introo :D

[black]

hey all, finally joined the forum
i'm a 17yo from melbourne, and have been interested in the stars for years
considering a career in astronomy etc hehe :D
hopefully i get to learn a lot more from this forum and HI EVERYONE :)

btw, im looking to purchase a simple beginners telescope or something like that for around $200-300, would be greatly appreciated if you could all help me out and guide me through this etc :D

[CarlJoseph]

Welcome to the forums Amneesh. You'll definitely get helps of help and advice from the clever folks here.

Nice to have another Melbournite on the forums too. :thumbsup:

[M54]

Hi Amneesh,

:welcome: to IIS.
A 6 or 8 inch dobsonian telescope is a good place to start and you can get the 6 inch for around $300, but I would recommend saving a little longer and going for the 8 inch, at around $500.

Here's a couple of places you can start looking, and there is a Bintel (binocular and telescope shop) in Melbourne, in Camberwell.

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm

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

Whatever you do, don't buy a telescope from a department store or any shop that doesn't specialize in telescopes.

Keep asking questions, there are lots of friendly astro geeks here to answer them.:D:lol:

Happy hunting.:thumbsup:

[black]

:D thanks

@M54, is a dobsonian something like this??

http://www.ozscopes.com.au/dobsonian-telescope-saxon-8inch.html

and what would i be able to see through this?? are there any extra objects/lenses i'd need??

sorrry bout the questions, still learning :)

[M54]

Yes, that's a Dob.
Dobsonian refers to the type of mount that the scope is on. It was originated by John Dobson of the Sidewalk Astronomers (you can google them) in San Francisco.
It is a very easy mount to use and I would say a vast majority of visual amateur astronomers (as opposed to astrophotographers) use a Dob.
With an 8 inch you will be able to see lots of stuff from planets to galaxies and nebulae, star clusters etc. You'll be able to see them with the 6" as well but the view will be better in the 8".
But realize that they won't look like you see them in glossy magazines and books, it's photography that produces images like that.
Visually through the telescope they will be fainter and fuzzier, but you'll definitely be able to see heaps of objects, especially from a dark sky site.
I don't know where you are in Melbourne, but if you can, join your local astro society, or attend one of the various star parties they hold.

Here are a few links...

http://www.mpas.asn.au/ (this website doesn't seem to be working properly at the moment)

http://www.asv.org.au/

http://svaatest.site88.net/

http://www.astromelb.i.net.au/index.htm

As for eyepieces, the scopes usually come with a couple of eyepieces, but you'll have to clarify this with the seller.
Also, something called a Telrad finder is a great accessory to have. It is invaluable for finding faint fuzzies. You will find them at the Bintel website.

I might also add, get yourself a planisphere, and if you (or someone in your family) have a pair of binoculars, get yourself comfy (a banana lounge is great) and start with those, and you'll need a torch with a few layers of red cellophane over it to see with. White light will ruin your dark adapted vision.
Check out the astronomy section at the local library too.

That's all I can think of at this late hour.

Hope this helps

:)

[Brian W]

Hi Amneesh, definitely the easiest scope to use is a dob mounted reflector. It has the added benefit that most of the cost goes into the optics because the mount is very basic and relatively inexpensive.

As for what you will see... that is a more complicated question than it seems.

Like any hobby or career, astronomy has skills that must be developed. There is a skill to seeing through a scope and the more you develop this skill the more you will see.

There is also the problem of where you observe from. The closer you are to a city or even a brightly lit house the less you will see.

Bearing in mind those 2 conditions any telescope from 4.5" up will allow you to see thousands of interesting objects.

As a general rule the bigger the scope, the darker the site, the better your skills the more you will see.

It is doubtful (if you enjoy this passion) that whatever scope you will buy will be the last scope you will buy which brings me to a suggestion that others may well disagree with and for very good reasons.

Start with a scope in the 4 to 8 inch size. The size being dependent upon which scope can be had for the best deal.

The best deal depends upon multiple variables which is where a club or this group can be of assistance.

Brian

[Suzy]

Hi and welcome Ameesh :welcome:
Well said Brian! :2thumbs:


Molly and Brian have given you fantastic advice.
To elaborate more on what they have said, perhaps I can point you
to this link (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=710665#post710665) . It's a post I did giving some detailed obs on what can be seen between a 6 and 10 inch dob. It will give you some idea anyway- complementing what Molly and Brian have said.

Furthermore, if I can see the following objects in binos with the following links I'm providing you here with: binocular & telescope observations (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=71992)
and A night with binoculars (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=69321) there is absolutely no reason why a 4.5 or 6 inch scope won't show you more. :D

Take your time learning the constellatons- it will sink in and stay in your memory better. Too much too soon can be very confusing.
Here is a list of the 26 brightest stars (http://www.astro.wisc.edu/%7Edolan/constellations/extra/brightest.html) in the sky- start learning them now as these stars will help you navigate yourself across the sky. It's always fun greeting them when the seasons change, like old friends re-united! :D

A planisphere is a very helpful item as well. You can buy them for around $15 from the likes of Bintel, Andrews and Australian Sky & Telescope. (http://www.austskyandtel.com.au/BooksProducts/tabid/643/language/en-AU/Default.aspx) (I have their one). This magazine also supplies a monthly star chart within it.

I wish you all the best of luck as a future astronomer - we need more! ;) :D