Newbie looking to get my first scope

[StarCravingMad (Kevin)]

Thank you so much everybody. I understand what everyone is telling me and I will take your advice. Instead of jumping straight into the Astrophotography rig, I will probably go for a Dobsonian instead for the time being. 30 second long exposure shots are fine by me to begin with.

And I'll see where it goes from there and decide later if I wanna get into a full AP setup.

Does anyone have any sample photos of what can be achieved on that type of setup?

Also, weather these days is actually quite sucky, haha, when are the best months for Astronomy for us downunder?

Cheers
Kev

[Oggie (Peter)]

Kevin,

I am going through this myself at the moment, looking to purchase my first scope, but I have the advantage that I have had the opportunity to use my daughters 8" SkyWatcher Flex Dob with Goto for the past three months.

I am very surprised with the results I have been able to achieve with attaching my Canon 60D on prime focus and taking numerous 20 second exposures then stacking in DeepSkyStacker, along with flats and darks to produce photos of some of the larger Nebulae. The photos don't always work out (lot's of trial and error), but when they do, it is brilliant (at least to my eyes - see below). I know the photos I have produced are far from perfect, but they have encouraged me to take the next step.

As I am really into the photographic side of things and not as concerned with visual astronomy, I intend to initially go with a GSO 6" Ritchey Chretien Astrograph on a HEQ5 Pro EQ mount and will take sub 1 minute photos and stack those. I hope to put this together with all the basics for less than $2,000.00. Down the track I will likely add either a guide scope or an off axis guider to the setup for longer exposures.

http://locost7.info/images/OrionNebula.jpg

[StarCravingMad (Kevin)]

Thanks Peter!

I don't know much about how the photos are supposed to look, but Im impressed and would be more than happy to get similar results myself.

One more question everyone.

I know that refractors can also be used for terrestrial viewing. I am really into wildlife and would like to get a closer look at some of the birds, as well as look around the area. Would a dobsonian be okay for land viewing and tree viewing? Or is it strictly for sky viewing?

[OzStarGazer]

Originally Posted by StarCravingMad

I know that refractors can also be used for terrestrial viewing. I am really into wildlife and would like to get a closer look at some of the birds, as well as look around the area. Would a dobsonian be okay for land viewing and tree viewing? Or is it strictly for sky viewing?

I think an image erector (not very expensive) should work with all telescopes, including dobsonians. However at least with my scope the image is not only upside down; right and left sides are also inverted.

[pw (Peter)]

The Bintel 8" dob struggles to focus close enough & of course everything is inverted. I tried making a photo through mine of a bird in a large tree, very low contrast & sharpness.

[CJ (Chris)]

Hi Kevin
The term Dobsonian refers to the type of mount. The telescope they usually support, a Newtonian, aka a reflector telescope, does turn everything upside down, making them not really usable for terrestrial viewing.

[CJ (Chris)]

Originally Posted by OzStarGazer

However at least with my scope the image is not only upside down; right and left sides are also inverted.

I saw a diagram somewhere that had reflectors inverting along the vertical access but not the horizontal axis. I assumed the secondary flips left and right back to normal. Darned if I can remember where I saw it.....

[OzStarGazer]

By the way, do you-all flip your photos of the moon in Photoshop or any other program? I do, although I guess it is not so important, but I like to see the moon like it really looks in our sky... (Well, of course only if your scope inverts images...)

[StarCravingMad (Kevin)]

I just ordered myself a cheapie refractor online. When I get back from my holiday to the philippines and I figure out how much I have left in my budget, I'll get some quality kit then.

For the price of this cheap scope I am not expecting much from it, only to maybe look at the moon as well as for terrestrial viewing.

Ordered from Kogan as it was on sale from $139 down to $56

1 x Refractor Telescope 70mm x 700mm
3 x Eyepieces (SR4mm, H12.5mm, H20mm)
1 x Barlow Lens (3X)
1 x Erector (1.5X)
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/refracto...FQEepQodOzYALw

Gives me something to play with until I can get myself a proper scope

[Scorpius51 (John)]

Originally Posted by StarCravingMad

Hi everyone

New to the forum as well as astronomy. I have always been interested in astronomy and ever since I was a little boy have wanted to go into space. (I still do actually lol)

But I have never taken the step towards astronomy until now. I'm looking to get a setup that will allow me to see Deep space objects and also take some pictures.

This is the package that was recommended to me (Bintel BT200 f/5 HEQ5 Pro GOTO, 200mm x 1000mm, HEQ5 Pro GOTO URL-> http://www.bintel.com.au/Telescopes/...oductview.aspx ), which I do plan on buying when I return from an overseas holiday in May. Now I don't understand exactly whats included, and what the specs mean.

Am I gonna need anything else to view and photograph Deep space? I already have a Canon 600d DSLR which I plan to use for the photo taking. How would I track objects while taking long exposure shots? I've done a little research but its all very new to me and theres alot of info to take in.

I'd like to hear your feedback on the package the guy at Bintel recommended me, and if you have any other suggestions of what other packages I can get.

Thanks in advance
Cheers
Kev

Hi Kev

I have the exact combo that you were recommended, although I purchased them separately. It is a great setup for visual, which is what I use it for. Many DSOs are visible with this scope, particularly if you have dark skies. The mount is quite sturdy with this relatively short OTA and tracks very well when suitably polar aligned. I see no reason why it wouldn't be fine for astrophotography with a suitable camera setup.

The challenge for photographing DSOs is mount alignment and finding the best exposure and image processing techniques. There are many experienced members here that can guide you with this.

