Hello from a rekindled amateur astronomer

[JonHale]

Hi

I thought it was about time I delurked and said hello as well as to thank everyone for the advice I have been absorbing secretly over the last while.

I am starting to get back into astronomy seriously again as a hobby after a few decades. I've always owned a scope, but they were generally fine dust collectors rather than being used. So I got hold of a nice 6" refractor (I must like grubbing around in the dirt when looking near the zenith!) on an HEQ5 Pro. Suits me fine for where I am - a little bit of light pollution but the main problem is trees.

It was more gut desire that made me opt for a refractor rather than a reflector- one of those things I can't really explain.

I am building a pier as budget allows to make life a bit easier. I'm going with concrete and over-engineering slightly so if I get the bug I can upgrade the mount head. So far I have made the plate to hold the head (Camry disc brake, with a few extra holes and some threaded rod) and "just" need to do the concrete pour.

Anyway, thanks and hello to you all.

Jon

[bojan]

Hello !

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Welcome Jon! Refractors rule!

[Scorpius51 (John)]

Hi Jon

to the IIS forum! You have an interesting location - are you a time traveler?

Cheers
John

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by Scorpius51

Hi Jon

to the IIS forum! You have an interesting location - are you a time traveler?

Cheers
John

Lat/Long puts him just outside of Canberra...

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Back Jon .
Another Refractor lover to the ranks .
Brian.

[Varangian (John)]

Originally Posted by Scorpius51

Hi Jon

to the IIS forum! You have an interesting location - are you a time traveler?

Cheers
John

that's very good

Welcome Jon

Good name, can't have too many Johns around here (or Jons)

[Jon (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by Varangian

Good name, can't have too many Johns around here (or Jons)

Quite! Though Jons are better.

Welcome back.

I see we have a lot in common. Apart from the name, we both live in Canberra; we both started in the hobby decades ago and dropped out, and have both recently re-entered. I bought myself a 10" SCT late last year after using my 30 year-old Newt as a spider-breeding habitat for the last decade. Previous to that it spent 11 years as a doorstop in the most light-polluted place in the UK.

[madbadgalaxyman (Robert)]

Originally Posted by JonHale

Hi

It was more gut desire that made me opt for a refractor rather than a reflector- one of those things I can't really explain.

Jon

A lot of us love refractors, due to their excellent performance relative to the aperture of the instrument. Also, a refractor on a finely machined equatorial mount 'looks the part' and you don't get people asking if your telescope is a hot water heater or a laser cannon.

I, like many who have used and owned larger apertures, also keep a 4 or 5 inch refractor for a "quick look see", as throwing the refractor onto the verandah can seem more attractive and convenient than dragging a large heavy tube and mount along back roads for several hours, so as to reach a dark sky site.

Another point which many of the "old hands" forget when advising beginners regarding telescopes, is that refractors are intrinsically "less fiddly" than reflectors, due to the relatively fixed alignment of their optical elements.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

beautiful glass in most refractors , and the love thats gone into a reflecting mirror ,, Glass figure's very well . I love it .
Brian..

[MattT]

Hi Jon from another refractorholic One doesn't have to explain being a refractor lover....one just is. Everyone else is missing out. Need a few piccies please when you can, I have a very nice 6" f8 which I love especially when out in dark skies, nothing like a big 2" eyepiece cruising the Milky way with a refractor....pin point stars to the edge. Beautiful.
Matt