What's on your xmas list?

[iceman]

What are you buying yourself for xmas?

Any nice purchases coming up?

I can just tell i'm gonna be jealous... :P

[rumples riot]

If I could buy anything it would be clear skies.:eyepop:

I have a trip planned to my new block over on York Pennisula, but this weather does not want to break.

As for equipment, not much I really need now, maybe Ron Wodaski (spelling?) book on Astrophotography. But that is all.

Paul:)

[loopy]

I'm not going to be selfish, I just want world peace....

That means I get two presents right? :)

Cheers,


Brad

[Mick]

Cold Beer. :D

[rumples riot]

if you want cold beer, leave it outside for a while, no need to use the fridge.

Paul

[Starkler]

Hmmm, I just cant think of anything I need or want that much thats its worth spending a lot of money on.

I would still like a travel scope, but it would only get used a small handful of times each year.

-edit- Santa please bring me a cloud zapper and access to the main circuit breaker for the Melbourne power grid :wink2:

[rumples riot]

Yeh, maybe I could do with a circuit breaker here too. Had not thought of that. LOL

Paul

[ving]

I am getting 6 two inch naglers.....


















or ami getting nagged 6 times?

[loopy]

Hey what's better than two 6 inchers? 6 two inchers! :)

Cheers,


Brad

[Saturn%5]

I would like a nice Tracking Platform for my 12" dob:cool: and from the wife not what your thinking, I want her credit card back:fight: So i can afford it:2thumbs:

[Vermin]

My 16" F5 Astrosystems Telekit to arrive.
A Denk Binoviewer with powerswitch and two 24mm Panoptic eps.
Servocat Dob goto and tracking system (got an Argonavis DSC for it already).

A bank balance to afford all that by Christmas!

Actually I'd be happy just to not be working (I'm on call 24/7 over the Christmas break).

V.

[Dave47tuc]

I just brought a 22 Panoptic, Nice:)

I'm happy with my lot.

Family kids and all.:family2:

Clear skies would be nice:stargaze:

Cheers mick:cheers: I'm with you.

All of you to be safe and happy.

Best

:astron:

[Frosty]

Seeing as Im new to all this backyard astronomy im getting either a 6" or 8" dob telescope from Andrews.

By the way im new here guyz, so hello to all of you!

299 for 6 inch - 399 for 8 inch dob.

Im thinking of getting the 6 inch at the moment just to make sure I dont spend to much money on the hobby and mayb get over it, which I doubt.

You guyz think a 6 inch dob is a good scope to start with?

[mch62]

Just got my early xmas present ---my refractor.:cool:

But I have been bad and ordered my Bartel drive system for my Newt
Had to make the most of the $ value while it lasts.
Well that's my excuss anyway.
Hope my wife isn't watching :whistle:

Mark

[beren]

Howdy Frosty , greetings and welcome ......yep a 6 inch Dob makes a great start without making a big dent in the wallet and opening a great deal of celestial objects to observe .....grab a plansiphere and a good star atlas like the Cambridge star atlas helps as well ..... btw be greedy and go for the 8

[Mick]

Hello Frosty and welcome, I'm with Aragorn get the 8" dob.
:xmas:

[rumples riot]

Have to agree, the biggest let down in this hobby is when you purchase equipment that does not perform for you. Get the 8, you'll see a lot more with it, and it is only $700.00. If you look at it from a daily cost its less that a dollar a day over a year. It will be the best dollar you spent each day. BTW, welcome to the forum and merry:xmas: and a happy new year.:cheers:

Good will and peace to all men (err and woman)

Paul

[Frosty]

Thanks for that guyz :)

The 8 inch is only $100 more i guess its worth it, if it brings out more detail etc...

[seeker372011]

hey Frosty, welcome to the forum

and I think you are making the right choice in spending the 100 $ more...I think you get a 50mm finderscope with this and that in itself is worth the extra money...and the 8 inch will suck in heaps more photons compared to a 6 inch

[rumples riot]

Sorry, got the price wrong, that is even better still

[silvinator]

i just bought a varimagni finder and olympus 1-8 focusing screen for my om-1 for myself and my baby let me buy a set of coloured filters for my chrissie present. oh i also bought an aluminium and padded accessory case for myself. wonderful christmas this year :party: ...until the statements start arriving next jan... :eyepop:

[[1ponders]]

Like Aragorn, I've already got mine. the Meade carry case for my 8" from the love of my life. I'm very lucky. How many partners stand at the sidelines and cheer you on with your hobbies.

Guess I'll have to buy her a kiln now:(

Paul

[silvinator]

hey frosty, go with the 8 inch! you won't regret it. mmmh, more light!!! But then again, if you go with the 6 inch, you may lower your chances of getting cloud when it arrives. BUT...either way you'll get
:cloudy:
so my final word is, get the 8 inch.

lol Ving! I'd say it's more the latter with wishful thinking like that!

can you guys believe, I passed up the chance to get a wonderful orion 80mm ed for christmas... instead, i bought those other things and after I told my fiance about the purchases, he revealed what he was going to get me for christmas :( double :doh:

[Frosty]

Thanks for the feedback guyz... Ive ordered the 8 inch and its on its way :)

[seeker372011]

How about a C8 NGT ? we need to get more celestrons in this forum to balance all those Meades out there..its a tough job but someone's got to do it...::jump2:

Yes, it's on order with Astronomy On line

[MintSauce]

Silvie - Where did you get the padded accessory case? as I've been looking a little online with no luck. just looking for something safe to store eye pieces in.

