Strider_
11-12-2010, 08:24 AM
I have been a lurking in these forums for quite some time now and I thought it was about time I make my first post. I am quite new to astronomy, after attending a public viewing at the local astronomy club I decided to get myself a telescope. I was quite lost as to what to buy and I spent a lot of time reading through the posts on iceinspace and reading about other peoples experiences. I am writing this so hopefully others can benefit from my experience.
At first I was set on getting a GOTO telescope with all the gizmo's, I figured this would be the easiest way to find things. But being a young man with a young family my budget was always going to play a part in my decision. After reading countless post about the ease of using a dob and the wisdom in spending hard earned money on aperture rather than gizmo's my preference was swayed towards a 12” dob. I purchased one about three months ago and I could not be more sure that I made the correct decision. Along with the scope I also purchased a copy of “Atlas of the southern night sky”, armed with my book and my scope I have become truly hooked. I get a little bit excited when I see clear sky at night and I know I can drag the scope out. I can spend hours upon hours sitting there hunting down clusters, galaxies, nebulas, stars and double stars.
My decision to go with the dob and not with a smaller GOTO scope I believe was one of the best decisions I made. I have been learning the constellations and how the sky moves(or earth rotates however you wish to think about it), now when I look up at night I do not just see stars I see the pictures that fellow astronomers have been seeing for centuries and I do not think I would be learning the sky so easily if my telescope simply moved to the objects I wish to view. It is very satisfying deciding to view an object and locating it by using the star maps. I still have so much to learn and see and I am sure this hobby is with me for life. So thank you to everyone who posts on ieinspace you helped steer my decision to the dob which I am sure is why I am so hooked.
At first I was set on getting a GOTO telescope with all the gizmo's, I figured this would be the easiest way to find things. But being a young man with a young family my budget was always going to play a part in my decision. After reading countless post about the ease of using a dob and the wisdom in spending hard earned money on aperture rather than gizmo's my preference was swayed towards a 12” dob. I purchased one about three months ago and I could not be more sure that I made the correct decision. Along with the scope I also purchased a copy of “Atlas of the southern night sky”, armed with my book and my scope I have become truly hooked. I get a little bit excited when I see clear sky at night and I know I can drag the scope out. I can spend hours upon hours sitting there hunting down clusters, galaxies, nebulas, stars and double stars.
My decision to go with the dob and not with a smaller GOTO scope I believe was one of the best decisions I made. I have been learning the constellations and how the sky moves(or earth rotates however you wish to think about it), now when I look up at night I do not just see stars I see the pictures that fellow astronomers have been seeing for centuries and I do not think I would be learning the sky so easily if my telescope simply moved to the objects I wish to view. It is very satisfying deciding to view an object and locating it by using the star maps. I still have so much to learn and see and I am sure this hobby is with me for life. So thank you to everyone who posts on ieinspace you helped steer my decision to the dob which I am sure is why I am so hooked.