Hi all,
Thought I’ve been lurking on here long enough… time to introduce myself. My name is Dave and I live around 50K West of Melbourne (country-ish). I have always had an interest in astronomy, and just last year Santa thought he’d give me an Astromaster 130eq for Christmas. It's a nice little entry level scope, and I thought I’d be right with an eq mount… I’d just learn how to use it (how hard could it be?). Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as a matter of fact I have a PhD in it. Nonetheless, I persevered with it, coupled with all the invaluable information in these forums. I’m getting better at my polar alignment, though wouldn’t mind trying my hand at drift aligning one day.
I then set about learning the night sky, thanks to the basics of my red LED torch, Planisphere, and cheap Bino’s. I didn’t realize how much could be seen with just Bino’s alone! Wow! Next it was onto the scope… first target, the moon. Wow again! Then onto Jupiter, M42, 47 Tuc, eta Carina, the usual suspects, all equally impressive. I think it was around a month later that I got small-scale aperture fever. I got wind of an 8” dob for sale at a price too good to refuse. Although it’s a generic brand (I can’t see a make on the OTA, just who serviced it), it gives great viewing pleasure. At the very least, it will be fine until I purchase a 12” GSO later in the year.
Things I have learned so far:
· Be nice to the ‘other half’ on cloudy nights, then they don’t mind so much when you’re up till god knows when on clear nights. (Though mine is very understanding of my new hobby).
· ALWAYS check for dog poo on the back lawn BEFORE you set-up in the dark.
· Alcohol and scopes DON’T mix.
· NEVER chew a mouthful of peanuts whilst looking skyward with bino’s.
I hope these pointers help some other newbie like myself.
Ultimately I’d like to get into astrophotography one day, understanding what a ‘slippery slope’ it is. I’ve tried some afocal on the moon (as you do) with my iPhone, with some half decent results (half decent to me!).
Very disappointed that I couldn’t make it to the Snake Valley camp this time around, but certainly looking forward to November.
Anyway, enough babble. I’d just like to take this opportunity to send a big thank you to all those patient members of the astro community who continually take the time to answer all the simplest and most mundane questions. You guys are the best.
Hi Dave and welcome.
Enjoyed reading your advice, can relate to 3 of them (esp.the being nice to the other half on cloudy nights!) but don't eat peanuts so that probably won't be a prob! My vice is chocolate while at the eyepice, went throgh a whole block at Snake Valley on the weekend.
Try and make it up to Snake Valley leter in the year, it is one of the highlights of the astro year in Vic and you will learn heaps.
Hi all,
. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as a matter of fact I have a PhD in it. Nonetheless, I persevered with it, coupled with all the invaluable information in these forums. I’m getting better at my polar alignment, though wouldn’t mind trying my hand at drift aligning one day.
