Starting Up

[Brum]

I got into astronomy a few months ago. I got a book and star chart for my birthday and about 4 weeks ago I bought a pair of binoculars and another book (specialising in binocular based astronomy).

I am now close to purchasing a telescope and am just trying to gather some more info before i make the purchase.

I am looking at getting:
GSO 12" Newtonian (it does fit in my car)
Bintel Nebula Contrast Filter
Barlowed Collimator
Telrad

Basically i'd like to know if there is anything else you'd recomend getting. Also I try to go and observe when time allows, but apart from being able to spot constellations I am unable to do much more, I havn't been able to find a single object in my binoculars (bar planets). I basically want to know is this because i'm observing from my backyard in suburbia or because I suck at finding stuff?

EDIT: Are objects easier to find when using a telescope?

Before you say anything, I'm not going to join an astronomy club (not this year anyway)

Kind regards, Brum

[Kevnool]

Welcome to IIS Andrew.
The kit you want to get sounds ok to me.

Keep looking at the planisphere and checking out star maps.

Cheers Kev.

[Esseth]

Well since i myself am new, i can't comment on the equipment, however i have found that while the scope can show you more and at higher magnification, i more often than not use the binos to scan the track down what i am aiming for...

That said i too am affected by light pollution and i am thinking it does make finding things harder, as i have still been unable to locate M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) :(

[barx1963]

In answer to your query, in regard to objects being easier to find using a telescope, the short answer is yes and no.
Yes in the sense that compared to the binoculars, the 12" scope will show faint objects as much brighter, and hence easier to see. No in the sense that the field of view will usually be much smaller.
This is were a little technique comes in. I often scan the area near where I am trying to find an object in the binos to familiarise myself with the field and make sure the briht stars are where they should be in relation to the chart I am using. Then switch to the telrad to lcate a bright star as my starting point the use the finder to star hop to close to the object. Only then do I switch to the main scope using the widest EP I can. I use the 32mm that came with my scope to hone in on the object then up the power.
Keep using the binos as they are a great way to learn the sky. Try focusing on the brightest objects. Say M6 and M7 in Scorpius, 47 Tuc are 3 obvious ones at the moment.

[mental4astro]

G'day Brum,:welcome: to IIS.

In the opening page of the beginners forum is a few threads noting free star atlases, look at downdoading one or two. Take what you then have & have a go at identifing the constellations with you naked eye. Everything then starts falling into place. Planispheres are good for this.

Binoculars: I love them. What size are yours. What you need to do to use them effectively is be able to hold them rock-steady. Either rest them on a post or get yourself a tripod adapter. And be patient. In the city things are fainter than in the bush. In the bush binos come into their own. With a little practice you will be able to also view galaxies! Viewed my first this year through them. Three actually in a dark site.

You can then follow up what you've spotted in the binos with the scope.

[StarGazing]

G'day Andrew,

I agree with Alexander, I spent about six months before buying a telescope with my binos. I studied the sky religiously with them and a planisphere, until I read the sky like a road map. This has helped me heaps, learnt where in the constilations certain objects could be found and by the time I got my scope I knew excatly were to go. Like they say ......... Practise makes perfect.

Best of luck in exploring the skyes Alex.
:welcome:

[jjjnettie]

Have you bought a copy of Australian Sky and Telescope yet?
It has a beaut All Sky Map that is easy to use. There'll be quite a few objects marked on the map that are well within reach of your binos.
What will help you in leaps and bounds is learning how to Star Hop.
Find a bright star that you know on the map, maybe one of the Pointers in the Southern Cross. It's only a short hop from there up to the constellation Scorpius. Find the bright red star Antares, go from there to M8, the Lagoon Nebula.

[Brum]

Hey everyone, thanks for all your replies they are greatly appreciated. In answer to some of your questions.

I am using the book Heavens Above: A Binocular Guide to the Southern Skies as a star chart and a general reference. I have found it very helpful for finding the brighter objects that are actually possible to see with binoculars. So far I have only tried to find Omega Centauri with no luck, i think that is because i need to get out to a dark spot so really appreciate my bino's.

My bino's are some real basic Gerber 10*50's, i didn't really think it was nessesary to spend much $$$ on a set of bino's when i am just starting off. Later down the track i wouldn't mind getting a pair with more apperture to use in partner with a telescope.

