Beginner's questions

Noidea · #1 12-01-2006, 08:12 PM

Hi Everyone

I'm super new to this, I got my first scope one week ago. I mistakenly bought it on eBay because it looked like what I thought a serious scope should look like. I discovered one minute after opening the box that I had purchased a toy (Made of plastic & tin & shakes a lot). Even though it's a toy, I have enjoyed looking at the moon in between the cloudy nights over the past week. Now I would like to upgrade to a real scope. Thanks to a great deal of useful advice on this site I think I am now on the right track.

I have learnt from reading on this site that it's not magnification which makes great viewing, but rather the amount of light reflected from the primary mirror. So from what I understand so far, the larger this mirror the more light collected, correct? What I am wondering is, what would be the minimum size required to view some of our nearest planets like Venus, Mars and Saturn and actually see a planet & not a star (I mean in terms of the size of viewed planet in eye piece).

My current scope Focal Length 700mm Diameter 76mm, with 20, 12.5 & 4mm eye pieces & 2 x Barlow. Would this be capable of seeing anything more than a dot of bright light if I attempted to view a planet? I have seen the photos of planets on this site. I am surprised of how much detail can be seen. I am totally inspired to see it for myself.

Paul

mickoking · #2 12-01-2006, 09:47 PM

G'day Paul

With your telescope you should easily be able to see details on some of the planets. Jupiters 4 big moons and some cloud bands. Saturns rings and the phases of venus. The problem with your scope maybe the mount. If it's wobbly you wont see much at all particually at medium to high magnification.

Welcome to IIS

asimov (John) · #3 12-01-2006, 10:22 PM

Welcome to the site Paul.

Pity about the ebay purchase, but at least your on the right track now.

We need to know your budget before suggestions are made on another scope though.
As Micko says, that scope should show you the basics temporarily until your ready to upgrade.

acropolite (Phil) · #4 12-01-2006, 10:28 PM

Paul, I have an old 60mm Bushnell refractor only 25x mag and can see jupiter & 4 moons, although not much detail and also saturn and rings, so you should, given that the optics are OK, be able to see some planetary detail. The photo's you see of planets on this site aren't necessarily what you will see visually; cameras are able to pick up more detail than your eye will see and many of the images are composite, made from several images stacked to enhance what detail is present. Your 700 mm F/L and 20mm EP will net 35x mag, the 12.5 56x and should resolve some detail on saturn and Jupiter if the optics are even half decent. Try Saturn first, it rises a bit after 10pm at the moment and will look like a yellowish dot on the eastern horizon. Even when it is just over the horizon you should be able to make out the disk shape and rings, the later you leave your viewing, the better the view should be. There are also lots of deep sky objects which are easy targets with small telescopes. If you haven't got a copy it's worth getting Astronomy 2006, which will list monthly targets and give you some decent star maps.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #5 12-01-2006, 10:32 PM

Paul, don't go by the pics in here either. What is seen in a pic is not necessarily what you will see through an eyepiece. A camera (webcam, SLR, etc) will show heaps of detail that just cannot be seen by eye. But the views by eye are still stunning!!!

As Asimov says above we need to know your budget PLUS what do you want to see: Planets, Deep space, use it for Astrophotography?

EDIT: Ya beat me to it Phil. Great minds think alike! But what's our excuse LOL!

johnno · #6 12-01-2006, 10:50 PM

Welcome to Ice In Space Paul,
You will get all the answers you will ever need here,There is some very cluey people to help you.
Regards.
John

toetoe (Peter) · #7 12-01-2006, 11:15 PM

I think alot of us have got or had a small refractor along the type you bought off ebay Paul. the main thing is not to expect fantastic results with the lower end market telescopes, with what you have you will still have great fun viewing some planets and other objects as mentioned in the other post's. Look at it this way Paul, there is only one way to go from where you are in the telescope range

Anyway, welcome to IIS and if you have a question just ask away.

33South (Chris) · #8 12-01-2006, 11:23 PM

Welcome Paul

I know you asked about planets, but dont underestimate the pleasure that can be had from looking at the Moon in its various phases with a small telescope.

Chris

RAJAH235 · #9 13-01-2006, 12:09 AM

Hi Paul.

Welcome. Take your time. The universe ain't going anywhere. Got an Astronomy Society/club close by? A visit to them would help you.

L.

Noidea · #10 13-01-2006, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickoking

G'day Paul

With your telescope you should easily be able to see details on some of the planets. Jupiters 4 big moons and some cloud bands. Saturns rings and the phases of venus. The problem with your scope maybe the mount. If it's wobbly you wont see much at all particually at medium to high magnification.