Thanks in advance

Gordon

[rumples riot]

I think that now I would like a superwedge for my scope, might have to go and get it today, a sort of early christmas present to myself.:D

[silvinator]

Hi there Gordon,
I bought my padded case at JayCar in Parramatta. I got it for $69.95 and it's lockable and has plenty of room to fit everything in. At the moment, it's holding my OM-1, counterweight shaft, all my scope power cables, the autostar hand controller, five 1.25 ep's, a barlow, a laser collimator, a basic camera adapter, all my filters and other little tidbits, cable release, varimagni finder and tripod accessory tray. There's room for more and I've only cut holes for a few items so it could fit so much more. Here's a pic:

[rumples riot]

Stuart (Aragorn) how hard is it to get the scope onto the super wedge, do I need another person. You have the 10" don't you? Is it difficult with the field tripod? Just getting sick of field rotation, even with the field derotator. Problem is I don't have enough of the sky in my backyard to get a decent star alignment. hence the reason that the derotator has not been working as it should. I could go out onto my drive way, but that means leaving over $10,000.00 worth of equipment unattended at times. Not something I want to do. Will I need to see the south celestial pole with the scope? It is blocked by the eaves of my unit at present, working on a solution to that though.

Paul

[iceman]

haha I hear the sound of construction tools :work:

[rumples riot]

Being in the building game will help with this solution.:work:

I plan on putting in a pier about 2100 above the ground and then putting a deck around it with some steps. This should then give me a clear unobstructed view of around 260 degrees.:cool:

Paul

[silvinator]

gah, don't tell me how much you got it for Stuart. Mine was an impulsive buy, I did not set out to buy it. I just saw it there one day when Le and my brother were buying computer-y stuff from jaycar. It was staring at me, beckoning me "buy me, buy me" it said...

[ving]

lol!
well mines er.. super super cheap then :P
its a "leather" briefcase with cutouts in a foam insert....

it works and holds everything nicely so i guess thats the main thing :p

[rumples riot]

Thanks Stuart for the tips, I think that I should be right in terms of polar alignment as my previous scope was a German equatorial with a three piece 70kg mount. I used that for astrophotgraphy also and am familiar with the process, but it is slightly different with a fork mount.

BTW how many posts have you made today? This morning you had 282. Now you are equal with me. Looking for the top job ah. See I slow down and there you go.

Paul

[silvinator]

Yeah you just can't shut Stuart up today Paul. Oi, be quiet Stuart so I can catch up! :P I was in the top five posters on AO...now I have a bit of catching up to do haha :)
Hey Ving, as long it stays together each time you lug it around, that's all that matters. Besides, aluminium willl sure get cold come winter. Does that make you feel better? :P
Say, didn't you get a nice $20 one from Big W Ice? I couldn't find any over here. I was going to steal your idea and just put some rubber foam in it too but I didn't like the idea of making two trips to complete my case. Me lazy :D

[iceman]

I'll have to remove the post count the way you 2 are going today :P :lol:

[silvinator]

nooooo!!!!!!! :fight: have at you Ice!

[rumples riot]

Noooo don't remove the post counter:eyepop: I won't be able to cope. I looove the post counter, just that dastedly Stuart has taken over my second position, now I will have delay putting together my super wedge so that I can at least keep up with him.:P :whistle:

[rumples riot]

Speaking of carry cases, anyone thought of the pelican cases. Got one of them for all my gear, they are water tight and guaranteed for it. You can sit on them, in fact I have stood on mine. They are more expensive at around $300.00 but I figure that all my gear is worth a lot to replace, and they come with two levels. Very nice to use and work with.:D

[rumples riot]

You have posted way too much today, you must be typing like a man possessed, Got to catch that RR. Is that what happened this morning when you got up. I bet you thought to yourself, I am going to catch up to RR and then I am going to pass him.:D :P

[silvinator]

Second day of the hols. Man what to do? Well, getting back on topic, I've just thought of a few more things I want on my xmas list that I know I won't get:
1. a solar filter (gah, sun's out today!)
2. a wide field budget eyepiece
3. an OIII filter
4. a neutral density filter (my el cheapo moon filter is just way too green)

[MintSauce]

Thanks for the reply Silvie, not alot of help to me in Kalgoorlie, I thought you may have mail ordered it but no luck, much appreciated anyhow. I was thinking of just buying a small metal tool box and taking some packing foam stuff from work (we throw hundrereds away); as I say I don't want to spend $750 and not protect the delicate bits.

G

[Frosty]

My GSO 8 inch Dob has finally arrived :)

Its bigger than I thought it would be...

Ill give you an update of what I think of it after xmas.

By the way, thx guyz for helping me choose my first telescope, these forums were a big help in helping me finalize my decision.

Clear skies

[rumples riot]

No problem Frosty

[Mick]

To Cool Frosty, :) couldn’t help myself sorry. Can’t wait to hear about your first light with the new scope.

[MintSauce]

Frosty: mine arrived too, they look well cool, don't they?

did you order same eye pieces as me? did you get any extra in the end?

I have to say, the instructions are a bit lacking, at least I'm an Ikea furniture expert :D

[ving]

yup, the gso 8"er is def mintox!

you guys are just a bunch of spammers. all my posts a top quallity! :)

[ving]

like this one...

[ving]

and this one...

[ving]

d'oh!