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gpb
05-03-2011, 04:21 PM
It's been nearly 2 months since the purchase of my 12" Dob. It's been a massive learning curve and my knowledge of the night sky has increased and just love being out there. This forum is a valuable tool, when I want a question answered more often than not there is a thread on the topic. When I want to add a new object to my viewing library I have also found threads on here that are value added.

I've been busy modifying a standard hand trolley to assist me wheeling the Dob in & out of the house. Thanks to Malcolm - Barx1963 who emailed some photos of his own modified hand trolley, it made the job really easy.

A couple of weeks ago I lay-by'd a few ep's, it was gruelling because there were so many choices and so little money. Anyway, after a while, with the expertise of the saleperson, I came away happy and I hope I made the right choices -the Televue - Nagler 13mm VI (1.25"), Nagler 20mm V (2"), & the Powermate 2.0x (2").

I am finding myself sitting on the coach late at night, when the night is clouded over, and visualise where certain objects are at various times. :help: I think this is due to the fact I have set a challenge to try to learn 1 thing everyday that is related to astronomy, whether it's a fact or name of an object in the sky.

I went up to Shepparton last night and on the way back I made my mate stop in between Shep & Nagambie just to view the night sky. It was black with a huge contrast compared to my light polluted back yard. I was thinking how beautiful the sky was and how lucky people are out there having such prestine viewing conditions.

So far today the weather here in Melbourne has been sunny with clear skies, I'm looking forward to clear night skies, if only I could have had my new ep's.

Helmann
05-03-2011, 04:39 PM
Chris,

I think Stellarium is a program you might wanna try out. It is free.
On cloudy nights I load it up to view the night sky.
It is helping me to learn the night sky and is now an in-valuable tool for my astronomy.

You are lucky you have clear skies. I have 3 new EP's but also alot of clouds.

barx1963
06-03-2011, 05:31 PM
Well done Chris. The 13mm Nagler is a beaut, I have one and love it. Haven't looked at the 20mm nag, but I'm sure it is nice.

You really must try and bring your dob to the next Snake Valley camp later this year. Just arrived back from this weekends camp, its one of the best ways to get more out your scope. You also get to see what other are doing with theirs. I think on the visual side there were about half a dozen 12", one 16", a 10" and a few others.

gpb
07-03-2011, 08:19 PM
Helmann, Stellarium was the first thing I downloaded after I started reading IIS. I find it a great tool especially on cloudy nights and during the day when I have nothing do, I like to study my next observations, well try to anyway.

Malcolm, I'll try to come to the next camp. Any idea when it will be held?