how do start backyard astronomy

[larsmuylaert]

Hi I'm new here my question

what are the best Tripods and mounts

Eyepice and beyond as telescopes and binoculars

books and guides

[daiwelly]

hi larsmuylaert    first question is what do want yo  to do ultimately Observing or astrophotography or both

Free to download is stellarium http://www.stellarium.org/en_GB/

I am going to point you to another part of the forum What can i expect to see is a very good read http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/196278-what-can-i-expect-to-see/

I would also recommend a book and its called "Turn left at Orion"

[Qualia]

Aye, it would also be a good idea to know how much you're initially willing to invest otherwise you might have some sweet pea suggesting a set of Ethos and a TEC APO 140 would be a good way to go

[ronin]

For "backyard astronomy" I would say go for an 80mm refractor and a small goto mount.

As you are in Belgium I will use the TS selection:

They do an 80mm f/7 ED which should be good @ €545

For the mount you could try the iOptron SmartEQ again €545. Slight concern is that having seen one the tripod for the SmartEQ looks a bit lightweight.

That gives a reasonable system that is easy to set up and use, and if you use it then you will see a lot.

[paul mc c]

TS do an 8" dob for 398 euro,an excellent size of scope,a good star atlas and learn your way round the sky.

[mister_wavey]

Every astronomer needs binoculars. Buy these first. 10x50 ideally. Multicoated optics, bak 4 prisms.

Learn the constellations. Get a binocular astronomy book. Join or visit a local astro club, try out scopes and eyepieces before you buy.

[bingevader]

How to start?

Step outside and look up!

[baggywrinkle]

Have a look at this thread....http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/231012-telescope-101-an-introduction-to-the-world-of-telescopes/?hl=%2Btelescope+%2B101#entry2507283

[ollypenrice]

Aye, it would also be a good idea to know how much you're initially willing to invest otherwise you might have some sweet pea suggesting a set of Ethos and a TEC APO 140 would be a good way to go

It would be a good suggestion though! 

No, budget and intentions are essential. The kind of sky you have would also be worth knowing so as to give best advice.

Olly

[larsmuylaert]

okay so what are they best binoculars for astronomy

[larsmuylaert]

ai have a dobson and now will wanna start binoculars for astronomy using and het 

magnification factor and set up to a tripod understanding ?

[ollypenrice]

For hand holding go for 8x42 or 10x50. There is little difference in brightness. Low magnification gives a steadier image.

On a tripod you can use 15x70 and upwards but tripods are no good near the zenith which is the best part of the sky.

Olly

[Jim Steele]

okay so what are they best binoculars for astronomy

I have the olympus dps1 which are good beginners bins. I started there, went to a few astronomy club meetings to check out there scopes before realising a 12" dob was far too big!

[nicoscy]

larsmuylaert,

How about telling us first how much you are willing to spend and hard you want to work at it.

If you want a relatively easy way forward, the 80mm refractor with a goto alt/az mount is the easiest.

If you want a tool to be able to develop your skills while enjoying better views, nothing beats a dobsonian.

For binoculars, I like my Nikon Action Extreme 10x50 with a nice large FOV of 6.3 degrees for panning the skies.

[larsmuylaert]

waterproof camera for Christmas and I would therefore

want some info about Tripods greetings lar

[larsmuylaert]

waterproof camera for Christmas and I would therefore

want some info about Tripods greetings lars

waterproof camera for Christmas and I would therefore

want some info about Tripods greetings lar

[larsmuylaert]

which Tripods hand tripod or a small tripod that sets up a table

or a big one for the night sky greetings lars

[larsmuylaert]

like some on these' 

[Vox45]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Ok let's see:

(1) what are the best Tripods and mounts

Can you tell us more ? it depends on what you want to do. For Astrophography (AP) you need a motorized mount and then, depending on the weight of your gear you need to choose a mount that will support that weight. If only for oberving then you can choose a mount with no motors which are cheaper or buy a goto mount which are pricier

(2)  Eyepice and beyond as telescopes and binoculars books and guides

could you reformulate as I am not sure what you mean by that ?
 

(3) okay so what are they best binoculars for astronomy

Then again, the price for binos range from 25€ to 1000€+ so when you ask for the best, be prepared to call your banker for a loan ... Most people would go for quality binos in a price range that you feel comfortable with as you will be using them a lot even if you get a big scope. Do not buy theater binos (the one with fixed focus) and buy a pair of 10x50 (50 being the diameter) as they are well suited for astronomy. Bigger ones (20x80) are a lot heavier and require a tripod.

[nigelbeaumont]

8x42 binoculars perfect for grab and go observing; not too bulky, heavy or tiring. I keep mine handy for nights where there are breaks in the cloud or where i don't have much time for observing. Good for learning to navigate round the sky, especially star hopping