help deciding

[creeksky (Pete)]

Originally Posted by Allan_L

By "cheap" shop I refer to the Reject Shop, or similar.
Don't go to a furniture shop they will charge 3 times the price for the same object.
Aldi sometimes has them also.
no need to jump off to adjust, just pull the lever and adjust in situ.

Oh ok good my niece works at aldi and a nephew at the reject shop (I get a discount) but they are 800ks away.
I think I will try standing, and a computer chair for now.
Will probably be awe struck by what I see, and need to sit down, away from the Dob.,(for 10 seconds)
Then move it all around the sky, in all directions!
Have made a mobile phone mount above the finder scope, so I can use SkyEye to find things.
Should I make an Alt and Az dial for the base and side of the Dob?
Sorry Barx1963, but cannot see how I could use star charts back to front up side down and reversed yet?

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

Oh ok good my niece works at aldi and a nephew at the reject shop (I get a discount) but they are 800ks away.
I think I will try standing, and a computer chair for now.
Will probably be awe struck by what I see, and need to sit down, away from the Dob.,(for 10 seconds)
Then move it all around the sky, in all directions!
Have made a mobile phone mount above the finder scope, so I can use SkyEye to find things.
Should I make an Alt and Az dial for the base and side of the Dob?
Sorry Barx1963, but cannot see how I could use star charts back to front up side down and reversed yet?

With my old 8" I only ever used it standing up. If my back complained I would pop on an old milk crate to get it a bit higher of the ground.
The Bintel chairs are excellent, but a bit exxy, a simple gas lift stool seems to be populr with some.

With the charts, from memory your scope has a straight through finder. This will reverse the image so it matches the image in the scope itself. If you swap it for a RACI (Right angle correct image) finder the image in the finder will match the charts. Opinions vary nut I have never found using Sky eye and other similar solutions to beat the speed and accuracy of star hopping, they simply are not accurate enough.

Cheers

Malcolm

[creeksky (Pete)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

With my old 8" I only ever used it standing up. If my back complained I would pop on an old milk crate to get it a bit higher of the ground.
The Bintel chairs are excellent, but a bit exxy, a simple gas lift stool seems to be populr with some.

With the charts, from memory your scope has a straight through finder. This will reverse the image so it matches the image in the scope itself. If you swap it for a RACI (Right angle correct image) finder the image in the finder will match the charts. Opinions vary nut I have never found using Sky eye and other similar solutions to beat the speed and accuracy of star hopping, they simply are not accurate enough.

Cheers

Malcolm

So before EPs best to get an RACI?

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

So before EPs best to get an RACI?

I am not going to make a recommendation whether a straight through or RACI finder is best. Personally I like the RACI for comfort, but was able to use the straight through just as well. Try the one you have first and decide if you like it.

Malcolm

[kens (Ken)]

Maybe I'm a bit old skool but I prefer a straight through finder. You can look through them with both eyes open so centreing on your target is a breeze after a bit of practice.

[creeksky (Pete)]

Some blue sky starting to show through, Saturday the 17th seems it will be clear skies!
7 days after getting the scope.
The day will reach 38 Celsius, low over night of 21 Celsius.
Will wait until after sunset to take the Dob out, it will still be +30c, hope the mirror adjusts.

Also hope I will find Comet lovejoy, have studied the maps if an 8" Dob will see it?
Not sure what time to look yet.

[Sconesbie (Scott)]

Good luck with your clear skies Pete. I'm envious.

The other night our sky in Launceston was crystal clear. Rubbing my hands together I thought "you beauty" and off I went lugging my dob outside. Got it out there early and went back inside and waited for it to get dark. Maps in one hand, a list of targets in the other, eyepiece box outside ready to go and "you gotta be kidding me"? It had clouded over and I could only see one or two stars. To say I was filthy is an understatement.

The sky doesn't look that great here today either and we are expecting rain for the next couple of days. I'll get out sooner or later. It won't beat me.

[creeksky (Pete)]

Originally Posted by Sconesbie

Good luck with your clear skies Pete. I'm envious.

The other night our sky in Launceston was crystal clear. Rubbing my hands together I thought "you beauty" and off I went lugging my dob outside. Got it out there early and went back inside and waited for it to get dark. Maps in one hand, a list of targets in the other, eyepiece box outside ready to go and "you gotta be kidding me"? It had clouded over and I could only see one or two stars. To say I was filthy is an understatement.

The sky doesn't look that great here today either and we are expecting rain for the next couple of days. I'll get out sooner or later. It won't beat me.

Thanks, no polution, no street lights and town over 20ks away-but hills blocking North, South and some of the West.East will be the best.

Drove to Casino NSW and was envious of the flat farms, with no mointains., horizon to horizon.
Thought of parking along side the highway, but car lights and trucks would be distracting.
Hope Launie skies clear soon!

[raymo]

Look as soon as it gets dark, it's already high in the sky.
raymo

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

Some blue sky starting to show through, Saturday the 17th seems it will be clear skies!
7 days after getting the scope.
The day will reach 38 Celsius, low over night of 21 Celsius.
Will wait until after sunset to take the Dob out, it will still be +30c, hope the mirror adjusts.

Also hope I will find Comet lovejoy, have studied the maps if an 8" Dob will see it?
Not sure what time to look yet.

Hi Pete
It has been great watching the evolution of your viewing experience. First light on a new scope is always great.
You will see the comet easy with the 8", here is a photo from last night. It was an easy target with my Kson 4" travel scope.
https://www.facebook.com/FNQAstronomers?ref=hl

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

Some blue sky starting to show through, Saturday the 17th seems it will be clear skies!
7 days after getting the scope.
The day will reach 38 Celsius, low over night of 21 Celsius.
Will wait until after sunset to take the Dob out, it will still be +30c, hope the mirror adjusts.

Also hope I will find Comet lovejoy, have studied the maps if an 8" Dob will see it?
Not sure what time to look yet.

I've seen Lovejoy in a pair of 7x42 binos, so an 8" should be excellent.

Malcolm

[creeksky (Pete)]

Thanks Ian and Malcolm,
You are all very keen and helpful and very dedicated to this hobby.
Its certainly a learning curve thanks for being patient, with me.

The stars were like diamonds, but no colour ones yet?
So many that it was hard to know where I was looking.

I tried adverting my vision but no DSOs popped out that may have been hidden?
But I probably wasn't near any
It was frustrating trying not to lose EP caps, putting reading glasses on and off to read star maps on tablet and mobile with sky eye and running around the Dob, back to the EP.
Then dodging the gathering clouds, fearing a rain shower and packing up...quickly after so short a time.
But I will keep trying, just incedible was the view up there and being a tiny bit closer!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

Thanks Ian and Malcolm,
You are all very keen and helpful and very dedicated to this hobby.
Its certainly a learning curve thanks for being patient, with me.

The stars were like diamonds, but no colour ones yet?
So many that it was hard to know where I was looking.

I tried adverting my vision but no DSOs popped out that may have been hidden?
But I probably wasn't near any
It was frustrating trying not to lose EP caps, putting reading glasses on and off to read star maps on tablet and mobile with sky eye and running around the Dob, back to the EP.
Then dodging the gathering clouds, fearing a rain shower and packing up...quickly after so short a time.
But I will keep trying, just incedible was the view up there and being a tiny bit closer!

The vast majority of stars do not display strong colours. A lot of doubles do simply because their closeness emphasises the colour contrast. One obvious coloured star visible now is Betelguese in Orion, but you don't need a scope to see that colour.

With glasses, I find it much simpler to simply leave them on when observing unless the eyepiece demands it. Having said that, some faint objects are easier with them off so I have a "granny cord> so I can hang my glasses round my neck when observing glasses free. Another solution is keep them on while finding the target, then only take them of while observing it.

Malcolm

[creeksky (Pete)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

The vast majority of stars do not display strong colours. A lot of doubles do simply because their closeness emphasises the colour contrast. One obvious coloured star visible now is Betelguese in Orion, but you don't need a scope to see that colour.

With glasses, I find it much simpler to simply leave them on when observing unless the eyepiece demands it. Having said that, some faint objects are easier with them off so I have a "granny cord> so I can hang my glasses round my neck when observing glasses free. Another solution is keep them on while finding the target, then only take them of while observing it.

Malcolm

Good idea, Malcolm,saves fumbling for them, I liked the EP view without reading glasses, maybe it made some weird effects, but cool none the less infact priceless!
Looks like sky clearing for tonight as well, I am blessed! Sending clear skies to Bris and gold coast!
Look out lovejoy!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

Good idea, Malcolm,saves fumbling for them, I liked the EP view without reading glasses, maybe it made some weird effects, but cool none the less infact priceless!
Looks like sky clearing for tonight as well, I am blessed! Sending clear skies to Bris and gold coast!
Look out lovejoy!

Hmm... reading glasses may be different, I am short sighted.

Good luck tonight!

Malcolm

[creeksky (Pete)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

Hmm... reading glasses may be different, I am short sighted.

Good luck tonight!

