First Light - Oh Wow !

Windshift · #1 12-09-2007, 11:17 PM

Yep I am a newbie to the forum and to stargazing.
Picked up my scope ( celestron 102 nexstar refractor ) yesterday and set it up in the back yard that night and learned my first lesson.
BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED

Picked up batteries today and set up tonight in the backyard (Happy Valley South Australia) and contemplated the Nexstar computer thingy.
Learned my second valuable astronomy lesson.
YOU CANT READ THE INSTRUCTION BOOK IN THE DARK

Never mind - Fitted the oxy whatsit filter on the 25ml eyepiece - turned on the red dot pointer thingy and aimed it at one of those shiny things up in the sky. Look in the eyepiece and am amazed to see that there is a blob smack in the middle of the view

I am on the right track here

Fumble around for the Focuser and bump the scope

hmmm either I am too clumbsy or this telescope tripod is a bit too wobbly. Not one to take the blame I quickly filled a bag with sand and plonked it on the tripod shelf. That should hold it steady.

So once again point the red dot at a star and look in the eyepiece.

There is that star (blob) in the middle of the view so CAREFULLY find the focus and give it a twiddle. .....

WOW !! Thats no star !! Thats a planet !!

A few more twiddles and I can see what looks like 4 moons and from pictures I have seen it must be Jupiter.

STAND BACK GALILEO !! I am hooked!
Many thanks to the guys at the ASSA Tooparang viewing night for all of their help and advice and to Mathew at Telescopes and Astronomy for his endless patience and good advice.
How long till it gets dark again ?

wolfman · #2 12-09-2007, 11:37 PM

Hahahaha, yep!! I remember that feeling, still get it to. Welcome to IIS.

astro_nutt · #3 13-09-2007, 01:17 AM

Same here!!!..and the best is yet to come!!!

Coach · #4 13-09-2007, 03:10 AM

Don't you love it! Nothing is dark if you look at it in the right light.

iceman (Mike) · #5 13-09-2007, 05:56 AM

Welcome to IIS! Great first light experience

Another hooked astronomer, great to see.

madwayne (Wayne) · #6 13-09-2007, 09:28 AM

My first scope three months ago was exactly the same one, Celestron 102SLT. It got me hooked and I have just taken the plunge to a Meade LX90GPS, all I need now is some clear sky.

If I may make a suggestion. Go to your nearest Supa Cheap/Auto Barn type store and get yourself a re-chargeable 12V jump starter kit. The one I have has two cigarette lighter sockets (cost around $90 from memory). The reason I did this is the little refractor is pretty hard on batteries. I got the brother in-law to bung in a red LED to the standard light socket. The standard lead and plug that came with my kit plugs straight into the 102SLT.

Ric · #7 13-09-2007, 09:47 AM

Hi Windshift and welcome to IIS.

You definitely can't beat the buzz of your first view. Have you viewed any nebulas yet?

Cheers

rmcpb (Rob) · #8 13-09-2007, 02:30 PM

Welcome to IIS Windshift

Astronomy is like that, a constant learning curve!!

Cheers

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 13-09-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windshift

How long till it gets dark again ?

The forecast is for 'Dark' tonight

The long range foecast is for 'Dark' every night

Welcome and keep having fun

dugnsuz (Doug) · #10 13-09-2007, 06:44 PM

Welcome Windshift,
It was a beautiful clear night in Adelaide last night - not tonight though!
That's because I just bought a piece of equipment...the astronomers curse.
Buy something new - rain will fall!
Cheers
Doug

Windshift · #11 13-09-2007, 07:32 PM

Thank you all for the warm welcome and encouragement.
No I havn't yet managed to see a nebula or a galaxy
Any suggestions for which are best to target would be greatly appreciated.
The hard thing as a beginer is the question of what to look at that will suit my small 102mm scope
I will be picking up a 12v battery or jump pack tomorrow arvo and suspect that if I suspend it under the tripod somehow it may help to steady things a bit.

looking at clouds and rain

erick (Eric) · #12 13-09-2007, 08:25 PM

Windshift, what are you using to find your way around the sky? Any books, charts? A planisphere? Using any planetarium software? Maybe you are using the sky charts in the magazines and from some of the observing articles in them? Once we know what you are using, we can suggest things to look for since we'll know you'll be able to look up their locations. Eric

Windshift · #13 13-09-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

Windshift, what are you using to find your way around the sky? Any books, charts? A planisphere? Using any planetarium software? Maybe you are using the sky charts in the magazines and from some of the observing articles in them? Once we know what you are using, we can suggest things to look for since we'll know you'll be able to look up their locations. Eric

I have "the sky" from celestron that came with the scope running on laptop
I have Nexstar thingy attached to the scope which is like an electronic go to - just need to know what to tell it to go to.
I have cybersky 4 software and distantsuns 6 and google sky.
so much info and so little knowledge

windshift

erick (Eric) · #14 13-09-2007, 09:20 PM

OK, let's go to Southern Skies and use your Goto capability:-

Try NGC4755, NGC5139, NGC104, NGC3372, NGC3532, NGC2808, IC2602, NGC2070

Depending when you look, some of these might be a bit low this time of year. If so, just get up at 4am at try again!

Or wait for 6 months.

Let us know what you see?

Windshift · #15 13-09-2007, 09:57 PM

Thanks a lot Erick. I cant see anything but cloud tonight but am having a preview of your suggestions on google space.
With the wealth of amazing info about astronomy I was suprised that I couldnt find something like a "Top 40 hits for small scopes"
Cant wait to get back out there !

many thanks

Windshift

xelasnave · #16 14-09-2007, 02:37 AM

Weclome Windshift I have similar recolection but I pointed at the brightest thing closest to where the scope pointed when set up and wow Saturn..all I wanted to do was see Saturn and here it was first go..and Jupiter was next because it was bright... once I said in answer to the what would you wish for...to be able to go from one end of the Universe to the other and just look at it... well that may be a little hopeful but dragging the dob around stopping wherever for a longer look is geting close...

best wishes
alex

rmcpb (Rob) · #17 14-09-2007, 10:47 AM

Windshift,

If you have GoTo working try some of the objuects from this web site. If they are suitable for binocs then they should be a snap in a small scope.

Just get a plansiphere to ensure the object is above the horizon or not behind a tree.

Good luck

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #18 14-09-2007, 11:01 AM

Hi Windy,
I really envy you. That feeling of discovery you get with each new object you look at is awesome.
Welcome to IIS.

Stevo69 · #19 15-09-2007, 09:48 PM

Congrats Windshift, Of all the observing I've done over the years, and all the objects I've seen, ONE still in burnt into my memory: The very first time I saw Saturn with my newly completed 6" Newt. 20 years ago and I can still remember the exact spot in the backyard where I was standing!! Those "first" will stick in your mind forever!! well done.

leon · #20 16-09-2007, 04:06 PM

Hi Wind shift, yep, you are hooked, and you will remember that first light for a long time, welcome on board.

Leon