first view of the moon

[newbie]

Hello All,
First of all WOW! I've just had my first view of the moon - Unbelievable, just so beautiful.
I am now the proud owner of a skywatcher 8" Dob from My Astro Shop thanks to my very generous parents-in-law. (well actually the finer details of ownership are currently being fought out between me and my 6 year old son who insists on refering to it as "his" telescope).
We got the scope about 2 weeks ago and immediately had a full week of solid cloud cover (VERY frustrating!) and then I have spent the last week trying to figure out how to work the damn thing.
I really should not embarrass myself by revealing that it took me 2 nights to realise that if I wanted to see anything other than what I could see through the finderscope I would need to insert an eyepiece (hey - my user name is NEWBIE isn't it). I thought I was finally onto it, but even after I got the eyepiece in - total blackness. I was beginning to think I had a total dud when tonight in desperation, I googled "Why can't I see through my telescope?" and found the suggestion that perhaps the finderscope was not properly aligned with the main scope.
BINGO! Got that sorted out and then I have spent the last 3/4 hr just staring up at the big grey ball. It is just mesmerising. I think actually I have partially blinded myself because it's just so bright.
So, anyway, now that I'm officially hooked - here are all my questions. Again, a point of ignorance - I thought I would get a better view with the 25mm eyepiece ( I got 2 with it, a SP10mm and a SP25mm), but it seemed to me that I saw more detail with the 10mm, but withe the 25mm I could see the whole moon at once. Does that seem right?
So anyway, when I figure out where to look for the planets what sort of detail can I expect to see? Would I see similar sort of detail as with the moon using the 10mm looking at say, mars or Jupiter? If not, what sort of eyepieces do I need to get a hold of? Also, I got a set of 4 coloured filters with the scope - what would they be useful for and where do I put them?
What's the go with stars - I lined up a few bright ones, but could see nothing much in the scope with those?
Thanks everyone for your anticipated wealth of knowledge!!:)

[stinky]

Howdy Newb - nice to hear your experiences. I'm a newb here myself and had to chuckle when I heard about your synchronised scope and cloud arrival - same happened for me. (I think this is a universal rite of passage!)

With your eyepieces - the 10 will give you 2.5 x the maginification of the 25mm eyepiece. Hence more detail. Funny thing at the beginning is that we all think the function of the scope is to maginfy - the more the better. It's actually to gather light - make faint things visible and add in some magnification and you start to see something. That's why the stars themselves are generrally unexciting - they are soooo far away that no matter (within reason) how much we magnify they will still just be points of light. Your 10mm will get you the rings of saturn and the bands on Jupiter along with moons. For the good old bug bright moon filters screwed into the inside barrel of the eyepiece will reduce eyestrain and bring out detail.

Have you got star charts, a planisphere or any planetarium type software? These are a must if you want to know here and when to look at what. I found stellarium (free download) absolutely inavaluable - if you do a search here you'll find the link.

Anyway good luck with it all - it's a facination!!!! Regards from one newb to another.

[davidpretorius]

congrats.

1. 25mm will give you a lower magnification and therefore a wider view. Your finder scope has lower magnification again and hence the moon looks smaller. as you put in your 10mm, then the image gets closer ie higher magnification.
2. jupiter you will definately see detail with your 10mm. It is an early morning planet at the moment, but if you are up at around 5am, look straight up and look for the brightest object. that will be jupiter. Saturn is low in the north, but at around 11pm, so you will see the rings easily
3. try different filters with different planets. they screw into the other end of an eyepiece to where you look in
4. stars are so far away, they will not get any closer ie detail.

The moon is great, do you know the iron pot in the sky. It is in the north west at around 10pm, so have a look at the handle of the iron pot and let us know what you find???

Welcome to the addictive world of astronomy!

[newbie]

Hi Dave (and thank you Stinky for your reply - I'm glad I'm not the only one so frustrated by the clouds)

I raced outside again to look at the pot, but it has come over a bit cloudy in the last 1/2 hr, I looked NW, but not sure if I was in the right spot because I could not actually see the pot, but I think I was in the general vacinity. I found something glowing reddish green, but it was behind a large tree and I was also looking directly into a street light, so was a bit difficult. But I will be out tomorrow night and I WILL FIND THE POT!! and I'll let you know what I find!
Beth.

[RAJAH235]

Beth, hi, :hi: & welcome. :welcome:....
This prog is a great help in finding lots of stuff & can also print out Star Charts.. > http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/
Be sure to get a few of the add ons....
This is also handy..> http://www.astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html
Both are free....
To aid in your collimation probs..> http://skyandtelescope.com/printable/howto/scopes/article_790.asp
& for your telescope basics..>http://www.celestron.com/tb-trms.htm
HTH. :D L.

[Robert_T]

HI Beth, and welcome. I'm sort of jealous. I remember my first views of the sky the moon in particular very fondly - you'll see many amazing things in the night sky, some visually spectacular like the moon some visually unimpressive but awe inspiring from having see something so vast so far away. You've got some good advice below - as DP says have a look at the handle of the pot and see what you can see.

The other thing you must do is look at Saturn. Around 9pm looking directly north and about half way from horizon to straight up you will see a bright cream coloured "star" if you look at it with your scope even with your 25mm eyepiece you'll see a very tiny cream-yellow ball complete with ring and perhaps a few surrounding specs which are the larger moons...

just keep in mind the moon is very close and no matter what eyepieces you use will you see anything near the size or detail on the other planets, but, hopefully, the achievement of turning mere dots of light many millions of km away into littles disks with some detail will be enough to keep you chuffed.

cheers,

[acropolite]

Welcome to IIS Beth. If you follow this link (click on the graphic next to "The Evening Sky Map) you will be able to download and print out a simple to follow southern hemisphere map of the night sky, together with a list of suitable targets for the month of march. http://www.skymaps.com

[yagon]

welcome. as a fellow newbie, i can vouch for the great advice that the members of this forum are willing to provide

ask all the 'dumb' questions that you can think of - i certainly have

[[1ponders]]

So it's been you!!!! :tasdevil:


Just jokin' :poke::poke: :) It's all part of the rights of passage of buying new astronomy equipment. I don't know anyone who hasn't suffered with it at sometime or other after buying new equipment. We usually find that if you lock your new scope in the cupboard for a week, don't go outside and check the sky every half an hour that withing two weeks to 6 months the sky will normally clear.

If you really want to find some things to look at certainly download some of the software suggested and print out some maps, but probably the quickest way is to get together with someone who knows a bit of the sky. It's a little bit like reading up and searching the internet about buying a scope, or coming here and asking. It'll always be quicker when you're given some direction. So find out who lives in your area and send them a PM and impose on them. Amatuer astronomers are the biggest imPOSERS when it comes to dropping into peoples places so they can point things out in the sky :rofl: If you can't find anyone on your area come up to the Sunshine Coast on the 25th (or any weekend near the new moon) to Astroron's place. We usually impose upon him at that time and invade his place and dark skies. There can be up to 20 of us there with all levels of experience. Keep your eye on the Star Party and Observing Session forum for details of upcoming viewing sessions at various places around SE Qld and Aust.

Good luck and enjoy your scope.

CS