Cheers
John

[astro744]

Originally Posted by CJ

I saw a diagram somewhere that had reflectors inverting along the vertical access but not the horizontal axis. I assumed the secondary flips left and right back to normal. Darned if I can remember where I saw it.....

Odd number of reflections = left to right reversed. i.e. back to front.

Even number of reflections = upside down.

Standard Newtonian has 2 mirrors (even) therefore image is upside down. If you want it right way around stand on the side and turn your head.

Standard refractor with star diagonal (odd) produces left-right reversed image when standing behind telescope and looking down.

Standard SCT has 3 mirrors when used with star diagonal (typical) therefore has odd number of reflections and image will be reversed.

Note upside down is not reversed and will match a star chart. Reversed will not match a star chart.

[astro744]

Originally Posted by StarCravingMad

Thank you so much everybody. I understand what everyone is telling me and I will take your advice. Instead of jumping straight into the Astrophotography rig, I will probably go for a Dobsonian instead for the time being. 30 second long exposure shots are fine by me to begin with.

And I'll see where it goes from there and decide later if I wanna get into a full AP setup.

Does anyone have any sample photos of what can be achieved on that type of setup?

Also, weather these days is actually quite sucky, haha, when are the best months for Astronomy for us downunder?

Cheers
Kev

An 8" f6 standard Dob is effectively a 1200mm telephoto mirror lens. At this focal length even a 1/4 second exposure will produce a blurry Moon (although typically Moon shots are faster shutter speed. Add a Barlow for extra focal length required for planets and whether still photography or video you will find the image moving too fast.

In 30 seconds your field has significantly shifted so I'm not sure how you can photograph without any form of tracking. Alt-Az motorised tracking is OK but you get field rotation over time. You really need EQ tracking.

[astro744]

Originally Posted by OzStarGazer

By the way, do you-all flip your photos of the moon in Photoshop or any other program? I do, although I guess it is not so important, but I like to see the moon like it really looks in our sky... (Well, of course only if your scope inverts images...)

This should be a rule every imager should stick to not just for planets and the Moon but also star fields (so you can match up with a map!).

The IIS Moon phase too could do with a flip although it simply looks upside down. It is what you would see if you looked at the Moon in the sky with the unaided eye facing south with your back arched over and observed it upside down. If the argument is that the view is to represent that in a telescope, then which type, Newtonian, refractor with star diagonal or SCT with star diagonal? I think the view should represent an unaided eye (or binocular) view from an observer in the southern hemisphere since IIS is a southern web site. The Moon would typically be in the northern part of the sky so the observers back would be to the south (high altitudes near zenith excepted). First quarter Moon is a good example. When seen in the sky from the southern hemisphere it is illuminated from the left or from the top left if rising or bottom left if setting, never from the right when waxing. The IIS image shows the correct part of the Moon illuminated but upside down. If we are catering for northern hemisphere viewers, then the question must be asked. Why?

[OzStarGazer]

Originally Posted by StarCravingMad

I just ordered myself a cheapie refractor online. When I get back from my holiday to the philippines and I figure out how much I have left in my budget, I'll get some quality kit then.

For the price of this cheap scope I am not expecting much from it, only to maybe look at the moon as well as for terrestrial viewing.

Ordered from Kogan as it was on sale from $139 down to $56

1 x Refractor Telescope 70mm x 700mm
3 x Eyepieces (SR4mm, H12.5mm, H20mm)
1 x Barlow Lens (3X)
1 x Erector (1.5X)
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/refracto...FQEepQodOzYALw

Gives me something to play with until I can get myself a proper scope

Well, let us know how it is and how much it weighs... I haven't taken a decision yet. I looked at the Celestron Travel Scope and PowerSeeker, then I also found some cheapies on eBay, but I don't know yet. I wish they sent the Travel Scope cheaply to Australia from overseas, but unfortunately it is still a bit heavy. Shipping costs are more than the scope!!!! And the scope is half the price it is here.

[astro744]

Originally Posted by OzStarGazer

Well, let us know how it is and how much it weighs... I haven't taken a decision yet. I looked at the Celestron Travel Scope and PowerSeeker, then I also found some cheapies on eBay, but I don't know yet. I wish they sent the Travel Scope cheaply to Australia from overseas, but unfortunately it is still a bit heavy. Shipping costs are more than the scope!!!! And the scope is half the price it is here.

Do you have a set of binoculars? I often recommend that if you do not have enough money for a descent telescope you spend what you do have on quality binoculars as they will last you a lifetime if cared for.

The telescope you have chosen is a bargain at $56 but you will find the Huygens eyepieces will let you down. Your most used one will be the 20mm giving you about a 1 degree field at 35x magnification. The 12.5mm will give you about 0.625 deg at 56x which will just fit a full lunar disc. (I am allowing 35 deg. apparent field for the Huygens eyepiece). The Huygens eyepiece is a very early design with a narrow apparent field. It was designed to work with very long focal ratio refractors.

You will also find you will likely use the 4mm and Barlow once (just to try them) and then pack them away as the magnification is simply too high for this telescope. Note if this telescope comes with any screw-on solar filter for the eyepiece, through it away as it is NOT safe as it will crack and let damaging rays of the Sun through.

[OzStarGazer]

The binoculars would be an option for travelling, but I also wanted to use the small refractor with a solar filter to view the sun...

[StarCravingMad (Kevin)]

The ones on the Kogan website were free shipping. I paid an extra $1.66 for postal insurance
I think it goes back to regular price soon.