wastedyears1981

Can I have an option 3........ Clear Skies.....!!!!!

2 hours ago, Tiny Clanger said:

The download version of stellarium is brilliant ( I always appreciate a .org free bit of well thought out software developed by enthusiasts ) , it is possible to take a 360 degree panorama of your back garden ( and/or any number of other locations you frequently view from) and add it to the list of landscapes available . Bit of a fiddle to photoshop your sky transparent and to get the compass points/horizon height a close match to reality, but I've found it very handy, I can see when Jupiter will be vanishing from my view as it hides behind my shed, what time the Orion Nebula plays hide & seek behind a neighbour's tree, etc etc. 

There's also the stellarium 'ocular view' plugin, where you can set your own telescope's parameters (including that it flips the image, an important detail !), and those of your eyepieces. Then you can select an object ( It worked for me to see Uranus with the heritage 150 for instance ) , choose ocular view, select your scope/EP combo, and stellarium shows you what you will see in the EP. I find it of particular use when there is a faint thing like Uranus or a M object, with an array of faint stars nearby: just get to the right part of the sky, scan  around a bit with a low power EP, recognize the pattern from ocular view and you know exactly what you are looking at. Naturally the plugin works in red mode too.

Heather

Ive been playing around with the ocular view and trying different eyepieces etc but not been able to get out to see how it matches to the parameters on the scope.

How accurate the parameters against 'real-life' (obviously light pollution and weather permitting) ?

1 hour ago, toshapetriji said:

You could download sky safari onto your phone/ipad, I find the 'tonights best' feature really useful to plan my viewing during the day.

I'll give that a try. Ive got Night Sky app at the moment as it links in with my Apple Watch too which is a handy little feature. For laptop software Ive been playing around with Stellarium and KStars. KStars is OK for me, but I think would be too clunky and complicated for my step son. Stellarium seems a good piece of software with a nice Red mode function to make sure you don't blast away your night vision.

9 hours ago, Andy350 said:

Thanks for the recommendations. Regarding the Skywatcher Heritage 150P, are there designed to be used on a table, as it doesn't have a stand? 

It does need a flat surface but nothing a sturdy foldable camping table wouldn't sort. I like that its lower down meaning you can look at objects whilst sat down in a comfy chair. 

Hi @Andy350,

We have just got the Skywatcher Heritage 150P Dobsonian as a Xmas present and its a very well made piece of kit. The flex tube enables it retract saving storage space and making transport a little easier. The base is nice and strong with some good weight to it and doesn't feel flimsy. 

However, UK being the UK, the weather hasn't given us opportunity to use it in anger. Everyone I have spoken to have all spoken good things about this scope including some of the YouTube reviews.

Thanks for the feedback peeps.

Its a welcome relief to find people so warm and friendly in this forum. In my day job Im a network specialist and programmer, and the forums within that world are brutal and not so welcoming. Thanks for the maps @John, will definitely be using those on our first outing. He's getting used to some of the main constellations such as Orion and Ursa Major, knows how to find Polaris using UM.

@Tiny Clanger Ive invested in a good Thermos flask and fingerless gloves are next on this list. As for snacks......looks like turkey and stuffing sandwiches for the next 3 months. Orion Nebula will not likely be the first thing we look for after giving the Moon and any planets a good perusing. I know from previous experience all those years ago I used to struggle with mars, but I poor equipment and no patience back then.

Hello everyone from Rotherham, S.Yorks,

Getting back into astronomy after many years out of it, mainly due to available time etc. But since my step son has acquired himself a nice  150mm dob I think its time to get back into it. Hopefully, I can blow the cobwebs off and I am not a complete noob at it. One of the benefits of getting back into it the the access to forums such as this, YouTube and other websites. Back when I was stargazing, the internet had barely even taken off and I had to rely on books and hope I was getting it right.

Excited to get out and explore with him, we live pretty accessible to the Peak District and a bit of a further drive to the north York moors, so finding dark places is going to be pretty easy. Lets just hope the weather gods will be on our side in the next few days.

Hi all,

First I would like to say hello you to you all. I've been many years out of astronomy. Had a refractor and a newtonian many moons ago (no pun intended) and my step son has just got his first telescope. A Skywatcher Heritage 150p with 10mm and 25mm EP's (eventually will upgrade after he has had a bit of practice). I think I maybe be more excited over his Christmas present more than he is lol.

All he has seen is pictures of nebula, galaxies and planets in all the books he has, and I don't want him to be underwhelmed on the first night out with it. Has anyone got any tips or ideas on the first night. I know the moon and the gas giants are a first goto, but I would like him to see some of the DSO's. We'll be travelling to some pretty dark areas well away from any light pollution. Luckily we don't live too far away from the Peak District and North York moors so finding dark places is pretty easy.

Thanks in advance.