My very first post - Any help?

[starwing]

Hi everyone!

I recently acquired a Saxon Dobsonian 12" telescope and have played around with it a bit. However, I would like to ask for some expert help from some of you guys on how best to figure my way from here.

Can anyone help me out here?

Cheerz
Angelo

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

and Angelo. Apart from the Dob itself, what other equipment/accessories do you have? (eyepieces, starcharts etc)

[dannat (Daniel)]

when you say figure your way are you talking about the equipment or the sky?

[Liz]

Hey Angelo
Lucky you, a 12" Dob, that is all you will ever need!! What you need to do is find your way around the night sky, and learn the major constellations. This is a bit of a task, helped with star charts, eg the current Australian Sky & Telescope etc .... and It will be hard trying to find anything if you dont know what you are looking at. We all had to do this . Jupiter is up there, nice and bright, above you in Sagittarius, so good place to start. Keep checking and searching the forums for info, good luck.

[Jen]

Hi Starwing
hope you enjoy your new scope cheers

[Deeno]

Congrats on the 12" dob. A fine way to get started.

Try this link http://skymaps.com/downloads.html and print a up a free star chart. That will get you started navigating the night sky.

Try a few searches through IceInSpace. Every question you can come up with will be in here somewhere.

Sometime down the track you will have to learn how to collimate your scope.

Start a collection of the Australian Sky and telescope magazine.

Then you will start looking at better eyepieces, maybe a Argo Navis, then a big eq mount 'cause you want to get into astro-photography and all the bits and pieces for that ....etc.....etc....etc....

Have fun
And don't burn a hole in your wallet to quick...

[garin (Garin)]

Angelo, something you might find useful.
I bought this Digital Level last week for $35.
I'm using it on my lightbridge.
The original magnets in the base are a bit weak (kept slidiing down the scope) so I replaced them with three new ones (8mm dia x 4mm high) for about $3 from a local Perth magnet supplier. I find it great for helping to put myself in the right elevation when looking for an object so then all I have to do is sweep left and right till I locate it. (Most planeterium software will give alt/az info so you know what the altitude is to the object from your location).
Works well enogh until I get around to getting an Argo Navis.

Cheers
Garin

[garin (Garin)]

Angelo, sorry forgot to attach the image

[garin (Garin)]

Oh BTW I bought the level at Bunnings

[starwing]

Hi everyone

Thank you so much for your kind advice and help!

I will definitely be printing out some star charts and reading more of the stuff in the forums!

Regards
Angelo