Hi Everyone

[kimforster]

I am a complete newbie to this so please bare with me & my stupidity when it comes to telescopes.

I got a skywatcher 8" dobsonian for chrissy. I love it!! & have been doing so much internet searching for all kinds of info I need.

I also have a nikon D70s (upgrading in the future to D90) so I intend on attaching it to the telescope. I have found the pieces I need to do this but it did take some time & some debate as to whether it can actually be done with my particular telescope. I'm gonna go ahead & do it because the people who have been successful in doing this have my camera & my telescope.

I live in Fremantle, WA (anyone else in WA?) This morning I got up at 4am to see venus. I was surprised to find it 'twinkled' like a star LOL. More research... & I now know I need a UVenus filter or ultraviolet filter. I am having a hard time finding one & wondering if anyone else in Australia is able to tell me where I can get one from. I am also having a hard time finding a star chart, can anyone tell me where to get one from?? I would've liked to have seen more at 4am this morning & known what I was looking at as well as what is available now. I got to see a very bright venus & saturn & 'normal' stars (I presume).

I have also seen on ebay filters. Are they worth it? Or should I only invest in filters that I need (like the one for venus). The most common I have seen is blue, green, red, yellow kit but I am not really sure what I would use them for.

Also what do I need to use to be able to view the sun & any planets during the day? Currently I can't see them & have been told I need something to I can view it all by day.

Cheers

[midnight]

Kim,

Welcome to IIS!:thumbsup: Your enthusiasum is strong but be warned if you try to target too many things too early, it will only lead to dissapointment or continually buying addons that you may not fully appreciate at this stage:mad2:.

many of the girls and guys on this site will help and guide you and all I can really say is try and settle down to 1 target for now - eg the sun or the moon. Two fairly obvious targets.

For me, the moon was it as I could photograph it easily and learn more about field rotation, drift, exposure, focus etc. The moon is a really good learning curve on these important fundamentals and most rewarding - esp as you have a decent DSLR.

As for solar, your MUST get a filter - eg primary type filter such as those from Thousand Oaks. Check out Bintel, Staroptics etc.

Good luck,
Darrin...

[mswhin63]

Hi Kim,

I also have a DOB and for me patience was one of my virtues where others would give up.

If your scope is a non tracking - ie: no motors your imaging efforts will be mostly in vain. I managed to learn non tracking methods of Astro Photography and about the only thing you can capture is the moon effectively.

If you have a tracking scope then you can have a lot more fun with planets and low exposure Deepsky.

I still have my DOB and after my surgery will get back into using the DOB for imaging. I though use a different method of tracking using an EQ platform. This is the only way to achieve longer exposure imaging for deepsky. Below are some examples although I only have 1 display ATM non guided. Sometimes the best way is getting involved with a club and get together with others that can help. I run ASWA (http://www.aswa.info) deepsky at Jarrahdale and has been quite successful in help new people understand things they can do and look for.

Images:
Jupiter non tracking version - http://www.waelect.com.au/mswhin63/Malcolm%20Whinfield%20Astro%20Photo graphy/Jupiter/index.html#1

Jupiter with Tracking using a DSLR - http://www.waelect.com.au/mswhin63/Malcolm%20Whinfield%20Astro%20Photo graphy/Jupiter/index.html#2

Most of my photos were done with my DOB except Widefield and Startrails.

[mswhin63]

Oh I don't use any filters through the DOB ATM

[kimforster]

Thank you for the replies & I am sorry for seeming 'over' enthusiastic LOL. Yes I am aware of the let downs that're possible. And yes I had already found the solar filter I need, not bought yet.

I haven't bought anything yet & know how important it is to know the basics first. I still like to look & know what does what, what is available & what I can & can't do, should & shouldn't. I also don't intend on buying anything unless I know what it is . I still would like to know what colour filters are used for because I have no idea & I do intend on buying 1 filter & that is UVenus filter.

