Hello to all

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Welcome to the madness.

A point about your question for things to do before the star party. Get some 7x50 binocs and a planisphere then start looking up. Learn the main constellations and named stars then you have the landmarks to use whatever scope you decide to buy (you still need to align a go to scope). On that point, take your time, after all you have your binocs to keep you busy, sit back and go over everything you learn at the star party. My advice would be to go for a mid sized dob, if you decide on a dob, rather than a monster first up as the best scope is one you use the most and large ones are harder to set up and move so tend to be the "biggun" that accompanies the grab and go on those special nights. Don't forget that you need to budget for the extras like red torch, bincos, planisphere, chair, warm clothes, thermos, cheshire eyepiece (if you have a newtonian), Telrad and a cardboard box for all this gear. Don't worry about extra eyepieces straight up as the ones that come with the scope will keep you going for quite a while.

In the meantime just look up and enjoy

[davidpretorius]

Hi again,

re binoculars, Andrews sold me my 10" dob and along came a free pair of 10x50 binoculars. (these look the size of the ones used at the horse racing - small & light)

Not been used yet and i also skoffed at the idea!

But, over the last few nights with poor seeing due to clouds, i have been very impressed at what i can see with them. I can see clusters very well!

For andrews to give them away free, they can't be expensive!

I really really like them now!

[lookupinthesky]

Thanks to all for the replays

I have just got a sky map and will do a bit of lookupinthesky tonight to see what I can see.

Is their a good site on the web on how to read a sky map as such? I have an old pair of binocs, which I will attempt to use.

I found the site by chance as I was surfing the web trying to find as much information on the LX 90 SCT

(Which I think is the way I will go on the scope issue) later on I will get a 10 DOB to equal things out.

[atalas]

to IIS lookupinthesky !



Louie

[acropolite (Phil)]

Lookupinthesky,
I've got an LX90 and love it, although a dob would be nice too. If money's no object then Go-To type scopes are nice, but if the budget's tight then a dob is the go. The LX90 fits in a small car and is easily lifted. It also has tracking which is nice if you're looking at astrophotography, can be controlled from a laptop and easy imaging is now possible without much hassle using the Meade DSI. All current LX's come with an LPI which is a good start for basic planetary imaging. If you're thinking of serious astrophotography you're ultimately better off with an equatorial mount with an appropriate OTA. Look through the old threads in this forum, there's lots of reading which will help you make your decision. Pete's astronomy site details the sort of performance and limitations you can expect from an LX90. http://www.users.bigpond.com/lansma/Default.htm

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Lookupandenjoy,

Are you able to make the Camp? I will book you in if you want to before all the Bunks go. Alternatively you can bring a tent! Let me know

There will be a wide variety of scopes at the Camp.

[lookupinthesky]

Ken
At the moment yes may be Saturday or Sunday, I have a station wagon and if had to would sleep in it.
Though I’m only 50 mins away from Ballarat I might just go home to sleep.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

That's cool, but the accomodation cost is probably about 50% of your fuel costs driving up & down! It is cheap and we would like to have you stay for at least 2 - 3 nights. You will learn heaps. Not only from the viewing, most people learn more from the general conversation that gets thrown around in the day time. And then theres the talks!

Up to you