued my interest with a few illustrated paperbacks. One about the solar system and another about the Apollo moon landings. I remember watching the Space Shuttle launch live on TV around this time.

A few years later, my Dad woke me up in the middle of the night, took me into the back yard with a pair of binoculars and pointed me in the direction of Halley's Comet - which I can still vividly recall seeing low on the horizon, with it's long illuminated tail.

I'm all grown up now. I've travelled the world extensively. I've been to places most people only ever read about (if they've heard of them at all) and have filled my life with numerous fulfilling interests and pastimes. And now I'm coming full circle, teaching my own kids about the wonders of the Cosmos, and reconnecting with that little kid on the camping trip all those years ago. My sense of awe when looking at the night sky has never left me. If anything, it is stronger now than it has ever been.

I've never owned a pair of binoculars, let alone a telescope. I'd be hard pressed pointing out more than two or three constellations. I've looked through a few different telescopes a handful of times, most of them very recent. To say I'm a newb is, well - a massive understatement. The language used, even in this beginners forum, is an entirely new vocabulary for me, whilst many of the beginner photos posted here have impressed me greatly.

I'm in no hurry. Time is on my side. This could be a hobby that, if all goes well, I can spend the rest of my life pursuing. For now I'm happy looking up every chance I get (I'm lucky to live a little way out of the city where the Milky Way that captured my imagination as a kid is still visible). I'm going to make an effort to learn my way around those stars a little better, finally put names to those shapes. I've begun bidding Jupiter and Saturn a good evening on my nightly walk home from the train station. Looking forward to saying hello to Mars & Venus when they pop their heads up.

I do plan to fetch a pair of binoculars soon and will be reading this forum for advice on this subject. All being well, I'll be asking plenty more about plenty else in due course.

Great to find this place, looks like a really positive and inspiring community.

Talk soon,

Telstar (Tom)

[barx1963]

Hiya Tom and welcome to IIS!!:welcome::hi::hi:
Thanks for the story. Very similar to mine except being a bit older mine was about the Leonids in 1966, seeing Saturn through my brothers old scope and watching the Apollo landing in '69.
Anyway, binos are a good way to start. If planning to hand hold 10x50s are about right, any larger will need a tripod.
Another good idea is to start learning constellations and the brighter stars. A planisphere eg http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories/Planispheres/52/catmenu.aspx are useful, or this book http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories/Books--Charts-and-Software/A-Walk-Through-The-Southern-Sky/665/productview.aspx
If going into a scope, others may disagree but a good 8" dobsonian is a great place to start (eg http://www.bintel.com.au/Telescopes/Dobsonian/Bintel-BT202-B-8--Dobsonian/72/productview.aspx ) easy to handle, not a huge investment and easy to sell when you upgrade.
You did mention the beginners images being impressive, Is imaging a thing you want to pursue? Just be aware that imaging and visual astronomy are very different beasts, and it is a rare person that manages to combine both. Also the equipment requirements are very different.

Anyhoo, thats enough of me prattling on!!

Cheers

Malcolm

[Telstar]

Hey Barx, thanks for the warm welcome.

I work in video production, so there's no shortage of camera tripods in my office that I can borrow for some sturdy bino viewing (I assume it's a simple bino attachment?). From what I've gathered, 10x50 should be a good start.

As for the next move after that, I don't want to rush - but I will confess that as a video producer with a strong background in both photography and digital imaging (I was a professional photo re-toucher before moving into video), it would be disingenuous for me to say I don't harbour ambitions of one day venturing into the expanding universe of astro-photography/imaging.

On the one hand, I can see how an 8 inch dob would be a fun, low investment, low risk entry into amateur astronomy. On the other, I've been planning on buying a decent DSLR for years now. I've worked with the 5D MKII for photography and video and it (or something similar) has been the next big purchase on my list for a while (astronomy interest aside). Now I am realising, this could be an alternate entry into my new hobby. I love wide-field night sky / milky way images and would love to learn how to make them, time-lapse scenes as well. It's a bigger deal and greater investment than buying an entry level telescope, but with my photo & imaging background - probably not as a big a learning curve.

