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Slothhead
14-11-2009, 12:22 PM
Ok, first post, hi all.
Dustin, canberra, like long walks on beachs, allergic to....
Ok introductions out of the way lets get to the real bit.

Purchased a Bintel 12" dob from, obviously bintel. Very happy with the service, would certainly recommend them

Got it the other day. Managed to follow the instructions to get it put together, and because i have the patience of a 2 year old, just had to get it out last night for a look even though the spotter scope is about as alligned as Owen Wilsons nose. Didnt know what i was doing.

It came with 3 eye peices, so i slide the 9mm one in first. Now i knew Jupiter was up there somewhere, downloaded that stellarium program.
Ok brightest thing in the sky, that one over there, looks about right position, point the spotter scope at it and ....

Nothing.

Couldnt see a thing.

:question: i thought. Ok, what can i see then.

Move it all around, nothing. right, lets play with these little knobs, these have to be the focus, right, got some clarity.

an hour later, still cant see anything that resembles jupiter.

Go back inside, read some more of the book, 'oh the 9mm lens is more powerful which means i am looking at a smaller area' got it .
Put in the big lens 23mm i think. Again put it at what i think to be jupiter.
Look through the scope, BAM
There it is. top corner. Fiddle around a bit and get it centre frame. notice that the spotter is out by a bit but WHO CARES NOW I FOUND JUPITER (like it was lost and no one else has ever seen it)

So there it was, Jupiter and three of its moons and i could see a faint double line going across it.
Put in the 15mm lens and see it a bit better
Put in the 9mm lens and find it again (though only get about 10 seconds of viewing before it moves off target)

And there it was. Jupiter, could see the bands, a few moons around it, silently falling through the black vastness.

"hello" i thought, "is anyone there"

I didnt think it as a literal question but the mere suggestion is enough.

and so that is my first night with the new scope.

After looked at it for a while.

I swung it around in just about every other direction, i think i came across a globular cluster.

Next task is to get is set up properly, and take it out to a dark field.

Brilliant, just brilliant.

Dustin

erick
14-11-2009, 02:03 PM
:thumbsup::thumbsup: Justin! You are away!

jjjnettie
14-11-2009, 02:21 PM
Congratulations!!!
Sounds as if you had a wonderful first light with your new scope.
Have you the latest Sky and Telescope magazine???
They have a beaut All Sky map for you to explore.

AlexN
14-11-2009, 02:34 PM
Sounds like a very positive experience! :)

Congrats on the massive aperture mate! :) 12" gives great views of just about everything!

Your first night sounds the same as mine... I had no idea where anything was apart from Orion, spent some time looking at that, then thought.. whats that bright yellowish star over there? Swung the dob around, had a looksee - it was Saturn... That blew my socks right off! Never before had I thought I would see Saturn, and its rings and moons from my own back yard!

As hard as it will be for you to believe at the moment Dustin, The experience only gets better from here on out! :)

Enjoy!

And Welcome to Ice In Space! :) Put your feet up and make yourself at home mate! :)

Slothhead
14-11-2009, 02:44 PM
Thanks guys (non gender specific)

jjjnettie - no i dont have that mag, the guys at bintel have sent me the astronomy 2009 book. Many books are starting to accumulate on the list.

AlexN - yeah i went with the 12" to compensate ;), but it was a decent price and from what i had read here, it seemed right . So yeah happy with the decision.

I also got the camera bits and peices, but couldnt get that working. Will wait for the moon to get it sorted.

Thanks

jjjnettie
14-11-2009, 02:48 PM
Good.
Now in the centre of Astronomy 2009 are a set of star charts.
Carefully remove them, using a stanley knife, and laminate them.
You'll have a very useful set of charts that are impervious to dew.

DavidU
14-11-2009, 02:50 PM
Enjoy your new hobby ! Fun ain't it

mithrandir
14-11-2009, 03:39 PM
Or instead of slicing up your book, Toshimi Taki has two sets you can print yourself. Links on the left of his home page http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zs3t-tk/index.htm (http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/%7Ezs3t-tk/index.htm)

jjjnettie
14-11-2009, 03:42 PM
Or you could do that.:D

dpastern
14-11-2009, 03:50 PM
hehehe Dustin.

Guys - we have another one hooked it seems ;-)

Dave

Robh
14-11-2009, 03:53 PM
Dustin,

Nice report. I felt I was right there with you.
Exciting stuff!

All the best with your future discoveries, Rob.

barx1963
14-11-2009, 05:53 PM
Well done Dustin! Jumping in the deep end with 12". You will be able to see plenty with that scope. Taking aminute at the start of every session to align the finder will make life so much easier. Enjoy learning to star hop. Heres a few targets you will be blown away with when you turn that much aperture on them.

47 Tuc
NGC 2070 (Tarantula)
NGC 253

Enjoy the journey!

ericc
16-11-2009, 07:02 PM
Hi Dustin--thats one serious (water heater size)scope-loverly---and I thought my 10" was big?
Im also just starting out ,so I can relate to your experiances so far!
I "kind of "dived in also?
But mate,isnt it fun???

I really second your positive comments about Bintel,I have found that nothing is too much trouble for them, and they always find time to talk and explain any query that you may have--thats truly excellent service!

Enjoy your new scope,and I dont need to tell you that the people here are just so fantastic!

gary
18-11-2009, 12:12 AM
Great report which I enjoyed reading.

Congratulations, you have just performed what astronomers refer to as "First Light".
That refers to the telescope, rather than the observer, but in this case maybe we
can say your eyeball has witnessed "First Light" as well. :thumbsup:

Wait to you get to a dark sky site. Enjoy!

Best Regards

Gary
Mt. Kuring-Gai NSW