bitten hard by astronomy bug!

[yash]

aaah....ouuuuch! this astronomy bug has bitten me sooo sooo hard that i cant stop think about this universe, the space, cosmos, nebulas, milky way, galaxies.....stars. i cant sleeep! help me! dont knw wht to do! there r like 10000s of questions about how deep the universe is?!

I have finally decided that i need to buy a telescope to look at these amazing priceless beauties!

advice please! which one to buy? i am a beginner?! should i go for a dobsonian or something else? reflector or refractor? how much should i spend? whr can i buy it online in Australia? any shops in Melbourne?

thanks all...in advance! :hi:
Yash

[barx1963]

Hi Yash
Good to see another one bitten by the bug!
Some advice, get yourself to a club night, and have a look through some scopes, that way you will know what to expect when you get your own scope. People that look through a scope almost always have one of 2 reactions.

1. Thats fantastic, show me more!
or
2. Is that all? Hardly seems worth the trouble!

The views through most amatuer scopes is nothing like the pretty pictures of the sky that we see.
Having said that, for most people looking to get a scope for visual use ie. not photography, a dob as large as you can afford and physically handle is ususally the best option. Bintel in Camberwell has very knowledgeable staff and a good range and are open til 4pm on Saturday.

[erick]

You, sir, need to get yourself down to the Bintel Shop at 519 Burke Road Camberwell (corner Clifton Road). The good folks there will ease your worries.

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm

But read these first:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-260-0-0-1-0.html
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-261-0-0-1-0.html

[OneOfOne]

If you want to look through a few different scopes and live close to the peninsula, you may want to drop down to The Briars on Friday June 4 for the MPAS public viewing...weather permitting. We will have several scopes out. Unfortunately, being June, cloud is a real possibility, but the talk in the shed will go on regardless and if it is not actually raining there will be a few scopes out to look AT rather than through. Have a look at www.mpas.asn.au (http://www.mpas.asn.au) for details.

[Liz]

:welcome: Yash!! Yes, its a wonderful hobby, but sooooo much to learn, and remember, but so much fun. ;)
Lots of threads here to search for the first scope - the dobsonian is the cheapest and easiest. Depends on your funds and patience.
Yes, head to Bintel for a look and play.
If you can afford it, go for an 8 or 10" Dobsonian, though if you plan on astrophotography, this may not suit as it doesnt track. Good luck!!

[DavidTrap]

My 2 cents worth,

Go to a club. Talk to some people. Go to a viewing evening. Have a look at stuff. Don't be too eager to buy - because you'll probably end up buying the wrong stuff. Speaking from experience here...

DT

[Paddy]

I think this advice from Malcolm is very important. Many people expect to see the wonderful colour of astro images in deep sky objects such as nebulae galaxies. In visual observing you will see coloured stars and colour on planets, but for DSOs you will be using night vision which is monochrome. If you are ready for this, you will see much to explore and inspire, but as Malcolm says, many people are underwhelmed and there are many threads on this site of people disappointed with their scopes.

Brian Nolan's article at http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-260-0-0-1-0.html is well worth reading.

Spending time with others will also help you find your way around the sky, often another source of frustration for the newcomer.

Having said all of that, if you have looked through scopes before, 8-12" dob is the way to go.

Hope you have heaps of fun with this obsession..

[yash]

Woooaaaa!!! such wonderfull replies!!!! thank you, thank you soo much! after reading every1's comments....i have decided to join a club first and check out the sky+different telescopes! once satisfied, will head to BINTEL in camberwell for shopping! ;) Thank you so much for telling me about this shop! i thought i would never be able to find a good telescope shop in melbourne!

I want to thank -

barx1963 (Malcolm), (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=5869)
erick (Eric), (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=1636)
OneOfOne (Trevor), (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=363)
Liz, (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=3359)
DavidTrap (David) and (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=7169)
Paddy (Patrick. (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=2827)

Thanks guys for your wonderful advice! You guys are just awesome!

:thumbsup:

[erick]

So, you are heading to MPAS? :thumbsup: