Simmo
Red headlamp torches can be bought at Safeway or Woolies. Just be careful with them as they switch one way for red and the other for white and cna blind your night vision if not careful. I cover mine in red cellophane to reduce that risk. It also dims it a fair bit as they are still fairly bright in red mode and will affect night vision anyway.
Adjustable height chair are a must, especially as you get more experienced and spend more time at the eyepiece.
If using your scope manually, good charts are essential!!! Computer programs are all very well but difficult to use out at the scope with dew, you have to have extension cords which are a tripping hazard, as the batteries do not like the cold and the screens are still quite bright even when dimmed and covered with red stuff.
Good charts will last years and alway be available. A basic chart is here
http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories...oductview.aspx I purchased these to get me started, pretty basic but helps you to learn the night sky. The next step would be Sky Atlas 2000, the Cambridge Sky Atlas or the Cambridge Double Star Atlas (don't be put off by the double star bit, it is actually a really good basic atlas with lots of deep sky objects). Then there is Uranometria 2000. The charts come in 2 volumes and are excellent quality. There is also a Guide volume that has info on all the objects listed.
I can also recommend the Deep Sky Observers Guide, also in 3 Volumes that has some basic charts but gives lots of good "leads" on what to look for and what you can expect to see when you find it.
With Eyepieces, don't jump in too soon! THe wide field EPs that will come with a scope, usually around 25mm are OK to start with. The higher power ones are often hard to use and so you will find yourself sticking to low power most of the time. Premium EPS are definitely worth it but are expensive and you need to be happy with your choices. Try a few out, talk to others then decide. If you MUST buy a premium EP straight off a 24mm Panoptic or 13mm Nagler from Televue are always good choices.
Cheaper zooms are an idea, but the optical quality is only passable. They still cannot beat a good premium fixed EP. The more expensive zooms are better.
Dew protection is a must unless you are very lucky and live where ther is none. Nothing spoils a good night like have to go and get a hairdryer and wait 10 minutes while you remove moisture from finders, EPs and secondaries. I use the Kendrick controllers and have a EP rack on my scope so all the EPS are permanently setup with heaters as well as the finder, secondary and green laser pointer. All that requires 2 controllers but it is definitely worth it.
One other usful thing is a little foldable table for your charts and bits and pieces. When I go away to Star Parties I set it up in a shower tent to help keep the dew off my charts. Also Bintel sell these little things
http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories...oductview.aspx you can clip the on your table to illuminate your charts etc. I think they are still a little bright if using both lights but about right if you only use 1.
Anyways, thats all I can think of for now. Good luck with your choices and happy observing!!
Malcolm
PS and welcome to IIS!!
