Hi from a newbe

[cahullian]

Hi all
I'm new to this site and would just like to say hello. I would also like to thank iceman on his tips(astronomyonline) and I can honestly say that it was great advice and I will be buying an 8" dob in the next couple of weeks. I'm using a pair of 16x50 binocs atm and am seeing a ton of stuff with those. My star chart is quickly becoming my new best friend. I have always loved the moon and am getting excited about being able to take pics of it now that iceman has posted how to do it. (thanx again man)
Clear skies.
:cool:

[seeker372011]

welcome to this forum and congratulations on your new scope

[atalas]

Hello cahullian:welcome:

Louie :)

[astrodave]

Welcome.

Lots to learn - but a great bunch of people here to help and share the highs and lows of it all with you.

[toetoe]

Welcome to the forums cahullian, the place of learn, try and fun.:)

[rmcpb]

Welcome, and you will love that scope :)

[ving]

hi and welcome aboard!
dont you live in the best place in the world! so many iceinspacers seem to come fromthe central coast!

[Orion]

Ah another Novacastrian, Wellcome!

[acropolite]

:welcome: cahullian enjoy your new toy when it arrives...:D

[Rodstar]

Make sure none of those clouds come as far south as Gosford when you take delivery of that scope Cahullian!

Welcome to the forum.

[Jonathan]

:welcome: to the forum. Enjoy your new telescope. :astron:

[cahullian]

Thank all for your kind words. I couldn't wait a few weeks so I bought the scope today and it will arrive on Monday.They wouldn't give me a Crayford focuser with it though : (
Looks like rain for the next week or so DOUBLE : (

[cahullian]

[ballaratdragons]

Hi Irish, Gary, cahullian,

Welcome.

Just buy the Crayford Focuser seperate and fit it yourself. Andrews has them pretty cheap!

[ballaratdragons]

And then get a 2" GS 30mm SuperView Eyepiece!

and then get a 2" GS 2x Barlow

and then get a Cheshire collimating tool eyepiece

and then get a set of GS 1.25" eyepieces to replace the Series 500 set if thats what comes with the scope.

and then get an adjustable chair

and a red LED torch

and a . . . .




and the list goes on!

Welcome to Astronomy.

[rmcpb]

Irish,

What Ken said is true but, out of the box your scope will be absolutely great for quite a while. Take your time before starting to buy extras (except for a cheshire eyepiece for collimation) as you will work out what you would really like after a while. Otherwise this can become a very expensive and frustrating hobby.

Just enjoy :)

[iceman]

Hi Gary, and congrats on your purchase! Not being able to wait a month.. been there done that :)

It's great that you're starting with binoculars and a star chart, it will definitely help you find what you want to view when the scope arrives.

There's a tonne of mods you can do to the 8" dob, most of them you'll find on the IceInSpace site or here on the forums. But definitely you'll need to get collimation sorted, so you should get a chesire/sight-tool combo as soon possible, as well as a 2x barlow. What eyepieces did you get with the scope?

Being from newcastle, you should catch up with Orion, h0ughy and the other novacastrians at the NAS, and also come down to our central coast observing nights. You'll learn HEAPS that way, and also get to look through some other scopes and eyepieces.. it's a good way to see the money drain out of your wallet :D

Also thanks for the feedback about the site.. Apprecaite it!

[slice of heaven]

Hi Irish
Another dob to the site.( we really need a tally of these)
Iceman has given you the one piece of info thats critical for a newt...the collimation tool. Without proper collimation you will not get the best image possible. Andrews have cheshires for $29. It'll save you some frustrations .
Enjoy the scope and use it often

Slice

[rumples riot]

Welcome to Astronomy and to our site. By stating that you are a newbie I assume that you are new to astronomy. If that is the case, you are in for a great learning experience. Anything you don't understand please feel free to ask in any of the relevant forums here. There is a great deal of information locked inside the minds of the people here. No question is too stupid, we just want you to enjoy the beginning of your journey so that you stay for the rest of your life.

Congrats on the new scope, you started with the right diameter.

Do get the collimation tool.

[cahullian]

Thanx for the tips guys I am looking into getting the Crayford focuser and the Chesire collimation ASAP.The rest will have to wait a while as I'm also trying to save for my trip to Germany for the 2006 world cup next year.
If only I could win lotto lol

[ving]

cheshire is most importants. go get that first.

[cahullian]

Is Cheshire the brand name or will any collimation eyepiece do.
I can get a collimation eyepiece here in Newcastle for $50.00 is that a good price?:astron:

Irish

[ving]

the cat....... just kidding :P

the collimation EP. if your mirrors arent properly aligned you wont see stuff as well. v/important!

$29 or sumfin at andrews.

[dhumpie]

Cheshire is not a brand name. It what you get when you have a sight tube with cross hairs and a reflective surface in the sight tube. A cheshire is also collimating eyepiece.

Darren

[RAJAH235]

Welcome Irish, Enjoy learning the night skies with your new 8" t'scope.
As stated, the 'cheshire' is a site tube that fits into the focuser & enables you to collimate the mirrors in the t'scope.
Go here>
http://skyandtelescope.com/printable/howto/scopes/article_790.asp
It's a good article that shows you the basics. Most of all, enjoy your chosen hobby.
Regards, L. :thumbsup: :welcome:

[cahullian]

It comes with a 12mm and a 25 mm plossl and I got the collimator for $40.00 here in Newcastle I had to haggle for a while but I got it in the end : ) So bring on Monday and clear skies.

[cahullian]

So will I be needing a shower cap for my scope then?
BTW what is the cooling down time for the scopes I'm hearing so much about?
Any idea what a Crayford focuser will set me back?
I know there was a viewing tonight but I was unable to attend due to my soccer refereeing commitments.Is there another one happening soon?
sorry about all the questions but I have a milloin going through my mind now lol.comon Monday,comon Monday : )

[ballaratdragons]

Yes Irish,

You will need a shower cap (round bird cage seed catcher) unless you want daddy-long-legs to make a nice home in your mirror cell and lay webs all over your mirror. LOL (funny but true)

Cooling depends on the inside temp to the outside temp.
The bigger the difference, the longer the cooldown. Usually half an hour is enough but in cold places like here it may take an hour. (5 mins with cooling fan)

Andrews has Crayford Focusers for about $100 last I heard.

Ask your million questions. I do when I'm stuck.

[cahullian]

Thanks Ken
I'll pick up shower caps on my home from work tomorrow.
This is starting to look like an expensive hobby.(but what isn't these days)
I suppose Andrews sell cooling fan?
How important a barlow for me? Should I look at getting one ASAP or will the 12mm and the 25mm keep me happy for a while?I have seen short and long barlows,which one is the best to use?
Thanks again for all the advice and help guys I've learded more in the last few days here on this forum than I have in the last 6 months looking everywhere.
Gazz

[slice of heaven]

The cooling fan is the same as in computer towers so that gives you a wide area to source it from.
An expensive hobby? Depends how deep your pockets are.

[dhumpie]

Shower caps are way cool and they are breathable. I don't use my scope caps anymore and just use shower caps. I have some funky cartoonish ones :)

Darren

[cahullian]

Where do you get yours Darren?
I'm going looking today or tomorrow.
Gazz

[Sausageman]

Céad míle fáilte cahullian.
That will fox the non Celts.

Nice scope too.

Mike