Imaging Programs

[mikeyjames (Mick)]

Originally Posted by julianh72

Mick,

While I've had a life-long interest in astronomy, and I've always owned a pair of binoculars which spend at least as much time looking up at the night sky as they do daytime use, it's only recently that I've managed to acquire a decent telescope. When your telescope arrives, you'll want to spend a fair bit of time using it for visual, but the bug to try astro-photography is sure to bite.

When you do get the urge to try expanding your horizons, give some serious thought to spectroscopy. The "cost of entry" is surprisingly modest - all you need to get started is something like a Star Analyser SA100 grating, and a camera (which you'll probably have anyway), and I find it to be immensely rewarding. (And if you become seriously addicted, you can always upgrade to better equipment like Merlin66!)

Thanks Julian.

When I read a some of the posts about binoculars I got excited, but found out my treasured 12x50 binoculars are quite the worse for wear at 30-years-old. They just won't focus well enough anymore. They still allow me to see that there is much more up there than I can see with the naked eye but that's about it.

The spectroscopy stuff, actually does hold a lot of interest for me. I think it would be great being able to detect what a star is made of, etc. I just watched the Star Analyser sales video and the guy makes it all sound pretty easy. Looks pretty good for about $220. Is it really that easy? It's definitely something I will keep in mind

Cheers
Mick

[sil (Steve)]

Mick, at the risk of antagonising the financial manager I think maybe a good pair of binoculars is on the cards for your future if you havent got them already. Astrobinoculars get large, expensive and too heavy to hand hold. But a quality pair is a joy to use especially if you get into astrophotography as you have time to kill while your computerised setup spends a few hours capturing shots. Plus the wife might be encouraged to enjoy the sky too with them. Its a great way to just learn your way around the sky and spot things that are just out of your eyes reach normally. The Orion nebula is always amazing, jupiters moons are easy in binos. Plus if late nights arent appealing the sun is a good study target too and there are many ways to enjoy that. Even radio astronomy is possible for the home enthusiast.

And the more gear you buy the more you may want to consider joining the Cloud Appreciation Society

[mikeyjames (Mick)]

Originally Posted by sil

Mick, at the risk of antagonising the financial manager I think maybe a good pair of binoculars is on the cards for your future if you havent got them already. Astrobinoculars get large, expensive and too heavy to hand hold. But a quality pair is a joy to use especially if you get into astrophotography as you have time to kill while your computerised setup spends a few hours capturing shots. Plus the wife might be encouraged to enjoy the sky too with them. Its a great way to just learn your way around the sky and spot things that are just out of your eyes reach normally. The Orion nebula is always amazing, jupiters moons are easy in binos. Plus if late nights arent appealing the sun is a good study target too and there are many ways to enjoy that. Even radio astronomy is possible for the home enthusiast.

And the more gear you buy the more you may want to consider joining the Cloud Appreciation Society

I'm really hoping I can get the wife interested. To be honest though, I'm pretty lucky as neither of us worry too much about what the other spends money on (within reason).

I have been looking at some binoculars from Andrews. I recently found out my trusty childhood 12 x 50's can no longer focus to infinity very well - or maybe it's my eyes??

I hadn't actually thought about what you mentioned. Down the track when I learn what I'm doing and hopefully the mount is tracking targets for the camera, I'll need something to keep myself occupied.

Appreciate the advice.

Thanks
Mick