My first telescope outing

[skfboiler]

I bought my first scope, a six inch reflector, in March of this year. Last week was the first week we had clear skies. I pointed the scope towards Saturn and there it was. I started out with 30x. Then I went to 75x and then to 150x with the help of my 2x Barlow. I believe I saw 3 moons as well. What I did not expect is how fast the object moves out of the FOV. By the time I switched 75x to 150x, Saturn was out of the FOV. Good thing for my equatorial mount I was able to get Saturn back with just a few turns of the RA knob. Since it moves so fast I could not a good amount of time spend time studying Saturn. I still enjoyed what I saw.

[Parus major]

Saturn was my first target when I got my 6", awesome sight. Good news is that your zenlike skills of turnung the RA knob to keep up improve greatly with very little practice.

Good that you had a good first outing, it only gets better from here on.

[Adamski]

Well done with saturn, it's the equivalent of a bacon sandwich to a vegetarian for astronomers just starting out. Seems to be everyones first sight. I saw it through a small frac 23 years ago and thought WOW.

[FairviewSteve]

Great work on the sighting! My usual trick is to grab the RA knob and turn it the wrong way...D'oh.

[PRICEMAN]

Well done. That was my first object to. Always keep going back to it.

Leigh

[skfboiler]

Another thing that I did not realize is how sensitve the scope is to vibration. After touching the scope to adjust the RA knob or change lenses, I have to wait to let the scope vibrtion settle or the viewing object will shake.

[brantuk]

Saturn was my first scope object too - tiny in the eyepiece but still the most fascinating and beautiful thing to look at. First time is such a thrill for most - well done

[Astro Imp]

Well done on viewing Saturn, great to have that for your first viewing.

My usual trick is to grab the RA knob and turn it the wrong way...D'oh.

Join the club

[Parus major]

I used to do that! Made worse since my dec had a wobble before I worked out how to tune it out, I'd have to go back and go either over it or under it and hqve a good swear.

[slimfb]

hopefuly saturn for us too, but is it getting a 'wrong' time of year ?

[bish]

Not the first but one of the first things I saw. It was through a 50mm cheapy scope at x30 and just looked like a small rugby ball but I still thought it was great. That was in 1984 and I still remember the night very clearly. When I renewed my observing with a 6" scope I was blown away.

[Telrad]

I always start an observing session by visiting Saturn. It never ceases to amaze me. I remember thinking how quickly Saturn moved also, that's why I use tracking.

Good luck ATB