Cody Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hi from Northumberland UK everyoneJust got a Skywatcher SkyHawk 1145P off the wife for my birthday last month.....finally arrived 4 weeks late about 5 days ago. I am a complete novice, but have set it up and just been out in the back yard looking at some stars and stuff. Really looking forward to some proper clear sky so that I can have a go at spotting some really cool stuff.....especially Saturn!!I have a couple of questions if that's OK?I was looking at a bright star in the west just after sun down.....I presume this is Venus??Also I noticed when playing around with the eye pieces that using the 25mm, even with the Barlow, manual focussing was OK, however when I used the 10mm on its own and with the Barlow, focussing was a nightmare......lots of wobbling around as I was turning the knob. So, I thought there must be some kind of electronic focusing motor available for my scope that I can just attach.....anyway, after much searching Online I am still none the wiser. So, any advice as to if they are available, and if so, which is the best one to get (value for money)!!Not sure about buying all the motorized gubbins for the mount yet as I quite fancy having a go manually using co-ords (or whatever they are called) as that to me is half the thrill.....Lets face it, anyone can plug in a computer and tell it to point at something pre-programmed eh!Anyway, any advice on some nice things to look at would be good.Cheers,Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telrad Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hi Dave, welcome to the forum. You have a nice scope. I would say have a go at The skies are too light for appreciating galaxies and nebulas fully, but M81 M82 and M13 are all good targets for this time. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multi-Coated Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hi & Welcome.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Dob Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Welcome dood. Jupiter will be nice and visible in a few weeks/months, and that will be a most impressive target. Got stellarium on you computer yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 Yes, got stellarium.....WOW its good....and I now feel like a plug as searching for Venus using it, clearly that bright star I was looking at wasnt..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Dob Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Funnily enough, I had exact the opposite when I was starting out. Saw a *really* bright star, and just pointed my telescope towards it for the hell of it. I immediately saw a crescent and thought "blimey,I am looking at Venus." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 This Stellarium is great....I could sit and play on it all night, even though the clouds are out....ha ha ha.Just a quick one though. I am setting up my scope and eye pieces. When setting the eyepieces SW Super 10mm and 25mm I have used an FOV of 52. With the x2 Barlow, does this make the focal lengths 5mm and 12.5mm with an FOV of 25, or does the FOV stay the same?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stolenfeather Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Welcome Cody! I believe that Venus is still a "morning star" right now so you'll have to wait a little to see it in the evening. Congratulations on your new scope and welcome to the forum!Isabelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david o Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi there Dave, welcome to SGL This sticky should help a bit : Understanding and choosing EPs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Welcome Dave, Maybe check out some double stars?http://stargazerslounge.com/observing-imaging-double-variable-stars/118254-useful-double-star-links-websites.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi and welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twotter Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hello Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi Dave, and welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi Dave and welcome to SGL John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Welcome from Brisbane.JohnH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesM Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi and welcome to the forumClear skiesJames Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si W Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi Dave, welcome to SGL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd8137 Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 hi and welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Imp Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi Dave,Welcome to SGL.If your bright "star" wasn't Saturn could well have been Regulus - alpha Leonis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hello Dave and welcome to SGL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Senior Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi Dave, welcome to the Lounge.Looks like you are off to a cracking start, I hope you get some clear skies. I don't know if you have a star atlas to use at the scope, but if not, have a look at this, reasonable price and very useful.Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas: Amazon.co.uk: Roger W. Sinnott: Books Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Presland Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 hi welcome to sgl from bedfordshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaRob Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi and welcome! M13 is a good one to go for, and the double star Albireo in the constellation of Cygnus Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningMajor Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi and welcome from me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charon Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Welcome to SGL Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.