Demonperformer

Any one of those three will tend to have that effect. All three in one go ... wow indeed.

Yes, that would be Mars. Neptune was also just above the Mars (by about half the moon-mars distance). Mars may still provide a useful 'signpost' if you get another chance in the next few days.

Just about any DSLR will do the job, but check out the software you will be using. Some software has drivers for specific camera makes/models - if you're starting from scratch and aren't bothered about what you buy, you may as well take advantage of that. The other thing to consider is how well they cope with the red end of the spectrum, and whether they can be modified to do better. Most cameras block out a lot of the red light, which is important for astro-imaging. I know Canons do this, but can be modified to remove one of the filters that blocks this. That said, you can still get some really great shots with DSLRs that have not been modified. Might be worth checking out the sale boards here and on astrobuysell, as modded cameras do come up occassionally. And yes, I reckon you will have some great 'visual' evenings with the new scope as well. Enjoy!

I would be well-pleased with that. Congratulations.

Hi, a14591, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, CPG, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Grant, and welcome to SGL. If AP is your passion, this book would be a great investment. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Mark, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Rob, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Dave, and welcome to SGL. The 6SE is a very nice little scope which will give you hours of pleasure under the stars. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, FranTeryda, and welcome to SGL. Good luck with your project. Enjoy the journey.

Buying things does not me happy per se. The results I get because I own them might (although I am more and more discovering the actuality does not live up to the anticipation), so if I think something will add to the enjoyment of my hobby, I will buy. Currently wondering if an ADC will be worth it with Jupiter and Saturn coming up to opposition ...

When I use a barlow, I have to add the nosepiece to the camera. I then add any filter at the end of the nosepiece, inside the barlow tube.

Hi, Cundy & welcome to SGL. That first pair has a zoom capability? I would use the bigger aperture of those, but at their lowest magnification. The light won't help, but as long as you are not in direct light, you should be able to get some good views. A good book to help you is Turn Left at Orion - this will give you a good selection of objects and help you track them down. I reckon the star fields through Cygnus would be magnificent through those binos. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Sam, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Tony, and welcome to SGL. Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Mick, and welcome to SGL. The only problem with getting both Jupiter & Saturn on your first outing is ... how are you going to top that? - Don't worry ... you will! Enjoy the journey.

Hi, Jim, and welcome from another Dorsetian (unfortunately the light-polluted end!). There are some really nice dark sites around Crossways. Enjoy the journey.

I think that is very sensible. The Canon will get you some nice images even without the astro-mod.

Very nice, Victor. I have a simple rule-of-thumb for first attempts (of any object): If you posted the image with no comment, would people know what it was? In this case, a definite 'yes' for both. Well done with the less than optimal equipment.

Can't see that this has been flagged-up anywhere, but on on Dec 21 this year, Jupiter and Saturn will pass within 6 arcminutes of each other. Closest approach will be at 1300(UT), but UK sunset will be about 4pm and they will still be 8 degrees above the horizon an hour later. Got to be worth a try!

One thing to bear in mind, it isn't solely the surface brightness, but also the altitude that will make a lot of difference. The faintest SB-wise is M101, but for me, the most difficult object has always been M83 - brighter in the catalogue, but a lot lower down in the sky. The easiest to observe are the open clusters, but we don't have a lot of them around at the moment. But there are lots of these that aren't in the messier catalogue you could track down.

The 6SE is a great little scope ... with one really irritating habit. I mention this merely to forewarn you before your power supply arrives ... some of them have a glitch with the power socket making it a bit loose, which can cause the power to cut out as the scope changes position (more during slewing than tracking). There are two relatively simple solutions to this. The more permanent one is to get a small screwdriver and "spread" the centre connecting bit inside the socket. As a person whose DIY ability could be written on the front of a postage stamp without defacing it, I avoided this "highly risky" exercise and went for the other option ... a roll of electricians tape. By taping the power cable across the base of the mount, it prevented any "wobble" at the plug end as the scope moved and it performed perfectly. You may not have this problem (not all of them do), but at least you won't start panicing if you plug it in and the first thing that happens when you slew it is that it stops.

Hi, Dale & welcome to SGL. Nothing wrong with spending a long time exploring the night sky with nothing more than a pair of binos when you are starting. I spent my first 30 years in this hobby with nothing more than a pair of 7x50s. Worked a treat, zero set-up time, and boy did I have to "learn the sky". That said, I "graduated" to telescopes just over a decade ago, but still many of my sessions, while the scope/electronics are imaging, I grab the 7x50s for a browse. And yes, this hobby can be (ver) expensive. Haven't spent much myself lately - one of those people who fell through the cracks of government support - but have spent (wasted?) quite a lot over the years. Enjoy the journey & thank you for helping to keep us safe.

Hi, Andrew, and welcome to SGL. Just to add to your confusion😉 have you considered a dobsonian. Definitely the best aperture for your money. The (some would say) downside is that it is fully manual - no fancy electronics to put your object in the middle of your fov, so you need to know/be willing to learn the sky. Some people get a lot of enjoyment out of "hunting down" their prey. Whether you are one of those people, only you can say. Whatever you end up buying, you have a wonderful adventure of exploration ahead of you. Enjoy the journey.