The concept of multipe long exposures and post processing in Photoshop is not at all alien to me. I understand that it can get incredibly complex with astro-imaging, but night sky shots feel like an attainable short-term goal.

That said, the idea of just having fun with a dob in the back yard, sharing my discoveries with friends and family and joining the local astro group does sound pretty cool to me also.

So yeh, lots to think about - which is why i'm here - talking to good folk such as yourself :)

[barx1963]

Cool!
I have a 5DII and I haven't used it for any serious astro work ( I am a visual observer mainly) but it is a great camera.
Doing widefield and timelapses using a DSLR and stock lenses is a simple way to get into imaging without the need necessarily to invest in specialist gear (mount, CCD, Guidescopes, autoguiders etc)

Malcolm

[Suzy]

Oh boy oh boy I really enjoyed that story Tom and thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Your journey is so much like the one I had with my father! :eyepop:
Being woken up all hours of the night for eclipses etc, the thrill of going after Halley's comet, showing me supernova sn1987a blazing away naked eye in our sky, showing me the milkyway... *sigh* I could go on! He's passed on, but I still have his 7x50 binoculars which I cherish. In a sense I feel that he is still with me when I use them. Like you, my passion for astronomy has grown stronger as I've grown older. So many times, oh how I wish he could see me now- I could teach him so much now (& share so much)- have large scope, will travel! :lol:. Best I could do is dedicate one of my XW eyepieces in his honour (yet to be engraved). And again, like you, I now share it with my daughter. The Geminid's meteor shower in December is a big thing for us & she has a blast! When I leave this soil I told her, keep looking at the Geminids every year and think of me. :) Okay I'm getting teary now! :lol: I did a thread not so long ago in fact on a story about one of the meteor showers we did together. She was clearing out her room and found a diary entry of hers which she showed me. Oh what pure gold that was! :lol: "I Was Eight Years Old, Fair Go Mum!" (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=99005)

If you want to have some great fun teaching the kids the sky, how about this laser pointer- only $9 from Sydney on e-bay. It's a 1mw so it's legal. I got mine from these people and I was very happy with their service- well packaged & received inside three days. It's not a massively bright beam, but I've got no problem seeing it through light pollution.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Q1-New-Stylish-Green-lazer-Laser-Beam-Light-Pen-Pointer-1mW-532nm-High-Power-/300893047291?pt=AU_LaserPointers&hash=item460e9f89fb

Regarding your interest in widefield night sky photography, Mike Salway (iceman) the founder of this forum, is currently running an on-line tutorial on how to do this (he's just done the first one).
More info here: http://www.mikesalway.com.au/2013/05/06/np101-what-are-nightscapes/

Take your time learning the sky- in my opinion doing so actually enables stuff to sink in better. But a good start I think would be in learning the brightest stars (http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/brightest.html). Then slowly learn the constellations. And if you have trouble making out their shape for what their supposed to be- some of us even make up our own (so we can recognise easily). Sagittarius and Centaurus are hair raisers for me- I make my own up there :rolleyes:. And I doubt if many of us know all of them anyway. Four years on and I'm still making my way learning them. But there's no hurry- the sky isn't going anywhere and when the moon is out and bright, that's a perfect time to do that so it doesn't take time away from actual observing nights.

Malcolm's suggestion of a planisphere is a good one. It helped me a lot when I first started out & I still refer to it. I found it especially useful when objects such as Sagittarius (there we go again :rolleyes::lol: ) cross the meridian and end up upside down as they head west to set. Aye..aye.aye.. so very confusing. Because now the objects are in a different place now aren't they.:mad2: Kind of upside down and what was on the right is now on the left. :screwy:

I have 10x60 binoculars which I use without a tripod. They just slide under being hand held do-able. I got mine from Andrews Communications- take a look at their website, they're very helpful people to deal with & their prices are good (lots of us get our gear from them).