I've tried star hopping, which is what i used to try and find Omega Centauri but again i think i failed more due to the fact that i have been observing from my backyard or local park.

From my backyard with a telescope would i have a better chance of seeing Omega Centauri or is my current light pollution situation thats making things more difficult as opposed to my equipment?

Kind regards and thanks for the all the replies and friendly welcomes.
Brum

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Brum,
I'm in your position exactly (right down to the gear I bought two days ago!) I can barely tell my Ass. from my Dec and for the life of me I can't find more than 4 contsellations and a few bright DSO's. Bear in mind I am quite stupid really but I bet I'm not the only one.
I find the planisphere's useful for pre-observing but much too small to read in the dark even with a flashlight.
Now Andrew,(all you ols-school types find something else to do).

Lean your head closer, and let me whisper in your shell-like;).

Get a Celestron Sky Scout or a Meade My Sky or download that new i-phone app. that does the same thing.
If the constellations (who thought these up anyway) aren't all that apparent you tell the thing what you want to see and it guides you to it.
I'm finding it much easier to learn the sky 'after the fact' than blundering around in the dark trying to see Toucans and Water Goats. If anything its made me appreciate the hobby more and I can start finding my way around from more obscure reference points.

Good luck and Clear Skies!!!
Peter

[mental4astro]

Omega Centuri is probably too far south at this time of the year to find at first time, even from Victoria. When it is in a more favourable position I can see it, just, with my naked eye, & I live smack-bang in the middle of Sydney.

Try to locate Scorpio first. It it probably the easiest constellation to recognise along with the Southern Cross as mentioned by jjjnettie (love your work, j, :thumbsup:). Then from the tail of the scorpion you will run into Sagittarius, and between these two is one of the richest areas of the sky for deep sky objects. There are masses of bright globular clusters, large open clusters and nebulae.

Here is a link to a good set of star charts for beginners, taken from one of the sticky threads in the beginners forum page:

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zs3t-tk/atlas/atlas.htm

It comes with good instructions for use & is nicely detailed for anyone starting out under the night sky. I highly recommend these charts.

I've been at this astro thing for some 25 years, but I still use a planisphere to begin planning out observing sessions, weeks in advance. It shows me what's up when and identify the constellations to allow for the detailed planning to begin. "Never leave home without it" as the man said.

I also pack a planisphere when I leave home & the trip sees me do big leaps north or south from my familiar Sydney skies. It's my trusty 'street directory'. I also pack binos whether I can take a scope or not.

The binos you have are the same size as mine, and probably the same quality. I like them. Good enough for me.

At this time of year the best globular cluster after Omega Centuri is known as 47 Tuc, or NGC 104, in the constellation Tucana. It also happens to lie pretty much in the same line of sight as the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satillite galaxy of the Milky Way. You will be able to easily find these two mates in the charts mentioned above. Give it a go with your binos. 47 Tuc is too easy for your binos, the SMC will be more challenging from an urban area. Beautiful from a dark site with so many fine details within it. The Large Magellanic Cloud is nearby too. Have a shot at it too with the binos even from town.

[pirate of skies]

Hey Guys and Gals,
I got to say the 4 pairs of binos I have bought were not more than $25 (New). I had bought a 10x70 from Aldi for $25 (zoom lenses and all) but the eyepieces were really distorting the image. I had unscrewed the objectives out and added them to another pair of 10 x 50's that I bought from a second hand store, (Rubber coated and case and even a cleaning cloth - $9!!! Bargain). Even the threads on the objectives were the same.
Salvos stores and St.Vinnies are really a great place for starter binos as most people dont use them and give them to chuck.

I paid $25 for Aldi 10 x 70mm,$5 for 10 x 50's at salvos and another at $9, and a pair of 8 x 40 (for the kids) at $4. I think I have cleaned out all the local second hand stores of them for the next few years.
Not bad all together I think.

Have fun , learn the sky and never look back.
Then find a whole new world when you buy a scope !.
:hi:

Note : You can even pull the eyepeices from the binos (because they cost you practically nothing), and tape them to a film cannister, to make a cheap eyepeice.

[Moon]

Andrew,

I cheated and started with a 8" goto scope. You are on the right track and slowly you will find your way around. I tend to concentrate on one main area of the sky each night and **try** to memorise it.

Instead of the Bintel Nebula Contrast Filter, I think you should consider a moon filter. Your 12" pointed at the moon without a filter will be like staring into a flashlight!

James