R.frankish

On 11/03/2020 at 15:50, Stephanos said:

Hello everyone!

I am new here and about to buy my first telescope and wondering if you could help me make up my mind!

I have been looking at the skywatcher explorer 130P on an eq2 mount and the skyliner 200P Dobsonian. There is obviously a price difference, as well as the diameters and mounts are of course different.

The skyliner supposedly has 'direct slr connection' which is a big plus, as I would like to connect my ancient Canon 1000D to the telescope I buy. Would it be that hard to connect the camera to the explorer (i.e. would it be more than a t-adapter?)

Also anyone had experience with the EQ-2 mount? Not worried about the alignment etc as I am confident I can do it with a bit of practice, it're more if it's stable enough and offers a good experience? Also does the optional motor help with taking long exposures or is it not that precise? 

I like the simplicity of the Dobsonian but as far as I know there is no option to 'motorise' it (so I'm wondering whether I will need a completely separate rig in the future if I want to take long exposures etc?)

Thank you so much, apologies if any of the questions are a bit obvious to the experienced. Any other advise (or alternatives) are most welcome

All the best,

Stephanos

 

I would recommend getting something with a synscan system that has to be one regret for me especially in light polluted areas 

Yes I am going to go to a convention thing in grimsby on the 13th this month hopefully 

3 hours ago, Stu said:

The view through your 9x50 straight through finder will be upside down with a 5.6 degree field of view. If you place the star Wasat in the position indicated in this chart, the Eskimo Nebula should be in the centre of your eyepiece, so long as your finder is correctly aligned.

Yes its aligned correctly I check all mirrors and any thing that can move before use after I move my scope and thankyou looks like cloudy night ahead so as soon as its clear I'll be on it again 

Thankyou all for the help I will definitely try look for the nebula in Gemini 

I was looking in this area for the m85 

1 hour ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

You will get there in time. As I am finding out patience and a good sky go a long way in this hobby.

The ring nebula is not to bad to find in lyra but as Stu mentioned its not greatly positioned currently. It is more of a summer target.  

When I started I managed to find a couple of tough nebula such as the blue snowball and Eskimo nebula. However I found that the time it took to find these in light polluted sky's Brough much frustration. I have since decided to look for clusters and been splitting starts. I am starting to get a better understanding of the sky now and will look to find the more challenging nebula when at a much better location.

The only nebula I have seen is Orion just wish I could see the colour in it instead of just gray I just think I need to set the Hubble up in me back garden lmao and going to invest in some filters and then a new mount just been out in garden looking for more things in this pic there is a small smudge and not sure what it is 

I only have the finder scope that comes with the skywatcher 10" dob

Yer I only had hour and half sleep today was up all last night waiting for Jupiter and Saturn but one of the neighbours has a line of conifer trees about 1000 ft hight or that was what it seemed this morning blocking all the views almost went n cut em down lmao 

I wish I had bought the synscan goto with it as I struggling to find other things eg ring nebula I have 4 apps o  me phone that show where the stuff is ment to be but just struggling to find them 

Just now, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Your 4mm looks to be showing Venus well. I don't know what scope you have but if you are getting x200 - x240 magnification with your 4mm I would suggest you are where you need to be in my opinion.

the glare you are seeing is normal for Venus, it is extremely bright. If you have a moon filter you can attach this to your eye piece and reduce the glare which should help to show the phase of Venus more clearly. Personally I have been using a visual polarising filter on Venus which you can adjust the contrast. This has helped considerably to remove the glare.

 

I have 10" dob an no filters but just taking of the little hole on the top of my scope to reduce the light pollution worked rather well and those pics was taken through a window aswell 

On 01/03/2020 at 11:17, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Hi Mike,

Very informative write up. Thank you. I will take this information on board when next viewing!

Great sketch's by the way. I have noticed you were viewing at x463 mag. Was the planet clear at this power?

 

Baz

 

This is what I am getting 25mm 10mm 4mm I do see it a little better if I leave the top cover on and just take out the little hole 

On 04/01/2013 at 17:43, Fordos Moon said:

I have the iPhone adaptor shown in S@N and it holds the iPhone very steady with good adjustment screws to line it up with the EP. Example of unedited pic attached:

I am thinking of getting a phone mount as takes me ages to take pictures 

4 hours ago, Stu said:

What's your maximum mag? It looks pretty clear to me at x200 and x300!

These are all I have so far 

It's one of the brightest things in the sky or what ever I was looking at was lmao but it was small 

9 hours ago, joe aguiar said:

I did a video on planet filter I'll send it to u

But I would pass on these the gain is so minimal but nebula filters are good 

joejaguar 

If you could that would be great thankyou

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I would save your money on these if I were you. A variable polarising filter will be more useful to start with I think, certainly on the Moon and Venus.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/moon-neutral-density-filters/astro-essentials-variable-polarising-moon-filter.html

I use a Baader Neodymium filter but they are pretty pricey. You might pick one up used 

Never used them before I take it that sit over the eyepiece just wondering so I don't buy wrong size 

Thankyou for the advice and yes deep pockets is something I am looking for when I go shopping for Jean's lmao 

Could I have a little more help are these filters any good as on a previous post ppl have said about me getting filters to help with my obsession 

That pic is about what I could see it as 

Lmao I never thought of that I mean yes I was on a secret mission with NASA lmao 

15 hours ago, Ibbo! said:

If it came with a moon filter or neutral density try that.

 

Didn't get anything except 2 standard eyepeices been buying new stuff as and when I have a little extra money 

4 hours ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

I have been viewing Venus at either x150 or x240 mag through the 8" dob with a visual polarizing filter. Controlling the contrast to reduce the glare has made viewing the disc very enjoyable. That said with last nights sky haze I didnt need to use a filter at all to view Venus.

 

Baz

One of my friends is taking me some where dark again tonight went last night but by time we was there is was cloudy 

15 hours ago, soldave said:

Good discussion, and was just going to start searching for something on this myself, as tonight was my first night in using my 130M to take a look at the moon and Venus. I've got a 25mm, 10mm and x2 Barlow. Tomorrow I'll try once more. @R.frankish good luck with your viewing. Are you going to try again tomorrow, if the skies are clear?

I try every night I can so much to try find its amazing what is out there an every night I look at orion neb atleast once 

14 hours ago, Stu said:

What did you see with the 6mm? That should be x200 in your scope, plenty high enough to see the disk and phase. I saw it clearly this evening in my 4" at similar powers (and lower)

Just a little white spot 

Shall try it with filters