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Old 15-05-2009, 02:23 PM
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rmcpb (Rob)
Compulsive Tinkerer

rmcpb is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
Posts: 1,766
Extras you NEED:
  • Join an astro club and go to the observing sessions. The experienced members will be your best assets.
  • Red torch - just some cellophane over a normal torch will get you going.
  • Planisphere - the big Chandler one is great.
  • Collimating equipment - either a cheshire eyepiece or a laser collimator. Either one will get you going.
  • Stool - to allow comfy viewing.

Extras you may THINK you need:
  • Better eyepieces - the ones that come with the scope will keep you going for quite a while till you learn to observe.
  • A Telrad - now this is a toss up whether its an essential or nice to have.
  • Filters - most filters people buy spend most of their time in the box and not on the scope. The only one that may be useful would be a variable moon filter to make observing the moon more comfy.
  • Atlases - good sky maps can be found for free on the web for a while till you have time to look around.

I would say, so long as you can collimate it, find your way around the sky and are comfy then you will go a long way quickly. All the other accessories will come in time.

Cheers
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