Malcolm

Thank you, I wish you good seeing, will pm you later with what I observed, maybe you can explain it?
Maybe too much hibiclens sprayed in my eyes (surgical hand cleaner 1980s)

[creeksky (Pete)]

OMG !Thank you- thank you IIS guys and girls! So much for helping me get an 8"Dob!
what a brilliant night! The 8 inch Dob has performed fantastic!
It was just great to sit out there, looking up with the brilliant stars arcing slowly over me.
I saw the comet lovejoy and 3 meteors burn up passed my FOV! 25mm

A satelite pass across too, I saw brilliant stars, and I think my first distant galaxy!! DSO!
NGC 266 something ,I couldn't read skyEye to confirm exactly ,it was like 2 u shaped clouds facing each other! In the south at 1130pm.
The warm air, the wind across the valley ,the chirping frogs miles away were all wonderfull.the milky way spanned across the valley above me, I even saw 2 clouds galaxy clouds separate to it in the south, then I found the jewelery box OMG !while swinging back toward north east
To top it all -Jupiter rose between a dent in the valley trees and I saw it too, , Magnificent!
The scope on a trolley with handy table worked great, I could stand and not bend!
Turn and work the scope in most directions.
Somehow ?my nieghbours have all decided to visit the local dealer at night now? So I had to shield my eyes from pasing cars and trail bikes!
But I scored big time !I have seen another galaxy and/ or at least a star cluster, no matter it has all been worth it, thank you for giving me this experience!

[inertia8 (Australia)]

Glad you had a good night mate! I just spent the past two hours trawling with the SW130 and had a great time too, Jupiter wasn't bad tonight, could make out the bands on it and 4 moons to one side

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by creeksky

OMG !Thank you- thank you IIS guys and girls! So much for helping me get an 8"Dob!
what a brilliant night! The 8 inch Dob has performed fantastic!
It was just great to sit out there, looking up with the brilliant stars arcing slowly over me.
I saw the comet lovejoy and 3 meteors burn up passed my FOV! 25mm

A satelite pass across too, I saw brilliant stars, and I think my first distant galaxy!! DSO!
NGC 266 something ,I couldn't read skyEye to confirm exactly ,it was like 2 u shaped clouds facing each other! In the south at 1130pm.
The warm air, the wind across the valley ,the chirping frogs miles away were all wonderfull.the milky way spanned across the valley above me, I even saw 2 clouds galaxy clouds separate to it in the south, then I found the jewelery box OMG !while swinging back toward north east
To top it all -Jupiter rose between a dent in the valley trees and I saw it too, , Magnificent!
The scope on a trolley with handy table worked great, I could stand and not bend!
Turn and work the scope in most directions.
Somehow ?my nieghbours have all decided to visit the local dealer at night now? So I had to shield my eyes from pasing cars and trail bikes!
But I scored big time !I have seen another galaxy and/ or at least a star cluster, no matter it has all been worth it, thank you for giving me this experience!

Well done on having a good night.
Don't think it could be NGC266 as that is a galaxy in Picses, so would be north. Description sounds vaguely like NGC3372 also known as the Eta Carina Nebula. There is a nice image of it recently posted here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...39#post1148539
The 2 galaxy clouds you saw sound like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC for short). The LMC especially is a treasure trove of objects with NGC 2070 (the Tarantula Neb the obvious highlight). For some info on the clouds, have look at our very own Paddy's site here http://cloudsofmagellan.net.au/
NGC 4755 (the Jewell Box cluster) holds a special place in my heart is it was the very first NGC/IC object that I found all by myself and is the very first entry in my observing log from back in 2008! I still revisit it regularly.

Malcolm

[creeksky (Pete)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

Well done on having a good night.
Don't think it could be NGC266 as that is a galaxy in Picses, so would be north. Description sounds vaguely like NGC3372 also known as the Eta Carina Nebula. There is a nice image of it recently posted here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...39#post1148539
The 2 galaxy clouds you saw sound like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC for short). The LMC especially is a treasure trove of objects with NGC 2070 (the Tarantula Neb the obvious highlight). For some info on the clouds, have look at our very own Paddy's site here http://cloudsofmagellan.net.au/
NGC 4755 (the Jewell Box cluster) holds a special place in my heart is it was the very first NGC/IC object that I found all by myself and is the very first entry in my observing log from back in 2008! I still revisit it regularly.

Malcolm

Thanks, who knows what I saw, it was like very faint circular shape,
Yes those white clouds must be the Magellanic clouds, maybe should have a look at them.

Lucky I had 2 good nights veiwing, a nieghbour has decided to have a rave party today/tonight over 200 cars have gone up the road and more will come and go tonight, ruining any viewing Grr