Hi To Everyone

[alexk13]

Hi Everyone

and thanks for the recommendation you didn't even know you gave me;)

I was searching around the 'net for more information on the Australian Geographic shop telescopes, and a google search led me a thread right here on iceinspace (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-21788.html)

I looked into the other recommendations, and ended up going to Bintel in Glebe. after a while there talk to Mike and Michael, (or maybe Mick), I bought my first telescope from them. I got a Bintel BT-202 08' Premium Dobsonian (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6739), as well as camera attachments for my digital SLR, and a book and planisphere.

They also told me where I should be looking tonight if I wanted to have a go and try to see Jupiter. At first I thought "as if I am going to be able to see Jupiter on my first go with my new telescope" actually it is my VERY first telescope.
When I got home (and after the wife calmed down and stopped laughing at me) I decided that we would go out and take a look at some stars.

We went to Bald Hill, at the south end of the Royal National Park, just south of Sydney, north of Stanwell - it was very cold and windy.
At first I was having trouble finding anything at all that I could focus on
, until I figured out which of the 3 eye-pieces did what, then we were looking at all sorts of stars, some of which we could not see before because there was a brighter star taking our attention right near it. It was a lot of fun, and the wife was even excited about the new stars she was seeing.

After A while, we were nearly completely frozen, and considering packing and going home a lot earlier then planned. That was when I noticed a redish star about 5 cm above the horizon. at first I thought it might have been a plane or something, but it was not moving. So I decided to point my telescope at it and take a closer look - to our great surprise, we were looking a Jupiter and 3 of its moons :D

I worked my way through the eye-pieces to get a closer look, and it was definitely Jupiter, we could see the bands of the atmosphere going around it, but we could not make out the big red spot - oh well can't win them all a suppose.

So I then decided I would try out the camera attachment, but while I was trying to put it all together, some cloud cover came in and when I looked back a Jupiter I could no longer see it at all :(

So here is my "artist's impression" of what we saw:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j8/unimaetrix/jupiter_impression.jpg

I'm looking forward to more of these opportunities, and any advice you guys and girls can give is greatly appreciated.

I'm sure I'll be in here with lots and lots of questions:)

[JethroB76]

I think you've started well by steering yourself away from the Australian Geographic style scopes and getting a nice Dob instead.

Looks like you've equipped yourself well with planisphere, planetarium software etc so you're now set to learn what constellations are up and what objects they hold.

In addition to what you've already got, you will probably find a red torch and an observing chair of some kind, of great use; you'll soon find there are dozens of accessories available for this past time so take your time on deciding what are "must haves"

[Dog Star]

Welcome Alex, sounds as if you're having fun already.

[wavelandscott]

Congratulations on what sounds like a first of many fun nights looking at the night sky.

While I am certain that the astrobug will soon have you yearning to buy many and sundry "must have" accessories that your new friends here will recommend let me encourage you to use your scope for a while before getting your wallet out again.

I would also encourage you to take your new scope and get out to a few viewing nights with people from IIS or a local astronomy club...this will let you see and try out some of the must have stuff before forking out your own money first. It will also give you a chance to put faces to names of other people interested in this hobby who can offer help and advice when needed.

With that out of the way, let me offer my recommendations for must have accessories to go with waht you already have...

#1 collimation tool (my beginner favorite is the Orion collimating eyepiece) and will allow you to make sure that your mirrors are optimally aligned.
#2 red light torch
#3 comfortable adjustable height observing chair
#4 some warm clothes...and dark skies.

Enjoy...

[montewilson]

You're doing well so far but I suggest you join an Astronomical society. There are two that come to mind for you. The one I am a member of, www.asnsw.com
We have two dark sky sites of our own and monthly new moon weekends.

Also a good one in your area, the Sutherland Astronomical Society http://www.sasi.net.au/

You will get a lot of help there.

[h0ughy]

Sound advice from all and sundry ^^^^^, one thing to keep on your side - the wife. Keep her interested mate and you can get all the extras- -no problems. you have done extremely well for a first night out. i agree from Monte - get thee to a society. its much more fun observing with others

[jjjnettie]

Congratulations on the new scope and welcome to the forum.
You and your wife will get years of enjoyment from your Dob.

There is one added extra that I highly recommend and that is a copy of "Astronomy 2008" from Quasar Publishing.
It starts with a month by month/ day by day ephemeris of celestial events that you might like to turn your telescope to.
It gives charts for the rise and set times of all the planets, the moon and sun.
There are easy to follow charts on Jupiter and Saturn's Moon events, a chart that will tell you exactly when Jupiter's Great Red Spot will be visable.
It also has a set of Star Charts in it that are excellent for the beginner. With them you'll be able to follow the paths of the planets easily, and it has enough galaxies, nebulas and clusters marked on the maps to give you happy hunting for months.
This is only the high lights of this very informative book.
The book is available in most book stores, and you can order next years edition at the end of this year, here at IceInSpace.

[alexk13]

Thanks for the welcomes

JethroB76
I haven't actually got planetarium software - yet. Is there some such software that you can recommend, and is it something I need to buy from somewhere, or can I download it somewhere on the 'net (legally of course).

jjjnettie
I actually did get that book as an added extra (thrown in at no cost) when I bought my telescope - it is already a brilliant book, and I think I've only skimmed about a dozen pages.

montewilson
Thanks for the links, I'll look into joining up to a society as soon as I can, sounds like a great place to learn more and meet more people with the same interests.

After I posted last night, I decided to check things out from my balcony, and was amazed at all the stars I could see, stars I could not see with just my eyes - that was about 10 minutes after I posted last night. Where I live, there is a lot of light from buildings and streets, so I didn't think I would see too much, so was pleasantly surprised.

I just figured out how to open the case that my moon filter is in (that was one tough case), so soon I'll be asking lots of question about how to use that also (I'll try to find the photo I took of the moon over year ago, with just my camera with its 300mm lens and post it up in the images section at some stage)

Thanks again everyone

[PCH]

Welcome alexk13,

re the moon filter you just screw it into the end of your EP, and then pop that into the focuser as normal. Don't forget to take it off once you've finished looking at the moon, or you may think your scope has started playing up or something :P Happy playing ;)

Cheers,

[JethroB76]

I just assumed the pic you posted of Jupiter was a screen shot from a program of some sort.

There are numerous options both for free or not-so-free; however google up Stellarium and/or Cartes du Ciel both excellent FREE planetarium programs, another little application that can come in handy for planning what objects you want to observe is RTGUI

[alexk13]

No, my image is just a mockup of what I saw - Jupiter from google images, and 3 white dots I put in to represent the moons.

Thanks for the links, I have downloaded Stellarium and will have a good look at it tonight when I get home, unless the rain goes away ;)

[thomasz]

Welcome, you will enjoy.