Dadders

Thanks for the extensive feedback! I've got a nice thick stock sketchbook in a box somewhere - I'll dig it out and get sketching I'll look into a red head torch to go with it too. Thanks for the tip on the quickfinder too! Kind of surprising they don't come like that as stock really but it's easily remedied. And yes, you're probably right about testing the scope out first and just being patient! I've never been the best at biding my time and I've been wanting a scope and a garden to use it in for a lifetime but you're right - another few weeks of waiting won't hurt me!

Ahh great suggestion, I'll add those to the list!

Haha, luckily I'm not quite that short. I've got some garden furniture that might do in a pinch but I'll take a look at observing chairs, thanks!

I picked up a copy at the weekend and spent most of yesterday plowing through it. I'm very excited to try making out M31 in a few weeks time!

In a few weeks times, I'll finally have my own home and be able to start my lifelong ambition of astronomy as a hobby. After some mulling I've decided to go to pick up a StellaLyra 10" f/5 Dobsonian as my scope and with ~£100 left in my budget I wondered what would be the best accessories to start me off? I've already got a Rigel Quikfinder on order so that's covered. I was thinking perhaps a nice eyepiece? The scope comes with 9mm and a 30mm eyepieces which are supposedly pretty reasonable. What would be a good peice to round those out? Any other essential items I should consider?