Wollongong planetarium group meeting

[Ivyking (Boff)]

Hello everyone

I am new here and to the world of star gazing. i have never owned a telescope and my experience with astro photography has been limited to taking shots of the moon and its phases with my 450D canon and its 200mm lens. I am steadily developing a passion for everything and anything involving space.
Browsing the forum it seems the best advice for beginners especially those who are thinking about buying their first scope is to attend an observing night. I have seen in another post that the illawarra group meets at the science and innovation campus planetarium and the next meeting is on the 9th. I was wondering if a representative could tell me if it would be better to come along to a meeting or wait until the next observing night to speak to some people about what would be best with regard to equipment. Is it common practice for people to attend and have members show them some equipment and what can be seen through their scopes and viewers?

Any info you could provide would be appreciated.

Cheers people
Beau.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi Beau,

You might want to send ngcles a PM as he regularly attends sessions at Bargo. It is a site of the Sutherland Astronomical Society. Or you can look up the club's listing in the 'Our Community' heading on the left margin.

If you're happy to drive, you'd be welcome at either The Pony Club at Mangrove Mountain or Katoomba Airfield this coming weekend.

[Ivyking (Boff)]

Thank you alexander, im not driving at the moment im only riding so those clubs are a bit to far out of the way. Thanks for your help tho.