I have come across that link before Malcom, I will look at it again thank you. I guess Jaradale isn't really too far from me compared to Nth of the river LOL & it would be nice to get into a local club. You must have great clear skies there compared to where I am.

I understand I have a very long way to go but I like to learn, I like information & especially before deciding to get something. I tend to not get anything unless I know enough about it or know I need it.

[astroron]

Hi Kim, You don't need a UVenus filter to View Venus, a blue colour filter is all you will need, or another filter you should purchase is a Moon filter which can be also used to view Venus.

Most colour filters are helpful in viewing the planets,say like Orange for instance help to bring out the bands on Jupiter.
Welcome to iceinspace :)
there are quite a few members on iceinspace from Perth and surrounds
so you wont have too much trouble catching up with someone over there :thumbsup:
Cheers

[bkm2304]

Hi Kim,

The more you look through your telescope the more you will see! Over time your eye and brain will learn how to see faint things and details. For instance try the 'averted vision' trick: when looking at a faint object like a nebula or galaxy, don't look directly at the thing, rather to the side of the field of view and you should see much more detail jump out - it's got to do with the way your retina is set up to see in low light.

Also get a good atlas. Book form and computer form. Stellarium is a free, superbly designed planetarium - style atlas that allows you to whizz around the sky and see what's up etc in a very realistic manner - download it here:
http://www.stellarium.org/

And for easy thrills, find the milky way, which is pretty much up at the moment, put in your widest field eyepiece (usually the one with the largest mm on the side, say 15 or 25 or 40mm), and meander along taking in the pretty lights!!!:astron:

Richard

[barx1963]

Hi Kim
Personally I wouldn't get too worked up over Venus. If you need to look at it a Moon Filter, sometimes also called a Neutral Density filter is all you need. This will enable you to see the phases, but as thats about all you will see, don't go expecting much!
Word of warning, if intending to do ANY solar observing, get a good solar filter of the type that fits over the aperture of you scope. Above all DO NOT use an eyepiece filter, these are potentially very dangerous. If yoy already have one (and no good astro shop will sell one) chuck it in the bin! Better yet get yourself a proper solar scope.
In theory it is possible to observe the planets in day time. Personally I wouldn't as the risk of catching the sun is just too great.
I have a set of colour filters that can be useful for observing features on the planets. Mainly the filters I use are the OIII filter for enhancing planetary nebulae, the UHC filter for improving contrast for catching faint reflection and emission nebs and the ND (Moon) filter for toning down bright objects such as Jupiter and the moon.
For atlases, I can recommend the Cambridge star atlas and the Cambridge double star atlas. Both are available from Bintel by mail order. A good option is the Bintel Accessories pack that gives you a planisphere, Red torch and a copy of Astronomy 2011 in one pack. The book contains a basic set of charts to help get you going.
See this link here https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm

BTW I am not associated with Bintel, but I bought this pack a couple of years ago and thought it was useful.

[kimforster]

Thanks everyone. You have all been so much help & well I guess a simple question has turned into a complex thing LOL There is still a lot I need to think about with what you have all said before I decide on anything I do get.

Your help has been fantastic!! I am a member of another group & I cannot believe the difference in the boards. The other board seems to know very little & it's hard to get advice from them, so I will definitely be sticking around here :D

I have downloaded the stellarium atlas. I will have good long look at all the links I have received & good hard think about what I want or should do. No doubt I will have plenty more questions in the future.

[Octane]

Kim,

If you would like to be able to print something out and take it outside with you, then, check out www.skymaps.com (http://www.skymaps.com) and download the chart for the Southern Hemisphere (scroll to the bottom). They produce them month-by-month and showcase different objects that can be viewed using different instruments, from naked eye, to binoculars to telescopes.

The following link is for March, 2011: http://www.skymaps.com/skymaps/tesms1103.pdf

Hope this gets you going.

H