I have a new telescope.

[alphamone]

I bought a new telescope today, a celestron atromaster 130EQ. I also got myself a neximage camera and a celestron filter and eyepiece set.

What sort of stuff can I expect to see with this scope? Just curious as to how much more stuff I should be able to see over my old refractor that is in dire need of cleaning, and was only ever one quality step above a department store scope.

But most of all, I want tonight to be nice and clear so I can try out my new scope.

Also, I will post some pics if I can get any tonight.

[programmer]

Sorry I've only had the one scope so can't really say, but I'm sure you'll have a ball with that one viewing Luna, planets, open clusters, brighter nebulae (Edit: and with the camera, a whole lot more!).. congrats on the purchase. :) Report back to us with your first light.

[alphamone]

now, to figure out a way to mount my old scope onto the camera mount thing that is on my new scope, cause it will make tracking a breeze if i can get it to work. (though, i will need to find some extra weight for my counterweight)

[Suzy_A]

The 130 isn't a big telescope, but you should have good or at least reasonable views of the moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Also the brighter things like some of the clusters, galaxies and nebular - 47 Tuc, Omega Centauri, Orion's Nebular, Jewel Box etc if you find a dark location.

You can also get a full aperature sun filter for about $150 and have a look at the sun and you'll see sunspots.

[Kokatha man]

Struth Suzy_A, I hope alphamone can do better than that price! Purchasing some Baader et al solar film and checking out the old plastic container lids is most probably the least expensive way to go there.....

Cheers, Darryl.

[DJVege]

Baader Solar Film 30 x 30cm - $45
Black Poly Film 30 x 30cm - $45

From Telescopes Astronomy (Matt). Doesn't take very long at all to make a filter. The baader will show a whitish sun, the black poly film will show an orange sun. You will be able to see sun spots, if there are any at the time you observer. :thumbsup:

[leon]

But most of all, I want tonight to be nice and clear so I can try out my new scope. :whistle:

Hmmmm, nice try, you do realize that the weather conditions are proportional to the cost of the scope, and astro gear you bought, you can probably expect bad weather. :eyepop:

Sorry...:lol: :lol:

Leon :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Have fun with your new scope.
Hope you see heaps.

[alphamone]

cant realy get any good viewing as there is a full moon, but i did manage to get a good view of the orion nebula.

[jjjnettie]

So how much better was it compared to your old scope?

[alphamone]

far better, especialy since I can use filters on this one. I still gotta get used to the equatorial mount (i can get a good aproximation of the south celestial pole, its the moving the scope around part that is hard), but they view of the stars is far better. even with the large Eyepiece I could see far better detail than I could ever see with my old one.

[alphamone]

Just a little off topic, but my arms and legs now truely hate me. This is because I had to lug the box the telescope was in from the bus stop nearest to my house (which is 250 metres all uphill), and the thing weighed 11 kilos. It was bad enough then, but now, my arms are realy acheing, and my legs are also sore.

[programmer]

Be thankful you don't have a 12" solid tube to lug about :)

[erick]

:scared: :sadeyes:

It's OK, really. I am a biggish boy and do weights sessions in the gym :thumbsup:

[programmer]

Hopefully not uphill :lol:

[erick]

45 deg incline leg press - yes, that's uphill! :scared2:

OK, back on thread. Pleased to hear that you started to get good viewing through your new telescope. Can you resolve the stars in the Trapezium in the Orion nebula? A, B, C & D? Maybe also E & F in good seeing?

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=33622&d=1193116580
(image with thanks to Dennis)

[alphamone]

cant realy tell, as the moon has been in the position in which it was shining in my eye that was looking through the eyepiece between my eye and the eyepiece, making the use of even the larger eyepieces hard, so trying to use a smaller eyepiece would have been near impossible.

[erick]

Better find a location so you have the house or shed between you and the Moon. Orion is over in the west so you can see it even though you've blocked the rising Moon out of your peripheral view. :)