rwilkey

Hi Lee, welcome to the forum, the fun starts with a new scope, you will be surprised what you can discover.  Clear skies!

Hi Neo, welcome from someone else way down south.  Clear skies!

Hi Emanuel, a warm welcome from me too.  Clear skies!

Hi David, a warm welcome from me way down south, enjoy the forum.  Clear skies!

7 minutes ago, Karen Bexley said:

Do I need to create a page of my own somewhere here whilst discussing my developing Astronomy experience, so as to keep the Welcome section clear?

Hi Karen, no, there is no facility to do that, but we will be happy to hear about your experiences whenever.  You might want to use the Beginners section such as 'Getting Started With Observing' or 'Getting Started With Imaging' etc which will cater for your needs.

Hi Karen, a warm welcome from me too, enjoy the journey.  Clear skies!

On 22/04/2020 at 17:49, merlin100 said:

I can see it being used for lunar observing, when conditions permit.  

Hi Merlin, I found the 3.2mm perfect for Lunar viewing, but not so good for anything else.  I am sure you will like it.  Clear skies!

Hi Harvey, a warm welcome from me too not so far away.  I have been star gazing on Salisbury Plain a many times with friends from that area, we often met at the Rose & Crown at Tilshead and set out from there.  Sadly, those days have been over for a while, but I still enjoy stargazing with my wife in the Swindon area.  Good luck & clear skies!

Hi Wayne, it's great to see you getting started in astronomy, esp. jumping in at the deep end with your studies, however, I think your telescope will teach you the most about the universe (seeing is believing) just look at the Moon, an amazing piece of rock through a telescope. 

Download some planetarium software called Stellarium, it will tell you what's in the night sky, it is also free, found here: http://stellarium.org/

Clear skies!

Hi all, I do not specifically collect sets but I have a good few eyepieces in common, such as the Naglers, ExSc and the BST StarGuiders, but here is some in my odds case:

Hi Jev, the Moon is always a good place to start, get some sharp focus on that and you will be amazed.  Also, download some planetarium software called Stellarium from

http://stellarium.org/

It is a free program and will tell you what is in the night sky on any given evening. 

Good luck and clear skies!

Hi Ryan, welcome to the forum and the 'dark arts' or 'bank buster', take it easy and get hold of that book 'Making Every Photon Count' that Mark above recommended, it could be a life-saver.  Clear skies!

17 hours ago, loordspudz said:

where did all those stars come from??

Hi Loordspudz, welcome to the forum, your comment 'where did all those stars come from??' gelled with me because that was the first thought that came to mind when I first looked at the night sky through a telescope, the sky just suddenly comes alive doesn't it and you wonder why you haven't noticed it before?

Hi Philip, you are advising exactly the right thing, it is not the best of telescopes I agree, but it is a place to start and work at.  Upgrading later is a good option. 

23 minutes ago, Paulo Silva said:

I will start practicing as you suggested

It takes a lot of patience and learning how to 'see'.  As a matter of interest, what make of telescope do you have?

Hi Paulo, welcome to SGL.  It is very difficult on your first time out when you are not used to looking through a telescope.  In the first instance use your lowest power eyepiece (H20) and practice on the Moon to try and bring out sharper detail.  Once you have acheived this then decide what else you want to see.  Venus is quite prominent in the sky at the moment but through your telescope you will not see much more that the bright light you see with your own eyes. 

On the morning of the 15 April just before dawn in the southeast you will be able to see Mars, Saturn and Jupiter, mostly in a straight line, first with your naked eyes and then through the telescope.   With the telescope you should be able to see Saturn's rings and Jupiters Galilean moons (Callisto, Europa & Ganemede, the fourth moon Io will be behind Jupiter at that time), you will also see our own Moon in the southeast, so that is a good guide where to look. 

Check that you have also aligned your finder scope with the main scope. 

Clear skies!

Hi Vindubs and welcome to the forum, if you want to know what is the best equipment to buy etc then you cannot go wrong with Steve Richards book 'Making Every Photon Count', found here:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

It could also save you loads of money as you enter the 'dark arts'.  Clear skies!

As I read Braille that would be easier for me!

Hi Chris, a warm welcome from me too way down south, I love the Scottish Highlands.  Have fun and keep looking up!

Hi there, and a warm welcome from me from across the great pond.  Clear skies!

Hi Avani, those are superb pictures, well done!

Hi Aljouri, a warm welcome to the forum.  The advice above is spot on, you need to learn how to 'see' first, using a telescope for the first time is a strange experience, but get used to it before considering any further purchases.  Clear skies!

Well done Matt, keep experimenting and have fun!

Hi John, a warm welcome from me too, way down south.  Clear skies!

6 minutes ago, BlueStinger said:

Hi, perfect thankyou. Oh and regarding your earlier post. I'm from Southampton originally, but we moved to Bridgwater when I was 7, where I lived a big chunk of my life. I know Taunton fairly well, I went to SCAT and worked in and around the town for a good few years. I've been in Yeovil now for around 15 years.

Hi Blue, I was near Yeovil recently visiting with my wife her old college friend in Chilthorne Domer.  I don't know Taunton very well but some years ago spent some study time at the County Records Office researching family history.  I didn't know Taunton had a college of arts & technology!  Take care...