I saw Saturn for the 1st time tonight

liljpo (Jessica) · #1 16-03-2009, 11:34 PM

WooHoo!!! !

Just bought a Saxon 10" Dobsonian and thought i would test it, and loved it

Tonight wasnt so clear at all but i could see a few stars and that out so we(my partner and I) took the telescope in the back yard to see if we could find a planet ( we tried looking the other night but no success ) and we managed to find saturn..

Was so very cool.

It was the 1st time we ever found a planet... but now wer gonna buy another eye piece so we can get a better shot of everything... It was awesome, needed to share this with u all..

Have a great night all =)

ngcles · #2 16-03-2009, 11:53 PM

Hi Jessica,

Congratulations on your find and it seems like it left quite an impression on you -- as it should. Saturn is simply spell-binding in virtually any 'scope and some of the best views I've had of it was with my old 10" many, many moons ago when it was high in our southern skies. It's heading our way again! Virgo soon, then Libra, then ... Woohooo!!!

Don't be in a huge rush on those eyepiece/barlow purchases. Join an astronomical society if there is one nearby, go to one/several of their field nights and spend a little time having a look through other people's eyepieces.

The most important rule in eyepieces is that it is much better to buy a few high-quality ones than a bucket-full of mediocre ones. If it means one-at-a-time then so be it. This is better than than realising in 6 months time what you bought cheap is going to need upgrading (again).

Spend a little time trying out other peoples eyepieces. Lots of other amateurs at field night and star-parties will let you try their eyepieces for a few minutes in your 'scope just to see how it is -- if you ask nicely!

Take time to work out what you want/need/can afford, save a bit of extra cash and then make some wise choices.

In the meantime enjoy what you've got and keep observing !!

Best,

Les D

astroron (Ron) · #3 16-03-2009, 11:55 PM

Goodonya Jessica

Welcome to the visual observers club

I hope you enjoy more nights under the stars, and discover more Astronomical wonders

byronpaul (Paul) · #4 17-03-2009, 01:02 AM

Jessica,

Congratulations on your new scope and finding Saturn !!!!

I remember my first thoughts were similar to yours.

Take note of what ngcles (Les D) is saying. These experts on IIS are full of useful information and can save us Newbies a lot of time and cash.

Ask lots of questions on this site as you'll get invaluable responses from real people - not salesman !@#!@#

Happy viewing

Baddad (Marty) · #5 17-03-2009, 10:48 AM

I know how you feel Jessica. Finding Saturn can be a real buzz.

I started viewing in Feb 09.
I'd like to put my bit in about Saturn.
One rare partly clear night I focused on Venus just after sunset.

Like Wow, its not a star after all. I won't spoil it for you

and reveal what I saw. I was truly amazed. It was still twilight but Venus outshines all in the Western sky. When you view through your Dob you will understand why I was amazed. It was not what I had assumed it to look like.

Later that evening I focused at random on a relatively brightish star in the Eastern sky.

That's not a star!

. It has rings. I stepped up the magnification a little and developed that smug feeling of acheivement.

Yes! I do understand that feeling you had. Look up Venus and share your feelings again.

Cheers Marty.

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #6 17-03-2009, 10:54 AM

nice one mate, welcome to the club

erick (Eric) · #7 17-03-2009, 11:02 AM

Woo-hoo!!! Go Jessica (and partner)

BerrieK · #8 17-03-2009, 11:28 AM

Yay Jessica I remember the first time I saw Saturn through my scope, it's an amazing feeling that you want to share with someone.

Just wait until you you see your first nebula - WOW - it will really blow you away. Really exciting stuff.

Congratulations on your new hobby, it really is fantastic.

Kerrie

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #9 17-03-2009, 11:35 AM

It's a fantastic feeling isn't it.
You have the Universe at your feet now. Go and explore it!

Quark (Trevor) · #10 17-03-2009, 01:17 PM

Hi Jessica,

So glad you and your partner share a common interest in astronomy and that you got to share the moment of your first look at Saturn. It is such a special object and has left a great impression on many, me included.

There is just so much other stuff out there just waiting for you to discover, maintain the enthusiasm and enjoy it.

Regards
Trevor

Darth Wader (Wade) · #11 17-03-2009, 01:27 PM

Hey me too!

Congratulations!

First time in my scope! It was awesome, but I expected a better view... I think something is wrong with my Barlow lens.

rmcpb (Rob) · #12 17-03-2009, 01:33 PM

Another one notched up on Saturn's belt. I think we are all little notches there because I don't know anyone who has seen Saturn and was not blown away by it.

As for the eyepieces, listen to Les, great advice there.

If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you haven't already got one then its time to get a collimating eyepiece, the Orion one from Bintel is great.

Cheers

lacad01 (Adam) · #13 17-03-2009, 04:00 PM

Good stuff

Nothing like seeing it for yourself

Just wait till you find Jupiter

liljpo (Jessica) · #14 17-03-2009, 04:20 PM

Thanks all for your comments, it was a great night seeing it for the 1st time, very happy with the telescope...

I was very amazed at what i saw... very cool...

Trevor, it was awesome, he was also amazed by it, so im very glad that he shares the interest with me.

Hoping it is a clear night tonight so we can see what else is out there...

Will deffiently keep you all updated...

mozzie (Peter) · #15 17-03-2009, 05:46 PM

great find jessica i still remember my first planets.you will never forget that moment what till saturns rings show more detail when not so side on.if you can wake up early enough have a look for jupiter in the east around 4.30 or 5.00 in the morning some 15-20 deg up its a fantastic sight

mozzie

Jen · #16 17-03-2009, 06:18 PM

good stuff Jessica just wait till you see Jupiter and the Orion and and and and...........................
Happy viewing
By the way nice toy ya got too

mental4astro (Alexander) · #17 18-03-2009, 10:36 AM

Very, very exciting the first view, ain't it!

My first was at 13. Had been following Mars' crawl across the sky for a few weeks against a nearby brightish star, with my new 2" refractor.

One night after gawking at Mars, I thought I'd look at this "star", only expecting to see a pinpoint of light.

Boy, did I get a shock!! What a brilliant accidental find!

Then there'll be your first transit of a Jovian moon, Titan, ...

Happy hunting.

Alex

Ric · #18 18-03-2009, 02:40 PM

Congrats Jessica on your first view of Saturn, you'll never tire of viewing it.

I've been watching Saturn for close to 40 years now and still get a buzz every time.

Cheers

Baddad (Marty) · #19 18-03-2009, 07:55 PM

While these astro-unfriendly conditions prevail I did some rough calculations.
Its interesting to note that prior to the Industrial Revolution People rarely travelled
more than 13kms from their homes each day.

Now its common to see 100kms / day.

If it were 280 a day (figures are approx). Or 2000kms / week, becomes 100,000kms per year.

At that rate a person would accumulate the 1.2 billion kms to Saturn in just a mere 12,000 years.

Perhaps a pilot @ 6,000kms / day (@ 5days / week ( ‘cause the boss won’t let him have the plane on weekends). Becomes 1.5million kms/ year. That would take only 80 years to make the journey. Then there’s the return trip.

Thought Jessica and “boss” may like that. Putting the distance to your first planet in
some kind of perspective.

To the nearest star???

Nope I’m not going there!

Cheers Marty