owenjsidge Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 So my first real observations happened last night with my brand new skywatcher 200p. My first target was Saturn which looked absolutely amazing especially with the new omni Barlow x2 I even managed to get apjoto of it on my phone. After this I had a break and waited for the ISS. Wow it was bright even managed to get it line up with the scope and follow it for a few seconds. Next was a bit of a lie down and watch the perseid meteor shower one of these at about 11pm went I'd say 2/5 of the night sky going so slow leaving an amazing trail I wish I had a video.Just before bed I opened turn left at orion and started clicking the pages to what I thought would be easy M13. After twenty minutes of frustration I found it yesssss beautiful. Its now my mission to find everything possible in the book.Anyway enough of my rambling just wanted to say thank you to everyone on this forum without all your contributions and advice even if this was indirect I would just be looking up not knowing where to start.OwenWigan, UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damnut Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Hi Owen,Congrats on your first light report. And what you will find is the more you use the books, the less time you will spend searching and more time at the eyepiece, until you use the book rarely and rely on your new knowledge, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtreemchaos Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 great firstlight report mate, isnt saturn wonderfull my fav. good luck and clear skys. charl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Imp Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Great report Owen, it's always good to hear of newcomers having a great night, this encourages both yourself and other newcomers to this great hobby.Well done locating M13, next time you're out have a look at M92 not far away and another nice glob. Good luck and clear skies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owenjsidge Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Yeah I should have kept reading as there is a galaxy to the north east of m13. Ah well it will be there another night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charic Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 well done, a great scope and I'll +1 the Astro Imp comments.So many folk arrive with their Dobs, and to be honest, it either works first time for the end user, or something simple like the doubling of the adaptors in the focuser tube, or finder scope alignment causes them a niggle, but this is quickly corrected.Yet so many folk, have serious issues ( or so they think ? ) causing frustration! ( easily overcome, once their understanding of their system improves ) and after a short period of self study and with help from the good folk at SGL, they may get the results they desire, or move on/quit........ quite possibly their using an EQ system. Not so simple! IMHOYou have demonstrated just how easy, and simple the Dobsonian is. Its a truly capable system, so much better if you have proper dark sites to view from ( this is the same for any telescope ) and as you progress further with your hobby, and gain more experience, things can only get better, as prof. Brian Cox may suggest, although peter Cunnah was the vocalist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laudropb Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Very good first report. The more you use your scope the easier it is to find your targets. Good luck with your next session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owenjsidge Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 What I have a learnt and it may seem obvious however the more knowledge and material I'm studying is helping me massively. 2 weeks ago I could tell you that's the plough and the big white thing is the moon. Now I can point at the summer triangle and name the stars and from there I can find m13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charic Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 ........its trying to remember everything that is the problem? But keep at it, and there's always the web and here at SGL if you forget something.I've so many .pdf files too, something to read at work, when away from Wi-Fi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Imp Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 What I have a learnt and it may seem obvious however the more knowledge and material I'm studying is helping me massively. 2 weeks ago I could tell you that's the plough and the big white thing is the moon. Now I can point at the summer triangle and name the stars and from there I can find m13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owenjsidge Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Going to try m31 tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrbloke Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Try M57 ring nebula, its almost directly overhead and quite easy to find. Stellerium is your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owenjsidge Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Found m57, wow I need a better 10mm lens very very fuzzy and light. May have found m31 too but really not sure I'll try that again in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwilkey Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Hi Owen, a great first report, that's what amatuer astronomy is all about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Reminds me of my first dabblings in astronomy. Nice report Owen. One tip you might benefit from - if you get Sky@Night magazine for one year, you'll get to work through all the suggested planets and deep sky objects as they change with the seasons, plus any one off's like comets and meteor showers (which happen all year).You'll also get to know which and when planets and constellations are up, and where they are as the year ticks over. There's usually notifications of upcoming special events like occultations and transits, eclipses (full and partial), satellite launches, moon phases, supernovea, and a whole load of other interesting stuff. Ordinary folks don't realise just how much is going on up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owenjsidge Posted August 15, 2015 Author Share Posted August 15, 2015 Cheers for the advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul2015 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Going to try m31 tonightI like to find the top left star in the square of pegasus, the go left one star (find the triangle in Andromeda) go to the point of the triangle, then go up to the next brightest star, then up and left a bit to the next brightest star, the up and off to the right abit,And there you'll have M31,If when you get to the point of the triangle and you head down to you will find m33 between the point of Andromedas triangle and the point of the triangle constellation (if you draw a line between the two its almost hafway off to the right abit)Another really cool place to look is the Sagittarius star cloud M24, that's near the shield constellation. Here you'll also find M16 and M17 both nebula's M18 , M25 and M22 all star clusters. But I'll let you find thisnlot on your own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion25 Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 That's wonderful, mate. Ain't the universe grand?Keep scopin'! Cheers,Reggie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saganite Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Good report Owen.Working through TL@O will certainly be worthwhile, and you have an excellent scope with which to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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