Hi from a newbie from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria

[reddiablo (Andrew)]

Hi Everyone

I just joined the web site after getting hooked on astronomy again, after seeing the moon and Jupiter with 4 of it's moons late on Tuesday night.

It was an amazing sight.

My parents surprised me with a Celestron 130 EQ Newtonian telescope for my 40th birthday last week. [The last telescope I had was a 70mm refractor which I got in Canada, while we lived there when I had my 8th birthday.] The excitement of seeing our moon and Jupiter with some of it's moons brought back the kid in me in a way I hope my son will someday experience.

I bought the Astronomy Australia 2008 book the other day and it mentioned this web site as having a wealth of knowledge and a great forum.

My wife is now trying to get me to take my telescope to her parents place in Buchan, East Gippsland with the whole "Imagine how much more you will see at my mum and dads place" line.

Unfortunately, I know she's right! [damn]

Cheers

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Welcome to IIS Andrew

You came to the right place as theres plenty of helpful friendly folk here.
Btw close by is Mornington Astronomical society if you decide you want to meet up with like minded people.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Welcome to IIS

Once you're hooked, you'll always be hooked

Now you have your scope, you'll need a good set of eyepieces and a barlow lens. A few filters for visual work...like a UHC or CLS filter and a few colour filters. Then you'll want to take piccies...so you'll start with either a modded webcam or DSLR....or even a Celestron NexImage imager. Then it'll really take off from there...bigger scope, larger mount, good quality CCD camera (that $6000 SBIG ST4000XCM will do), Astronomik filters, 80mm ED APO guidescope and autoguider. It never ends

[reddiablo (Andrew)]

After looking at the gear [worth$$$] you guys have, I will have to use the "This will be such a great hobby for Euan to take an interest in" angle.

The fact my son is only 15months old is beside the point.

I will try to get to the next meeting at the Briars and look into joining up.

Cheers

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Dont listen to him!

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Dont listen to him!

I'm only warning him....if he doesn't, then he'll have to take out a second mortgage to satisfy his hobby!!!!

[acropolite (Phil)]

Welcome to IIS Andrew, satsifying the family with visits is a good way to keep the family contented while you indulge in your hobby, milk it for all its worth....

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

Originally Posted by reddiablo

After looking at the gear [worth$$$] you guys have, I will have to use the "This will be such a great hobby for Euan to take an interest in" angle.

The fact my son is only 15months old is beside the point.

I will try to get to the next meeting at the Briars and look into joining up.

Cheers

It would be best to accumulate the needed accessories now while he's young so you're all set when he's old enough to take interest

[Jen]

Hi there Jethro you will love it here full of so much information, i just wish i could meet a few of some of these people in here so they can teach me a few tricks or 2 hehehe anyway i have a 7 year old son and he loves it when i get my scope out so your son im sure will love it too cheers
Jen

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Dont listen to him!

Andrew, there is only one solution to avoiding being forced to spend the big $$$$s Just don't look though a telescope with a larger aperture than your own!! Don't do it!

It will still cost you enough in accessories for your own scope!

[Dog Star (Phil)]

G'day Andrew and welcome to IIS. Look forward to seeing more of your posts.

[reddiablo (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by erick

Andrew, there is only one solution to avoiding being forced to spend the big $$$$s Just don't look though a telescope with a larger aperture than your own!! Don't do it!

It will still cost you enough in accessories for your own scope!

That seems like words of wisdom.

I have had the same experience with classic cars.

You don't miss what you don't know exists but when you do know.........

You want it!

[Jen]

[Ric]

Hi Andrew and welcome to IIS.

Whatever you do, dont look down the barrel of an Obsession.

Cheers and hope you have a great time here.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Ric

Whatever you do, dont look down the barrel of an Obsession.

Thats what happened to me, and it ended up costing me thousands

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Thats what happened to me, and it ended up costing me thousands

Whatever you do, dont look down the barrel of an Obsession.

Also, if it's a really big dob (40" class or larger) take care not to fall into the barrel of the scope. It'll cost you plenty as well

[reddiablo (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Ric

Whatever you do, dont look down the barrel of an Obsession.

Originally Posted by Starkler

Thats what happened to me, and it ended up costing me thousands

At this point all I want is a couple of extra eyepieces and a few filters.

I looked at Saturn last night and WOW, what a sight. One clear night per week, Melbourne weather is.............. Well I should be used to it!

I know we should buy from Australian retailers but the price difference can be staggering compared to the US retail market.

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-9430.../ref=de_a_smtd

The same kit is $379 from Andrews Communications and $399 from the Australian Geographic shop where my parents bought the telescope.

If anyone knows of a local retailer who can get near the Amazon price I'll jump at it.

Cheers

[renormalised (Carl)]

Get yourself a 2X barlow....that'll instantly double the mag of both your eyepieces (10mm & 20mm). Maybe a 5mm for high power, a 32mm for low power, some visual filters (Wratten#, UHC/CLS filters etc). That should do you nicely.

[TrevorW]

Hi Andrew like I've said before it's not how big it is it's what you do with it, geez no one ever brought me a telescope for my birthday, lucky bugger. Anyway enjoy !!!