Gday from Newcastle

[Jcro]

Hi all!

Really excited to be on here! Seems to be a really cool forum full of helpful members! I'm a beginning astronomer (although I studied astrophysics in uni, if that counts), got myself some 10x50 binoculars the other week, and subsequently couldn't resist taking the plunge and picking up an 8" dob from Bintel!

Haven't got a great range of view from my house, but I've managed to pick up some great views of a bunch of Messier objects in Sagittarius and Scorpius as well as some other assorted treats (saturn, the moon etc)

Thinking of picking up some eyepieces at some point in the future, (TV panoptics looked really exciting), wondering if they'd make a big difference in my scope?

Anyway, just wanted to say hey and would love to know if there are any locals around who can show me where all the best views can be got!

Cheers,
James

[Allan]

G'day James,

:welcome:

I live in Warners Bay. You are most welcome to bring your scope over and we can have a look around, and shoot the breeze about eyepieces. Panoptics are nice and will offer a big improvement over the eyepieces that are generally included with a new telescope. PM me if you want to catch up.

[h0ughy]

Hi guys - the next meeting of the NAS is next week where you will get to hear Mike Salway talk about nightscape photography

http://www.nas.org.au/ (http://www.nas.org.au/)

feel free to come along you might get to meet a few other people there and normally there is a viewing night the next night (weather permitting)

[Allan]

Thanks Houghy. I have been to a couple of NAS nights now, but will be away at the Bretti camp when the next meeting is on.

[bigjoe]

Hi James, and welcome also.

A 19mm Panoptic is a razor sharp ep, from personal experience. It has a wide enough
field and barlows extremely well, with even a bintel ED barlow.

I have used this combo on a variety of objects, planetary and globs for
instance, in different scopes, and have never been dissapointed.

Hope this helps in making your choice!

Cheers bigjoe.:)

[glend]

James you could bring your scope along to the Bretti Reserve astro camp which happens next week.

[Jcro]

Hi all!

Thanks for the warm welcome and replies!

Allan, love to come round to yours, I've sent you a PM.

Joe, I may actually try and get to Katoomba airfield on the 7th, as I usually go down to Sydney on the weekends, although love to get out to Bretti Reserve some time!

Thanks again,
Looking forward to meeting all you guys and catching up!

James

[barx1963]

The 24mm Panoptic is my favourite recommendation for a quality basic EP. An 8" scope at f5 gives 42x and the field is nice and mide and they are sharp. My old one was my fav EP for widefield before I went into Ethos's.
If going the 19mm, I am sure that would be a nice one also but have enever used one.

Cheers