PhoTenix
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Posts posted by PhoTenix
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Just wondered if anyone went to see the space show during Space week ?
I took 2 of my daughters who thought it was amazing, but I kept shouting out the answers to stuff 🤭😂
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7 hours ago, PlanetGazer said:
Have a look at these:
1. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html
2.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130.html
This one requires learning how equatorial (EQ) mounts work
3.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html
If your are going to go deep in this hobby, pick this rather than buying one now, and another later
Before you buy, search for better deals, and you can price match at FLO
Thank you. I'm trying but finding it hard finding them anywhere else. I would rather have new so maybe I need to wait a little before diving in. It will be a long term thing so I dont mind waiting ☺️
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19 hours ago, DaveL59 said:
A monopod and bracket for the bino can help a lot and not add much cost or weight if you want to try the bino route first
A parallelogram rig for binos can make things even better tho at a cost, of course.
Add a lounger type chair so you aren't craning your neck esp now its getting colder and you're started out at reasonable budget till the right scope comes along...
Thanks for the info 😁
19 hours ago, John said:5 is not bad - most of my observing is done under Bortle 5 skies. 8 and 9 are where it gets tough !
We (BAS) have run observing sessions on the Clifton Downs and it's OK as long as you stick with brighter targets. Our observatory is about 7 miles south of Bristol where it's around Bortle 5.
That's great. I'm not far from the Downs either ☺️
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Just now, John said:
Here is a bit more about the Bortle Scale:
Depending where you are in Bristol it can vary from Bortle 6 to Bortle 9. Local street lights, security lights and housing and industrial lights have a big influence.
It's now saying Bortle 5 ! 😂
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2 minutes ago, John said:
At the bottom of the 2nd link there is some information about that. Your 1st visit is free. For subsequent visits we ask for £3 a session unless you decide to join.
The "Clear Outside" webpage is free to use and gives lots of info about your local conditions if you put them into it. This link is set up for my home town, Portishead but you can change it to suit your location:
http://clearoutside.com/forecast/51.48/-2.79
An estimate of your Bortle Scale conditions is in the yellow box below the location details.
Brilliant. Class 6 bortle 🤷♀️ is that right ?
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1 minute ago, happy-kat said:
Binoculars can be great to use as DSO are in general grey fuzzy blobs just they get bigger and perhaps easier...to find. I recall observing comet Lovejoy using binoculars and it was fun and challenging finding it each night as it moved. Jupiter's main 4 moons can also be picked out, I use 8*42 to keep the weight down for hand held.
I wanted to try binoculars but I cannot hold my arms up for long at all (as silly as it sounds) unless I had a table under my elbows, due to the crap that I have !
But seeing Jupiter's moons must be awesome. I have a fascination with Jupiter ☺️
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4 minutes ago, happy-kat said:
What's your light pollution level like, do you know the Bortle scale of where you live.
I've no idea but I'm assuming I can look it up somewhere!
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13 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:
I'll be honest here and say I'm new to scopes myself so not long into the hobby, moved up from binoculars after collecting and restoring a few (lot). But a chunk of reading, looking at what's out there and checking forums and reviews, then taking a punt based on that... Most of mine are TAL, they're v solidly made and low cost with some restoration needed on the reflectors (paint in the main). The refractor on the other hand is in v nice condition, all are 2003 vintage or earlier and likely in 20+ years will still be going strong. I'm sure the skywatcher will be fine too but feels so thin in comparison lol.
Another thought springs to mind, not wanting to be too personal or intrusive, but have you considered the tripod legs relative to your situation? Could be that they get in the way a bit for comfortable access to the eyepiece where a pier type mount may work better for you?
Thank you. Really appreciate all this advice. I'm not in a wheelchair...... yet 😂 but thank you for thinking of that as I wouldn't have !
12 minutes ago, johninderby said:And this might be of interest.
Thank you ☺️
6 minutes ago, happy-kat said:The heritage 130p is a lot of telescope for the money and can be carried in two halves if needed and each but is around 3 kilos.
It can be used from the ground though you would need to be able to lean forward or perhaps sit the mount on top of an upturned bucket. And then move around the telescope as you change observing direction.
If you are needing to observe through an open window and not getting outside then a reflector is least appropriate as you would probably struggle to look through the eyepiece as easily. Observing from inside adds it's own problem with heat from the house likely to cause less steady images but doing something will see more than doing nothing I think
Thank you. This advice is great honestly. Giving me a lot to think about ☺️
4 minutes ago, John said:Bristol Astronomical Society meet off Gloucester Road on Friday evenings. Here is the current programme - the "scope surgery" on 22nd November might be of interest as it's aimed at those who have got a scope that they are unsure about using and those who are thinking about getting one.
http://www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk/www/pages/programme/programme-20192020.php
Here is a bit more about coming to our meetings:
http://www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk/www/pages/programme.php
That's brilliant thank you. Can I just turn up or do I have to join beforehand?
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14 minutes ago, happy-kat said:
I personally tend to aim observing to angles that are easier to look at for me and just would wait for stuff to come to me as everything moves eventually
Ok got you ☺️
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14 minutes ago, johninderby said:
Very basic beginners scope guides.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/buying-your-first-telescope/
Thank you 🙏🏼 much appreciated John !
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2 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:
depending on how high you are seated relative to the scope, a refractor/SCT/MAK may suit better then, tho a refractor can have a big range of movement when looking higher toward azimouth, depending on the length of the OTA. My refractor is 1M long so essentially 45-50mm from the pivot point to the eyepiece to give an idea. MAK/SCT are much shorter so less of a range to swing through.
