It's Here and it's HUGE!!

[duncan]

Hi all,
Well the wait is finally over and i'm GOBSMACKED!!.12" of Bintel Dob has arrived. So i'm just sitting here munching on a pie and staring at the water heater in front of me. Man this thing is big. I thought i could imagine how big but i was wrong. OK better go and start some assembly. YAAAHHOOOOOOOO!!:eyepop: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :whistle:

[astro_nutt]

Nice one Duncan..don't forget to smear a bit of silicone on the exposed bits on the base as they have a tendency to absorb moisture like wheat-bix!
Cheers!

[cahullian]

Good onya Duncan. you will have a blast with your new scope. I have had the good fortune to look through a few 12" Dobs and they were all very impressive. How are you at collimating? I hear the 12' is a bit tricky at first.

Gazz

[iceman]

Congrats Duncan! It is large, that's for sure!

You will not be disappointed.

As Gazz says, learn how to collimate!

[ving]

go dunc go! :)

[duncan]

G'day everyone,
Thanks for all the advice so far. Base is assembled.Easy even with no instructions! Anyhow i'll keep on going with the rest of it. I'm reasonably adept at most things so hopefully collimation won't be to big a hassle,LOL.
Thanks again to you all, i'll be back later on tonight.
Cheers,
Duncan

ps. Officially a stargazer at last ROFLMHO!!!:rofl:

[doogal]

yeehaww:lol:, glad to hear you got it. i think bintel do the coll. for you dont they? ive had a few looks down the focuser and from what i can see everything is perfectly centered so i aint touching mine untill i can get out to a meeting up here and have an expert look through it.

Hey Duncan hope the weather up there is as perfect as it is down here,bit of rain yesterday but absolutley beautiful day here today:thumbsup:

also did you get a round base or triangle?

[erick]

Don't overlook the fun of pointing it at a very distant hilltop (TV towers are good) during the day time and see what you can see up through the magnification range. That also helps one to get a good feel for the relationship between the finderscope and mainscope views. But you will be down close to horizontal - an uncommon nightime orientation. I found this to be useful to get a feel for my 8" as a first-time user. Just be careful to choose the direction opposite to the sun's location.

[matt]

Congrats Duncan:lol:

You are set for some serious fun.

12" will let you take in a lot of the universe;)

Make sure you post some pics once it's all set up.

[Miaplacidus]

Congratulations, Duncan. May you have good joy of her.

You'd better update your byline while your at it. The bliss has arrived.

[duncan]

Hi all,
Yep the weather is holding up so far. Just a few clouds around but i think they'll tick off and it will be nice and clear. Collimation wasn't to bad but now the doughnut is smack in the middle of centre spot. And the spider vanes even look like they would meet dead centre of the centre spot as well. Tonight will tell the tale when i drop out of focus though. Lined up the finder on a distant tree on hilltop and adjusted that as well so more waiting now. Go down sun. Very pleased with everything, no damage and all very well packaged. Well done Bintel. Give me a week and i'll do up a report on it along with some pics. That reminds me gotto put the batteries on charge for the camera.:party: :party: :party: :astron: :cool: :2thumbs: :D

[acropolite]

Congratulations Duncan, nice acquisition.:thumbsup:

[duncan]

Hi all,
Well i didn't get much observing done, but what i did see impressed me no end. Had a crack at m42 even though the moon is so full. Still plenty to see with averted vision and easily made out 5 stars in the trapesium. Checked out a few nice open clusters near southern cross and then onto the doubles in the cross.WOW i couldn't believe the seperation. I remember looking through the little 4.5" Tasco years ago and being able to split them but this was incredible. Then of course had to check out the moon. Apart from being blinded for 1/2 hour after it was breathtaking. Actually showed the young fellow it using eyepiece projection. But alas now you can't even view the moon for the fog. Yep fogged out. Not cloud just fog as thick as pea soup! Ah well try tomorrow night.
Cheers,
Duncan:thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

You will have a great time with the scope, as big as they are they are really very easy to manage. Add a little weight to the bottom or a "saftey strap" you can add a little too much weight with eps and a barlow and over she goes.. remote but has happened... to me.. once.. but I put a ocky strap around the top of the mount to slow the fall.. in future.
alex

[Ric]

Congrats Duncan, your going to have a great time with your new scope.
There's lots to see out there

Cheers

[RB]

Well done Duncan, congrats on your new scope.

:thumbsup:

[DougAdams]

Good stuff, Duncan. Told you it was big - I even measured it for you. Go and pick up a $25 trolley to cart it around - makes life easier.

Just back from Flinders Island and had one fantastic night around the new moon when the skies cleared. Wow... that's what the milky way really looks like. Binocular observing for two hours, wonderful. Pity the 12" dob didn't fit in the Cessna.

Next project, the hunt for Ebony Star....