huddo

Oh my goodness, that is stunning, thanks for posting.

As per everyone else’s comments, welcome back and fingers crossed for clears skies for your new scope.

Please excuse my ignorance but what is the pup ? Thanks in advance

Great to read about your observations Dave, it’s almost like I’m there peering through the eyepiece. Keep it up. Clear skies .

Hi Dave, I had considered a 8in Stella but have decided that it’s too big for me to manhandle out of the house , down the garden and into the car to drive to my preferred observation spot and do the same on the return trip. Not to mention the fact that maintenance of a reflector scares me (bearing in mind I’m on the clumsy side so not only could I struggle to get scope to car from house without damage to me, scope or car there would a good chance I would drop tools down tube and smash the mirror) A refractor kind of makes sense but I have to say I’m a bit hung up on “Chromatic Aberration” issues. would it really be capable of giving me decent views of planets that I’d like ? this isn’t an easy hobby to get my head around. I just want to get started , I’m starting to wonder if I shouldn’t just think sod it, I’ll just not bother and I’ll leave the £500 earmarked for the scope in the bank…….🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁

A good point well made, I’ll forget that one. following a visit over to the North Norfolk Astronomy site I’ve been advised against a Schmidt Cassegrain on the grounds that they’re not the easiest of telescopes for beginner to find targets. They where more inclined to suggest a refractor and sturdy mount. So I guess it’s back the drawing board. Very frustrating for me as I just want to get cracking but I guess it’s best to patient and at least try and get it right first time, at the end of the day £500 doesn’t grow on trees (not in my world any how) thanks all, clear skies

After weeks of research I think I’ve nearly decided that my first telescope will be a Celestron StarSense Explorer DX5. My back garden suffers from being really quite close to several bright street lights and houses which restrict views so I really what something I can pop in the car and drive a mere 4 miles or so to really quite dark skies (I live in semi rural Norfolk and the broads and coast are a stones throw away. I did think I wanted a manual find my own way around the sky scope but having seen the celestron in action on good old YouTube it’s peaked my interest. As the DX5 is Schmidt Cassegrain it should give me decent details of moon ,planets and hopefully some DSOs shouldn’t it and being compact , nice and easy to transport. Am I correct in thinking cool down time shouldn’t be too bad as it’s an SCT rather than a MAK which I believe has thicker lens on the front. my budget is new around £500 having started at £350 it’s crept up !!! Guess that’s not unusual. All advice gratefully received.

Just WOW, so much brilliant advice and so many warm welcomes. I like it here already. Judging from some of the comments I may have to rethink/adjust my telescope choice (may even save some money into the bargain) Happy days. I’ve made contact with a local ish Astronomical society and hope to get over to them soon. thank again and clear skies to you all.

Thanks for replying, can I ask are you happy with your choice and what have you looked at and did the views meet your expectations?

Hi all, just wanted to post my first post. Signed up a couple of days ago that was when I was a young whippersnapper of a 59 year old. Moving on to tonight and I’m a 60 year old. Really lean to buy my scope but am not 100% sure what I’m going to go for but am favouring a 150mm Newtonian on a EQ3-2 mount. Want to do planets, moon and a bit of DSO hunting. Hopefully I’m on the right lines. Clear skies all.