[netwolf]

Hi All,

I finally did it, got my first scope. Based on all the great information here in these fourms i decided on a Dob. I got it from Andrew's. I was going to get the 8" GS-680, but when i got there i saw the 10" was on special for 599 with 4 eyepices,a 2" GS eyepiece, 4 colour filters, binos, and a moon filter. To great a deal to pass up. My mates at work who having been in astronomy a lot longer advised me to go for a goto, but given my budget suggested i buy the biggest dob i could afford.

I chose the Andrews 6.5mm 10mm 15mm and 25mm eyepieces and a GS 2" 32mm eyepiece. I held of on the barlow for now.

I got it all setup in about 2hours. And perfect clear skies tonight, can not get much better than that. First stop Jupiter, or what i thought was jupiter... and i got dissapointed because i could not see any bands or the moons. Called my mate he asked me to to a collmination, so i spent the next 1/2 hour looking for a bright star.. dinner .. continued to line up one bright star in the north west ... when i finally got it i saw jupiter in all its glory.. doh... I wondered why it had not blinked. Jupiter with its 4 moons, 3 orange bands interlayed with white ones.

Now i have put up my scope for the night, its too cold..

What have i learned.. shoulda taken my laptop with me so i could see the skycharts. Moving a dob around is no joke.. need some wheels. An F6 is not great for detail on jupiter.. need that barlow...

I think ill go buy a small trolley to put the dob on..

My mates helped a lot and have lived with my constant questions for the last year.. so thanks to them to you know who your are..

Seeing Jupiter in all its glory was fantastic... a dream come true..

Clear skies to all..
And to all Clear Skies..

Regards
Netwolf.