Any MUST HAVE accessories in the $70 range?

[that_guy]

is there any good MUST HAVE accessories in the 70 range? I heard that a telred finders are good. any thing else?? Considered barlows also.

Thanks,
Tony

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Tony,
A few things I found dead-handy:

If using a dob or newt a red-dot or multi-reticle finder is the business.

If using multiple EP's, a few 2"-1.25" adapters are a sound investment. Saves the barrel of your eyepieces from wear & tear generated by repeated changing.

A magnifying glass (WAY more useful than you'd think).

and the best of all:

One of those little lights on a headstrap (painted with red nail polish) so you can see your way in the dark, hands-free! Brilliant invention!!!!
Peter

[GrahamL]

yep telrad :)

[DavidU]

$70 worth of petrol to get to a nice dark site.

[Screwdriverone]

Laser collimator if you dont already have one. ($69)

aluminium eyepiece case ($49)

Red/white Eveready LED Head torch ($30)

I dont leave home without them, that's if I dont forget them.

Cheers

Chris

[lacad01]

Small fold up table to put your charts & other stuff on.
Telrad, definitely.

[Terry B]

Mozzie repellant

[dannat]

keep the mozzie repellant well away from the glass though.

[Terry B]

Roll on only.:D

[jjjnettie]

I think it was Jaycar that has a USB powered high frequency insect repeller.
If someone would like to buy one and review it for us, I would appreciate that.;)
For $70 you can buy a very sturdy yet comfy camping chair.

[tlgerdes]

Compass :thumbsup:

[tlgerdes]

I nominate you :thanx:

[astro_nutt]

A large foam esky, which is nice to-
A. Keep the drinks cold.
B. With a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to keep the EP's warm on those dewy nights.
C. Keep a bottle of distilled water and tap water to clean your mirror in an emergency.
D. Use it as a drum when it clouds over after you spent an hour setting up!

[Paddy]

Telrad

[kinetic]

One of these...I love it.
It was 55 scobes from Jaycar:thumbsup:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=39271&highlight=illuminated+keyboard

Steve

[Lismore Bloke]

Telrad. If you do any decent amount of visual observing it's invaluable. I use it much more than the finder.

[that_guy]

This may be a stupid question but can anyone please give me a link with HOW TO on using a telrad??

[lacad01]

Does this help ?
http://www.backyard-astro.com/equipment/accessories/telrad/telrad.html

[Lismore Bloke]

Try this one, it is pretty good:

http://www.rtpnet.org/chaos/RA/telrads.html

[thunderchildobs]

Some large plastic garabage bags, a good tarp, and some rope.

[GrahamL]

http://www.knoxvilleobservers.org/dsonline/tips/telrad.html

It does becomes more intuitive when you have one to look at .
the circles themselves are are good guage for distance break them down again to a clock face .

An easy example the blue planetary (ngc 3918)
project a line from Beta to Delta crux, place the outer telrad circle
9 oclock on delta crux .. your centre dot is on a line now .
beta , delta, 9 oclock.. but the object is another half degree or so further out on this line so you have to nudge it out just a little more
. It can't hide for long ;) .

[Screwdriverone]

Oh sorry I forgot,

2 x cases of beer, = $70.

Priceless.

Cheers ;)

Chris

[stephenb]

- Telrad
- Laser Collimation tool

[that_guy]

you want me to binge drink??:eyepop::eyepop::lol::lol::l ol:

[DavidU]

:lol: Chris, I think Tony is 14 yo.

[picklesrules]

:lol: a true quality effort on Chris's part :P

[pgc hunter]

I'll gladly engage in this activity on your behalf :lol:

[Screwdriverone]

Ahhhh, woops! sorry about that Tony, didn't think it through (and didn't know...) :sadeyes:

As PGC says, we will provide the beer drinking support team for you...

DOH!

Cheers (hic!)

Chris