Ive only just bought my 8" and they were the three things i bought straight up & im happy i did..though with the few nights ive had out with my scope..i'd have to agree with Ving...a comfy height adjustable chair is next on my list..they should be madatory...
1: a comfy height adjustable chair
2: pizza
3: beer...
but...
a) zero mag finder
b) increases magnification in conjuction with any given eyepiece
c) a type of focuser that operates smoothly.
Thanks Ving. A chair is something I have been looking for but unable to locate.
Is there a special astronomy chair I should look for?
Beer! Not when its zero outside at night. I'll save that for the cloudy nights watching the footy.
Excuse my ignorance but what is a zero mag finder? I assume mag = magnitude.
I'm presuming that you already have your red light torch and a planisphere and a subscription to a suitable magazine and a copy of a Southern Sky Guide (or perhaps Astronomy 2007 - should be a good discount, half the year having gone!)
Yes, there are "proper" observing chairs, but they are expensive:-
Find an old gaslift office chair, rip the back off it, maybe knock the wheels off if you have to observe from mud/dirt - that will get you started! A cushion for extra height, if needed for zenith viewing!
Telrad and other versions - yes they are a no magnification finder. It allows you to sight an object looking through a view that's open to the sky. A red dot (and/or maybe some circles) is projected onto the view so you can line up your scope on the target. Most people usually use them to get roughly to the object of interest, then go to a finderscope to more finely direct the scope - or straight to a low power eyepiece in the scope.
Yes, put the barlow on an early list of purchases
.
ps. perhaps you already have a crayford-style focusser rather than a rack and pinion-style - post a photo and we'll tell you. Even if you have a R&P - that will work for now.
ps. perhaps you already have a crayford-style focusser rather than a rack and pinion-style - post a photo and we'll tell you. Even if you have a R&P - that will work for now.
Thanks Erick. I am getting a red light torch today. I have been using Stellarium to navigate my way around which has been great for a beginner (And its free).
Attached is a pic of my scope. I don't think its a crayford.
All the gadgets in the world won't help if you can't find things to look at
I bought the sky atlas 2000 but I think a better choice would have been the smaller Cambridge StarAtlas. It's under half the price and you don't need a dining room table to spread it out on.
PS: If it were me I wouldn't be in a hurry to grab the telrad. Their great but they take some of the fun out of the experience I reckon. I have a nice Williams optics red dot finder mounted on a small 4" scope I rarely use. On my 11" I use the factory finder scope and have never even considered swapping the red dot finder across. No challenge in it and useless for small fuzzy things.
Yep, it's a R&P. I've never had one. I'm told you should be careful not to pick up any grease in case you transfer it to an eyepiece glass.
I think the Bintel Crayfords directly replace this R&P (search for threads here on focusser replacement). Buy the 10:1 for only some $20 more, that gives you fine focus. But, as I said, unless this one is wobbling all around the place and cannot be tightened, perhaps spend your money elsewhere for a while.
You cannot always have your computer handy? Recommend that you spend $20-25 on a Planisphere - unless you have memorised the sky!
OD, Just one peice of advice: get a Rigel Quickfinder instead of a Telrad. I have both as well as an 8" Dob. The Rigel is much better suited to this scope due to its smaller footprint. Might want to pair it up with a right angle 8x50 finder to replace your straight thru 8x50.
Thanks for all the advice astro people.
Now that I know what a barlow, telrad and crayford actually are I have decided I can do without the Telrad and Crayford at this stage.
I will look at purchasing these items when the minister of finance releases more funds my way.
I will get a 2 x bintel barlow for now and a comfie chair.
Hi Oggie and welcome...As you would probably find out sooner or later..but your scope's mirrors will need to be collimated..(optically aligned) so as to have the best possible image..(put aside about $80 bucks for a collimation tool such as a cheshire crosshair and check out a few sites on collimation)..plus you will see items that mention washing the primary mirror..(don't bother with this for at least a year..dust on the primary mirror won't affect the image even though it looks terrible when you shine a torch on it!!)
So for the time being..enjoy what the night sky has to offer!
Cheers!
I have a few gaslift chairs around the house now, they are great for everything, including working on motorcycles. I regularly scope out the local RSPCA shop and every other week new ones come in. They sell them for $20 or less.
If you only have a scope and nothing else then consider a chair, red torch, planisphere, binos, star chart, cheshire eyepiece (essential) and lots of tea or coffee.
The main thing is to get in lots of hours of viewing then make a considered choice of accessories that suit YOUR needs.
I was horrified recently to find that the stellar chair was $199. and made in China. So...I knocked up one from a few scraps and a little steel step ladder that I have. I simply cut up a piece of scrap 1 inch ply to fit on top of the third stair tread, then I drilled a 12mm hole on the back of the ply and got an "S" shaped piece of steel rod (the type you get for hanging baskets), hooked it round one of the horizontal bars on the back of the step ladder, and pushed it through the 12mm hole in the ply. Hey presto - I sat on it and it worked. Good stability too. For height adjustment I use a discarded home made wooden chopping board (30mm thick - suitably cut to size ) - and a childs life jacket on top of that for a bit of comfort. Apart from the step ladder (which was I think about $30 from Bunnings) $4 for the steel rod was trhe cost. My wife did not think it would be a good idea to post a picture of the contraption as too many of youse good people might become hysterical with laughter and do yourselves an injury. Just think of the money you could save though........
Bwahahaha! You don't know what they are, but you are going to buy them.
In that case, you'll also need a Snargleblaster, a Mid-ranged elphonometer, a quarter staffed umbilico emangulator, and 2 or 3 packets of Prism elongators!
I can supply you with these very imortant 'must have' items for, . . . hmmm . . let's say . . $150 each plus postage
Bwahahaha! You don't know what they are, but you are going to buy them.
In that case, you'll also need a Snargleblaster, a Mid-ranged elphonometer, a quarter staffed umbilico emangulator, and 2 or 3 packets of Prism elongators!
I can supply you with these very imortant 'must have' items for, . . . hmmm . . let's say . . $150 each plus postage
Sorry to inconvenience you with such stupidity Ballarat. Unlike you I was not born with an intimate knowledge of all things to do with astronomy and have to start at the bottom, a thing us mortals have to do from time to time.
I could have sworn the thread read "Beginners start here". My mistake. I'm off to get the eyes checked right now!
I simply cut up a piece of scrap 1 inch ply to fit on top of the third stair tread, then I drilled a 12mm hole on the back of the ply and got an "S" shaped piece of steel rod (the type you get for hanging baskets), hooked it round one of the horizontal bars on the back of the step ladder, and pushed it through the 12mm hole in the ply. Hey presto - I sat on it and it worked. Good stability too. For height adjustment I use a discarded home made wooden chopping board (30mm thick - suitably cut to size ) - and a childs life jacket on top of that for a bit of comfort. Apart from the step ladder (which was I think about $30 from Bunnings) $4 for the steel rod was trhe cost. My wife did not think it would be a good idea to post a picture of the contraption as too many of youse good people might become hysterical with laughter and do yourselves an injury.
