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Hello Fellow Astro's;

 Just purchased a Meade Polaris 130 Reflector scope brand new last week. Getting it home was exciting but felt that now I have it, I'm feeling like there is no rush to set it up. Looking at it packaged snugly in the smaller boxes - in pieces, there is something in the back of my head that tells me not to set it up - not yet anyways! 

 Probably nothing anyone could relate to as far as how I feel about this and I understand! Usually when we purchase our first telescope much like  The one I did, would be anxious to get it up and viewing. 

 Just wonder if anyone else has ever gotten "cold feet" (...being a better way to describe my feelings!) over something like this and what they did to overcome it. After all, it is a sad thing to see a couple hundred bucks sitting on the floor doing nothing!! lol!

 LOP

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Hello LOP.

Nothing wrong with stepping back, letting it all sink in and then gradually getting to grips with it, better than a frenzied rush, astronomy is a patient hobby!. If you eventually have any problems with setting it up, this forum is full of eager helpers.   :smiley: 

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I had exactly the same with my first telescope and mount - It sat in the box for 10 months before I dared open it and venture out. It was because it all looked so terribly daunting and difficult to do. One day I had to bite the bullet and just get on with it.... other wise it would still be there to this day! :D

Take your time and open it when you're ready...... there's no rush.

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The stars aren't going to disappear overnight. Get a couple of good books, try'turn left at orion' and 'sky&telescope pocket star atlas' download a planetarium program, plenty out there but try Stellarium its free and found here :--- http://www.stellarium.org/ . By the time you have read the books, played with stellarium you will be itching to get your scope out and you will be armed with enough knowledge to know where to point it in the sky.

Anyway its far too cold in Canada at the moment to observe!. The last time I was in Canada in March it was -23 in Toronto, beaten by the -52 in Jasper when I was there a while ago in January.

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Had the same experience with my Nexstar... got it home all excited, then STOP.  Put the kettle on, read the manual cover to cover FIRST before you assemble the thing.  Once assembled, sit back and admire, then take time to plan your viewing before you try it out for the first time.

Above all - enjoy it!

SG

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That thing in the back of your head telling you not to set it up is probably the thought of failure to set it up correctly. What I would say is try not to worry about that cos I don't think any of us set our first scope up 100% correctly - we all had a little failure somewhere along the line and had to do a little extra research and make adjustments.

Mine was a biggie - got it out - set up in the house through an open window - and didn't even realise it could be polar aligned for the first few months lol. No cool down - no thought of seeing conditions - but I did see Saturn that first night - even though I found myself furiously turning both slo mo controls to track it in a high mag eyepiece. I was very over keen.

But once you have it cracked - you'll look back and laugh at yourself just as I did back then. Just take your time and don't pressure yourself and it will all fall into place in time - with the help of this forum - probably quicker than you think. :)

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When you do finally set it up, do it inside with good lighting, with no pressure or urgency.  Don't set it up in the dark 1st time !  Obvious, but I can imagine this has been done by some with expensive consequences :) 

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Take your time,.read up the instructions if they are not up to much Google it for  help or post in the forums here.  Once set up get familiar with the different controls.  You don't have to use it till your ready, the sky isn't going anywhere. :grin:. Once set up though you will be itching to get it out, the moon is a great first object.  We all had to start somewhere and I'm sure we've all made mistakes...

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I say good on you for stepping back and letting it rest, I got my scope second hand and was very excited and made the mistake of letting excitement get the better of me and tried to set it up with the 3 year old boy trying to help. Didn't go well! Wish I had taken it slow and got it set up in a nice slow manor.

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I have my new scope and mount (which both arrived yesterday) still in their boxes, waiting to be assembled. I want to, but I'm also a bit anxious and can relate. What scares me the most is to collimate the optics and so I'm browsing the net for tips rather than setting it all up.

I say, do it. I will, too. :grin:

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