Everything you just said may have been Swahili 😳🤦♀️🤷♀️
How do I learn all this stuff
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7 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:
you often see pics on the bay where the little finder scope is fitted pointing the opposite way from which it should be. The finder should be the other way round from what's shown in that pic
See I wouldn't know the difference 🤦♀️😂
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37 minutes ago, Rob Sellent said:
Wow, Bristol...home of Bansky, Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, Gloucester Road, Park Street, Montpelier, Stocks Croft, open farms, amazing cafés, bars and people. That whole area (Somerset, Avon) is one of my favourites in the whole of all my travels around the UK. I haven't lived in England for getting on for 30 years, but fond memories, or the gradual disappearence of them
live on.
It might be tricky for you but it might be an idea to drop a line to BAS in Bristol and ask to attend one of their open nights? I'm sure you'll find really friendly folk who can show you their scopes and you'll be able to get a feel of them and the kind of things you'll be able to see? If I'm not mistaken, @Johnis a member and is also one of the most respected visual observers not only in the UK but in the English speaking world.
Yes I did look at BAS last night.
And I live just off Gloucester Rd 😂 and my Dad knows Massive Attack ☺️
And I've lived up country, all over Devon, Cornwall and lived in Australia, bit Bristol is the Best ☺️
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1 hour ago, happy-kat said:
Depending on your personal situation things to consider might be observing position. It might be easier to observe if the eyepiece is positioned at the bottom of the telescope as this makes it moved around less then day a telescope has the eyepiece on the top side. Reflectors are on the top side whereas mak, sct and refractors are at the bottom. I like to sit to observe and using a telescope with the eyepiece at the bottom has the edge on comfort.
Thank you. See its these things that I know nothing about. I would be sitting down too.
Are there specific scopes that I should consider then ?
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1 hour ago, John said:
The starting prices on e.bay are sometimes very low but the bidding usually carries the final price up to, or sometimes beyond, the used market price. The scope you have linked to is a decent one but it almost certainly won't go for £49 - by the time the bidding has ended, the final price will be similar to the figures that fozzybear has quoted I expect, possibly a bit more.
Due to your transport situation, I assume you are planning to get the scope delivered to you ? That scope is collection only from Torpoint.
My son lives near Torpoint, so was going to get him to collect it as he's coming up soon and could bring it with him.
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1 hour ago, fozzybear said:
obvious error finder scope wrong way round 220 quid new 120 quid max.. or 130
I'm not sure what you mean !
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12 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:
only thing in that case would be how well its packaged up and then the carrier handling it "nicely". Any loose items in the package might find their way into the OTA and damage the mirror, or for a refractor the main objective. Assuming the seller has the original packaging it was shipped in you might be ok but it does increase the risk. Disputing condition when it arrives makes it your word against theirs etc. Bear in mind that a scope plus tripod is large and heavy, not to mention the OTA can be quite long (1m) so shipping may not be cheap. Insured shipping may not cover any optical gear either. Given that, best to get a quote from the seller first then decide, might be better to go new from FLO or another where you'll have warranty if it gets damaged in transit.
Where are you based tho? could be worth waiting until something nearby comes up, all but the TAL100RS I was lucky to find not so far away, that one was a v long round trip but one I felt was worth making.
Thanks for the advice. I'm in Bristol ☺️
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30 minutes ago, johninderby said:
If you are seriously considering buying a scope off eBay then post a link here so a few SGL members can take a look at the listing and give their opinion.
Ok thank you. That's much appreciated ☺️
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1 minute ago, johninderby said:
If buying a scope on eBay I would want to have a look at it first to see if it is actually as described.
Buying from Astrobuysell or SGL is so much safer as no one minds letting you look before ypu buy or even pop over and have a look through the scope first.
I'd love to be in a position to do that, but am disabled without transport, and most of them are far away 😕
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I guess my issue is that without buying a scope, I have no way of learning about how they work or practicing with one.
I can't attend meetings etc so it's really a case of jumping in and buying one ! 😶
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4 minutes ago, johninderby said:
Not clear if you mean FLO is cheaper or more expensive than eBay. 🤔
FLO is more expensive as theirs are new, but on Ebay they have the same ones used going for less with the same spec etc.
I will ask about any fungus or scratches on mirrors etc too which I didnt know about before. ☺️
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9 hours ago, happy-kat said:
Why not save your budget towards the telescope at this stage and instead sign up for the free monthly newsletter from Binoculaysky website as it provides interesting things to see.
Thanks. I'll definitely sign up for that ☺️
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6 hours ago, Rob Sellent said:
You'd do better downloading the free planetarium, Stellarium and play around with its settings and read through something like this each month.
I've had a thought and although I agree with pretty much all the advice in this thread, I think @happy-kat has hit the proverbial nail on its head. Save your budget. By the time you've priced in postage costs, basic accessories, along with a scope and mount, a total budget of £150 isn't going to go far.
The good news is the stars and planets aren't going anywhere soon. If they're not visiable now, they'll soon be back. In the meantime, you could learn the winter and autumn constellations visible from your site, and if you fancied, following the insight and advice from Binocular Sky (also a member here on SGL), get a nice set of binos to go just a little deeper and see a little more
Thanks for the literature advice Rob. That's brilliant.
On ebay some of the scopes are going for roughly 47.00 - 80.00 for the same ones that FLO are selling, making them half price or less ! Should I not trust the ones that FLO sells ?
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live on.
Did anyone go to the planetarium show at @Bristol last week ?
in The Astro Lounge
Posted
It was a 3D show in the dome so the entire thing was the night sky while being shown certain constellations, then zooming through space (very weird lol) to Andromeda and just really informative but the feeling like you're there lol
It was really good. Well worth a visit 😊