If you want more help, don't be afraid to ask- the guys here are always happy to assist. It's a hobby we find ourselves constantly learning in I think, no matter what the skill level. So the best advice I could give you, which I'm pleased you already plan to do, is to take it slow! I really enjoy working one constellation at a time when observing. When I first started, I spent 6 months alone not budging from Crux and Carina. I love to source out from several maps as many objects I can for the one constellation (the process of planning is half the fun!) and explore away. I feel like I really get to know a constellation this way and then I end up remembering off the top of my head where those objects are. It sure makes it a great personal experience with the the sky.

An 8" is a great scope, no doubt about that. But if you can afford it, go the 10". Unless you plan on going from the 8" to a 12" eventually. But you wouldn't go from an 8" to a 10" (not a big enough leap to make a lot of difference). Myself, I started with a 6" dob and went to a 10". I think the 10" will see you through a lot longer. Also! It's heavy enough to accommodate a DSLR. I use prime focus using a T-Ring with my Canon DSLR. Some fish tank magnets on the bottom of the tube is very helpful in balancing it. Two large ones (separated to make 4) should see you thru nicely. Just make sure they're gently slid onto the tube- you don't want them smashing onto the tube as it connects esp. near the mirror (I'm always worried it may dent the tube or knock out the alignment of the mirror). Using prime focus you can take amazing pics of the moon, the sun (with a solar filter), planets, and bright star clusters & some bright DSO's (that one I haven't done yet). This is really hubby's domain- me, I'm mainly a visual observer.

So here's some pics to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Note the magnets on the bottom of the tube (tho only 2 are visible in the pic) to balance it- a combination of large and smaller magnets plus a bag with weights with a velcro strap wrapped around the tube. However, the magnets ended up doing most of the work and if I used 2 large magnets in place of the smaller magnet, that bag of weights wouldn't have been needed. The wires seen at the base belong to the Argo Narvis which is push-to-go electronic guidance.
139749

Solar eclipse.
139750

The moon.
139751


Hope all this helps. Either way, get the binos- you'll still use them plenty when you get your telescope.
Oh and oops nearly forgot! :welcome:

[ZeroID]

And noone has mentioned Stellarium yet !! :shrug:
:welcome: Tom, nice story and great ambitions backed up with some very useful skills and resources, you will do well.
Get Stellarium, free, on your PC. Fastest way to learn and find your way around the sky and a great tool for finding objects you want to view.

And beware the jabberwock ... the steep slippery slope of Astrophotography. It will frustrate and challenge you and spend all your money. Bi=ut you know that and it won't stop you anyway.
Welcome to the madhouse ... :D

[Kunama]

Hello Tom and welcome,
Thanks for the great introduction, I'm sure you will love your astro adventure. I am often amazed by the different reactions of people to the wonders above, and I'm thrilled when I hear others feel like I do and just marvel at the cosmos. (Makes me feel less like a geek !!)
In total contrast to me, my wife and her family would only look up if I went to the moon and painted it pink.
Personally I don't go anywhere without a pair of binoculars in the car, without doubt the most useful astro equipment.

There are many many threads on here which give the pros and cons of various telescopes but the best thing to do is try before you buy anything.
If you post your location you might find members who are willing to show off their scopes. I am down in the Snowy Mountains so if you are passing by you're welcome to try my little refractor in a very dark site.

(Suzy, I see you're still writing essays .....:D )

[Telstar]

Suzy:

Wow, what a great, informative and passionate post - thanks for the welcome and for sharing your story. I just read your daughters diary entry from when she was 8, very sweet! Has she kept up her interest in astronomy? If not, she will pick it up again one day.

My eldest daughter is only 3 and a half, but she can name all of the planets - and pluto "not a planet anymore daddy". She knows about nebulas and galaxies and can even tell you what Saturn's rings are made from. We observed the partial eclipse together the other week, a special moment.

Yes, I've followed Mike Salway's blog on night-sky imaging, looking forward to the next instalment.

