pandoras box!!

[Crow]

I have talked for many years about my desire to see the rings of Saturn for myself one day! my darling husband has humored me this week by purchasing our first telescope!! we did abit of research and I thought we had decided on aCelestron NexStar 4 SE Computerized Cassegrain, but for some reason he ordered a aCelestron SkyProdigy 130 Computerised Reflector Telescope!

I really want to just be able to see the stars and planets, enjoy a wine on a nice summers night watching the stars, boring the family with constellation jargon they will never check up on me for and impress a few friends after a dinner party!

Please advise, will I be happy with his choice or do I destroy his confidence and change his order for our original choice or something different? :question: time is of the essence her! he's already ordered it!!

Ive checked out the images on this site? will I get close to some of the Saturn images with this scope? Just want to know so my expectations don't disappoint us!!

[Steffen]

So your husband went for an extra inch of aperture – nothing wrong with that ;)

You will most certainly be able to see the rings of Saturn with this telescope. You will not see the same images as the ones captured by some of the astrophotographers on this forum. However, with the 5" Newtonian you will be able to snap a decent planetary shot with an ordinary digital camera, if you're persistent.

Cheers
Steffen.

[noeyedeer]

yes you will be able to see Saturn's rings for sure. I have no problem seeing them with a non goto 114mm reflector. I posted a pic, single frame taken afocally through the eye piece.
happy days enjoy the scope when it arrives
matt

ps don't let that image put you off, its a lot clearer through the eyepiece then my phones camera :)

[Crow]

thank you so much. It is exactly what I needed. :thanx:

[noeyedeer]

that was at 200x, a Meade MA9mm with a x2 Barlow. Saturn looks good at any length, hopefully the supplied eyepieces let you get close enough. but you will see the rings and a few moons with ease even at 25mm

matt

[Crow]

thanks Matt. so this will be a real eye roll moment for you but can I clarify 200x with you. I assume it means magnification? here are the specifications. I appreciate your help and promise to name the meteor I discover in the future Crow:Noeyedeer1 (which I fear is indicative of my football team this year!) :D PS: we are really excited by your photo!! Sorry about the cut and paste. I understand if you ignore!!


Weight8.16 kgOptical DesignReflectorAperture130 mmFocal Length650 mm Focal Ratio
5Eyepiece 125 mm Magnification 126 xEyepiece 29 mm Magnification 272 xFinderscopeStarPointerMountMotoriz ed AltazimuthAccessory TrayNo tool, quick releaseTripodSteelOptical CoatingsAluminum with SiO2 overcoatCD ROMThe SkyX First Light Edition astronomy softwareHighest Useful Magnification307 xLimiting Stellar Magnitude13.1Resolution (Rayleigh)1.07 arcsecResolution (Dawes)0.89 arcsecLight Gathering Power345xAngular Field of View1.9 °Linear Field of View (@1000 yds)31.39mSecondary Mirror Obstruction43.18 mmSecondary Mirror Obstruction by Area11 %Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter33.2 %Computer Hand ControlFully Computerized / Flash UpgradeableSlew SpeedsNine slew speeds: 3°/sec, 2°/sec, 1°/sec, .5°/sec, 32x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 2xTracking RatesSidereal, Solar and LunarTracking ModesAlt-AzAlignment ProceduresStarSense Automatic Alignment, Solar System Align

[noeyedeer]

nah its cool, I'm guessing you're getting a 25mm and a 9mm eyepiece with the scope. Saturn at 9mm (which equals 272x by the info) will blow you away and even at other powers, its a magestical sight you will never forget no matter what. seeing at higher powers thou needs good "air", otherwise it'll look more like my pic :)

I'm not sure what power that will be with you scope (its easy to work out but I've had too many beers), but you will be impressed! Most people will agree with me.

matt

(I edited after I Re Re Re read the copy/paste) and oh yes ... 200x was the magnification, sorry for leaving that out.

[jjjnettie]

:) Welcome to IIS Anita.
A Pandora's box indeed. You'll love your new scope.
May I suggest you get along to your nearest Astronomical Society, go to an open night or two. You will learn heaps. :)

Are you on Facebook?

[Crow]

thanks for that! cheers!

[Crow]

Hey Thanks! I definitely plan to do that, and purchase the backyard astronomer book! My hubby blind sided me with this gift, and amazed me might I say! He's a cyclist so I sort of think he's angling for his turn at the savings for a new bike.....

Yes Im on facebook. was following the amazing Col Hatfield from it ISS which has reignited my passions for deep space! Loving all the info from this forum... wading through all the new terminology!!

[jjjnettie]

Feel free to send me a friend request. :) https://www.facebook.com/jjjnettie
There's quite a few of us on FB from here. We'll hook you up with the other ladies on the forum too. :D

[Allan_L]

Magnification is calculated by dividing focal length of scope by the eyepiece.
Your focal length seems to be 650mm.
I think this is saying you get a 9mm eyepiece and a 25 mm eyepiece.
So your magnifications will be 72x and 26x respectively.

Start with the lesser magnification eyepiece first (the 25mm).
It will be easier to get it centred then switch to the stronger eyepiece for a bigger image (if the atmosphere, "seeing", is good enough).

You can further ramp up the magnification with a barlow lens if/when you have one.

Regards
Allan

[noeyedeer]

thanks Allen,
I knew it was easy :) I actually see those numbers in the info now.
sorry if I confused you Anita.

matt

[Jon]

Anita, a 130mm reflector is just fine for a first scope IMHO. It was my first scope and I had it for 20 years!

[Crow]

Got my scope tonight! Its beautiful and alittle bit sexy!! Cloudy night unfortunatley but thats ok. doing alot of reading instead! Learning all about what your all saying. very excited! Thanks so much for the heads up. im already boring the family with some new jargon..... will let you know what happens!

[Camelopardalis]

Congrats on your first scope Anita! The Sky Prodigy series are supposed to self-align, you should just need to stick it out there more or less level and press "go" :) 130mm should show you plenty of wonders for sure.

[noeyedeer]

nice stuff Anita and congrats! wait till all that boring jargon becomes images in the eyepiece, instead of yawning they'll be wowing LOL :)

matt