Hi Everybody

[AlanG80]

Hello IIS.

Allow myself to introduce......myself:P

My name is Al. Ive have had a keen interest in astronomy for about a year now. A year back I started listening to a pod cast called "Astronomy Cast" and I rekindled a childhood love of stargazing. Im sure most of you know it but if not you should give it a listen.

I got my first telescope about a month back, It was a crappy old 60mm refractor on a GEM that I picked up at a garage sale for $50. It was in bad shape but after a bit of work to the mount and a good cleaning of all the lenses it was managable. Good enough to have a look at some star clusters at least.

I just picked up my second telescope on Saturday. An 8 inch dobsonian. We have called him Jeffery.:)

I had my first look through a real telescope that night. I think I giggled like a little girl for 10 minutes after a quick look at NC4455. OMG this thing is fantastic. The refractor was quickly put away in the wardrobe after that.:lol:

I got up at 4am this morning and had my first look at jupiter and I have to say that Im very impressed. I could only make out 2 of the red bands (10mm is the smallest eyepiece) but I could also clearly see 3 maybe 4 of the moons. (wasnt sure of the forth one as its orbit was almost tripple the radius of the other 3)

So anyway, Hi. Nice to meet you all and Im glad to see that there are others who share the same passion.

Cheers
Al

[erick]

Hi Al :hi:

8" dob :thumbsup:

[Stu Ward]

Grats on finding your passion for Astronomy again. That little refractor is probably the tip of the iceberg

Grats on the 8" Dob too, thats my gateway to the stars too, simplicity, but very powerful.

NGC4455 is a mag 13.00 Galaxy, so its unlikely that that is what you saw, as for Jupiter, i haven't managed to drag myself out of bed yet to view it !!!

Good luck with the new scope and enjoy

Stu

[erick]

Perhaps NGC4755 - the Jewel Box cluster?

[stephenb]

I was thinking the same.

Welcome Al! Check out Bazz's website (http://www.asignobservatory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=65) He has some great information. Take the hobby at your own pace, and enjoy it!

[torana68]

Hi! the refractor will make a nice finder for a Newtonian, stay away from the dark side, it might tempt you, call you with promises of fantastic journeys to the far reaches of the galaxy but Newtonians rule so forget all that refractor stuff.
Roger

[AlanG80]

oops

Yeah NCG4755 is what I meant.

Thanks for the welcome.

[AlanG80]

No, I actually think the finderscope on the Dob is better than my old refractor.:lol:

[Liz]

Welcome Alan!! Yes, lots to see up in those beautiful night skies. :)
I also checked out Jupiter this am, and looking great with its moons either side and a naked looking southern equatorial belt. :help:
Hey, Uranus is very close to Jupiter at the moment - I saw it very clearly in same FOV to the right of Jupiter, but close. (of course its really to the left, but the image is inverted). Great opportunity to checkout Uranus that can be a bit tricky to find.

[norm]

:welcome: to the forum Al.

8" is a great size scope.

Ask questions, there are lots of knowledgable people around.

Cheers, Norm

[Darth Wader]

Welcome Al! An 8" dob is an excellent scope, good choice.



Sound advice!:thumbsup:

Cheers
Wade

[seeker372011]

you have made the right choice there

keep that old scope some day you may use it as a guide scope ;)

[Iceaxe]

:welcome: Alan,
Another Gold Coaster cool.
Dob is a good scope:)

[M54]

Welcome Alan and Jeffrey!:thumbsup:

[thacky]

Welcome Alan!! :hi:

An 8 inch dobsonian rules:lol:

[that_guy]

haha... hows my old 8" holding out??

[Brian W]

8 is great, enjoy
Brian

[AlanG80]

Good. Its getting plenty of use.:) Im very impressed with the image even with the cheap plossls that came with it. Im slowly buying some better eyepieces for it. It was a good buy.;)