Looks like a clever rig you and hubby have made yourselves there with the DSLR, dob and counterweight. Definately given me some food for thought. Nice pix too. Was that the eclipse from the other week or the one last year?

My youngest daughter, only 6 months, was born just days after last years total solar eclispe up north. If it were any other time, i'd have been there in a flash. It's near the top of my "things-to-do-before-I-die" list. I'll travel anywhere to see one. If I never get around to it, at least I know there's one due to pass over Sydney in 2028 :)


ZeroID:

Stellarium - does it work on Mac? I'm a Mac dude, though I've gathered that some software is only produced for Windows. I use an app called Star Walk which I've found very helpful so far.

Thanks for the welcome, and the warning! Don't worry, I plan to spend as much time as possible at the steep end of the slope before free-falling :)


Kunama:

Isn't it funny that being in awe with the skies makes us seem geeky. I only wish there was an obsevatory (or two) in every suburb, free for all to use and enjoy. Astronomy should be a mainstream interest, not a niche hobby. But that's the way it is I spoze. Fortunately for me, my wife shares my passion for the sky - though both of us are so time poor these days with the arrival of our new family. It's another reason I won't be rushing into anything - I can't really justify too many evenings or weekends away at this point.

I'm located south of the Royal National Park in the Illawarra. The sky down here is pretty spectacular compared to the city, but there's still a prominent city glow to the north.

* * *

Great to meet you all!

[Kunama]

I too am a Mac user and have Stellarium on it. Nice area you live in, I once lived at Stanwell Park (1971)

[Suzy]

I know right.... sometimes I even embarrass myself :P:lol:
Hi Matt :hi:


Tom, yes that solar eclipse pic was taken last year in 2012 ;), a time when you would've had you're hands really full by the sounds! I was blown away at your 3 yr old's understanding of astronomy.:eyepop:
I was just mainly showing you the pics so you can see what a 10" dob is capable of at an entry level into simply photography really. I know one day that with your background you'll probably go much further than that. If you have a bottomless pit of $$$$$$$$ ;):lol: (pssst, learn how to earn astro brownie points with your wife;):lol:, we love to spend other peoples money, so come back here when you have some points up your sleeve :lol:).

My daughter... she's interested, but not heavily into it. I guess at 22yrs other things seem more important at that age for most. She'll have a look at a few things but not one to do a session. She did accompany hubby & I with her best friend to one of AstroRon's monthly star parties last winter. She plays guitar and she played the most beautiful soft music under the Milky Way while we were observing, breaking here and there for a look thru his telescope. And of course she loves meteor showers. :D

[Max Vondel]

Thanks Tom and Suzy for sharing your star stories.

I wish I had parents as "Cosmically Aware" as yours.
Discovering the night sky is a wonderous thing.

Especially sharing with our children.
My 12 year old daughter now loves Science and History

As Simon Townsend used to say " The world really is wonderful"

Let's not keep the good stuff to ourselves
And share it with those around us

:jump:

[dryice]

Hi all,
My first post here, motivated by similar memories of Halley's comet to those so well described by Tom. I was five in 1986, so while it's not my earliest memory, definitely one of the first concerning the natural world.

I have just acquired a pre-loved Bintel/GSO dob (10"), after much reading on this forum and Cloudy Nights. A big thanks to all you contributors for building a great resource for those just starting out.

Bring on 2061!

Lucas

[Draco]

Hi Tom

:welcome:to IIS. I love the planisphere and sky atlases. However there are times when I dont have these with me and am just dying to find out what is that object in the sky. For these times, I have got SkySafari on my iPhone. There are similar apps for Android phones as well. I got the free version of SkySafari (they were free once sometime back). It is a great app and you just point to the sky and it tells you (within some error margins) what is it that you are looking at. Love it. It is quite expensive for me to get the pro version ($40?) but someday I might take the plunge. However at the moment, the free version suits me well.

[ZeroID]

Hi Lucas, :welcome:to he madhouse as well.
Nice 'acquistion', should keep you amused for a while. Any assistance you need, just ask away here.