Bryan_D

Hi Alison, and welcome to SGL 👋 I’m also new here and I have a Skywatcher Skyhawk which I’m learning to use too! 😊

Thanks everyone for all your recommendations, it’s given me a fair idea of what’s Available out there. Great review Alan, nice to see the visual comparisons. Thanks for posting. what if they “brake”? Sorry, couldn’t resist!

Hi VNA, sounds like good advice to me. Thank you very much. 👌

I will do Louis. In fact I took it out for the first time tonight, completely clueless of course, but just to try out some of the lenses etc. Quite a bit of cloud cover so I wasn’t out very long, but just wanted to get a feel for the altitude, RA etc. I hadn’t aligned it to anything so I couldn’t even try finding anything. TBH, the whole thing confuses the heck out of me, but I’ll just keep reading and trying outdoors and I reckon it will click into place soon enough! Overall, I think it’s great scope and once I’ve got the just of it, I’m going to be doing a lot of discovering. I have y even had a chance to look at the moon with it yet, managed the odd glance at Orion and Sirius though. I’ll provide updates as I progress! 👍

Hi Mark and welcome to SGL 👋

Thanks for all the advice everyone, it’s been really helpful. I have two little ones, so space is at a premium. I think I’ll have to keep it in the garage with a decent cover to keep the wildlife out. Thanks for the additional link banjaxed, some really good feedback on there! Note to self, search the forum before asking questions, as it’s likely been asked... and answered before!

Can anyone recommend any good makes of red light LED torch, head torch or other?

Hi Tom,👋 A warm welcome to SGL!

Thanks Pete, glad to be here!

Welcome to the SGL Ed!

My thoughts exactly Helen! At the moment I’m just trying to work out what all the dials etc are before even going outside with it. I’ve balanced it as per the instructions in the manual and just trying to get my head around the R.A. and Dec movements etc. I’m also learning/reading how to align with Polaris. Once I’ve done my homework, I’ll head out for some practical! Got to learn the basic stuff first. Until Storm Ciara lets up, I’ll be sticking to the manual, this forum and the internet!

Hi Rusty and welcome! Really nice pic you got there.

Hi Manji, welcome to the forum and back to Astronomy!

I’ve set up my Skyhawk (pics below) and just waiting for some clear skies now! I’ve submitted a post for storage advice in the beginner section if that’s the correct place?

Hi, could anyone give some advice on telescope storage? I’ve just assembled my first scope which is a Skywatcher Skyhawk 1145P (pics below). I’m planning on storing it, fully assembled in my garage, ready for frequent use. I was just wondering if this was ok, as although it’s obviously sheltered from wind and rain, the temperature would get near on the same as the outside temperature? Could this be detrimental to it?

Hi Chris, welcome to SGL. I’m also new to the forum and to Astronomy in general. I’m glad I joined here, everyone is very friendly and helpful. I know I will get a lot of advice here and I’m sure you will too! 😊

Hi Beth, welcome to SGL!

Neil, I’ve just had a look at this course and it looks really informative. Think I’ll sign up for the Orion one first and do the one on moons after. You going for it?

BlackAdder fan by any chance?

Hi Alison! Welcome to SGL😊 I’m brand new myself and have only joined a few days ago. Plenty of knowledge on here...enjoy!

Thank you rwilkey! I’ll give it a go beforehand and see. I think a lot of my initial viewing will be Lunar as it’s the obvious attraction for newbies to learn their scope a bit. Interesting about the ND filters and I’ll bear that in mind if I find I do need one.

Hi Xsubmariner and thank you! I m not a member of any club yet, but was thinking the same thing. Seems like there’s one near me in Welwyn Garden City.

Thanks sloz1664! Hi Neil H, just typical isn’t it! You’re right though, there’s much to be learnt from books when clear sky is shy. Cheers for the heads up the course, I’ll take a look.👀

Hi Mick, thanks very much. I think I’ve been to Ivanhoe Beacon if it’s near Dunstable Downs? I also fly dual line sport kites as another hobby and I’m often on the Downs. Sounds like flying in the afternoon and then pulling out my scope when it gets dark might be the way forward! Hi Sunshine, thanks for the welcome and I certainly will. How “warm” is your welcome really though coming from Canada! ❄️⛄️

Thank you very much Des. I’ve been made to feel very welcome here, so thank you very much. 😊