Welcome to IIS

Thank you for your reply and advice, I will definitely have a look as soon as we get a clear night here in Sydney. You're right about the mount, its very light and wobbly.

toetoe (Peter) · #11 13-01-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noidea

Thank you for your reply and advice, I will definitely have a look as soon as we get a clear night here in Sydney. You're right about the mount, its very light and wobbly.

Get a empty 3 litre plastic milk bottle and fill it with water and hang it under the tripod and that should keep it a bit sturdier for you.

iceman (Mike) · #12 13-01-2006, 05:49 AM

Hi Paul.
Where abouts in Sydney are you?

It's not too late to organise to come up to IISAC - it's under 2 weeks away now and you'll get to look through MANY different telescopes, both small and large, and you'll get to see what you can see in them - first hand, before spending any more money. You'll also get a feel for how big or small they are, how you could transport them, etc.

Plus, there'll be many friendly people there to meet, chat to and have a great time.

Even if you can only come for 1 night, I think it will be a trip well worth spending.

Failing that, we have viewing nights at Kulnura (on the central coast) every new moon and again you're more than welcome to come along and see the different telescopes in action. There's a group of 6-12 of us who meet up every month to do some observing and have some fun in each others company.

PS: Welcome to the forum! How did you hear about us?

Noidea · #13 13-01-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Welcome to the site Paul.

Pity about the ebay purchase, but at least your on the right track now.

We need to know your budget before suggestions are made on another scope though.
As Micko says, that scope should show you the basics temporarily until your ready to upgrade.

Thank you for your comments. My budget? Hmmmm, I would like something practical and functional which offers best value for money initially with the option to add features as I get more into this. Initial budget of $500 - $750.

Noidea · #14 13-01-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

Paul, I have an old 60mm Bushnell refractor only 25x mag and can see jupiter & 4 moons, although not much detail and also saturn and rings, so you should, given that the optics are OK, be able to see some planetary detail. The photo's you see of planets on this site aren't necessarily what you will see visually; cameras are able to pick up more detail than your eye will see and many of the images are composite, made from several images stacked to enhance what detail is present. Your 700 mm F/L and 20mm EP will net 35x mag, the 12.5 56x and should resolve some detail on saturn and Jupiter if the optics are even half decent. Try Saturn first, it rises a bit after 10pm at the moment and will look like a yellowish dot on the eastern horizon. Even when it is just over the horizon you should be able to make out the disk shape and rings, the later you leave your viewing, the better the view should be. There are also lots of deep sky objects which are easy targets with small telescopes. If you haven't got a copy it's worth getting Astronomy 2006, which will list monthly targets and give you some decent star maps.

Thank you for your advice. I am hanging to have a peek at Saturn. I am wondering about Saturn. Does it make an East to West path accross the sky? At what point would it be best to view it?

iceman (Mike) · #15 13-01-2006, 11:41 AM

It's a great time to view Saturn now, and over the next month. At the moment it's rising at about 9:30pm, but wait until it's higher in the sky (it'll be north/north east) before you view it.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #16 13-01-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noidea

Thank you for your comments. My budget? Hmmmm, I would like something practical and functional which offers best value for money initially with the option to add features as I get more into this. Initial budget of $500 - $750.

Oooh! I know this one! 200mm Dobsonian with some optional extras or 250mm Dobsonian with minimal accessories.

As far as accessories go, you will want a collimating tool at least (from $29 for the most basic one). Everything else can wait. Few links:

www.bintelshop.com.au
www.andrewscom.com.au
www.myastroshop.com.au

ving (David) · #17 13-01-2006, 03:10 PM

if you want something evenlighter maybe a 90mm refractor from aoe.com.au would be up your alley.... i have a 200mm dob as described by janoskiss and to show you how big they are heres a pic of me with mine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...h_Dsc03554.jpg

you can get either in your price range

janoskiss (Steve H) · #18 13-01-2006, 03:21 PM

How could I forget? Yes, AOE is another great dealer. I found them to be extremely helpful with lots of good advice without slightest pressuring to buy anything, They have Dobs too and tend to be very competative with pricing. You're lucky in Sydney, you have so much choice.

www.aoe.com.au

ving (David) · #19 13-01-2006, 03:23 PM

the aoe site seems to be down steve?!

janoskiss (Steve H) · #20 13-01-2006, 03:30 PM

Nah, looks good from here.