Astronomy...Where am i now?

[GazofCorra]

Having came into astronomy and asking the beginners most popular question "which scope should i buy" i am now over 6 months into the hobby and love it to bits, what makes it more enjoyable is the knowledge you gain from all the questions and the reading etc....As this is what will keep you interested in the hobby and leave you wanting more and more.

I initially rushed in and tried to buy everything i could only later to realise that i should have waited and matched my gear to my chosen path in Astronomy (which only becomes clear once you have field experience) and that way i could have bought better equipment aimed at what i like.

Everyone has different opinions and what you need to do is filter what people tell you, it's like when you buy a car it is no point asking people how it drives or how comfy it is, you need to try it yourself as it may not suit everyone.

What i would recommend is a few books and a starter scope that will get you on the right track and later you can sell it and branch into your chosen field.

Scope: Skywatcher Skymax 127 SupaTrak with a Rigel quickfinder - Cheap scope and tripod at around £300 that does most things adequately and should you get hooked on DSO's then you can sell it 3 or 4 months later for around £200+ and buy a 8" or bigger reflector, but for lunar and planetary the 127 skymax is superb plus it is so portable.

Books:

1. The practical Astronomer by DK

2. Turn left at orion (new edition due out soon)

3. Philips Stargazing 2011

4. Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas

5. A planishere

These books are what i recommend for a beginner but they will be useful throughout the hobby and later you can move onto more specialised books dependant on what floats your boat.

Software: Stellarium has to be the most user friendly software for a beginner and later on when you want to do more this software can control your telescope also.

Finally get outside on any clear night and use your eyes and possibly a pair of 10x50 binoculars along with your planishere and learn what is what (i consider this possibly the most important part of my Astronomy).

I have tried write this post with no bias towards any scope or other equipment and just to guide anyone coming into Astronomy as this setup will suit 90% of people if not more and the main thing is enjoy!

[brantuk]

"when you buy a car it is no point asking people how it drives or how comfy it is, you need to try it yourself as it may not suit everyone"

Very good analogy - that's just what it's like. I first wanted one scope that would cover all situations - very soon learned that such a beast doesn't exist - I now have three scopes - one for each purpose. Some good points raised there

[Kevdan]

The one thing I would tell anyone after being hooked now for 6 months is to try and get over that "kid in a sweet shop" feeling everytime you open a catalog or look at ebay. Patience is a must in this hobby (the wether will teach you this, damn clouds).

I agree entirely on getting a scope to start with thats not overly expensive as the hobby may not be for everyone and the scope can be sold on without too much loss in pocket.

Kev.

[GazofCorra]

Like brant i too have 3 scopes, but i am soon going to sell my Dob and some other bits of equipment i have to help fund my next purchase as i want a HEQ5 SynTrek and a Explorer 200PDS

[PRG]

Yes good advice.

I got my Skywatcher Skymax 127 SupaTrak back in the spring, knowing that I might want to upgrade it or get more scopes in time. I didn't want to get everything at once, but rather wait and see. I thought I might wait a year and see how much I actually used it, whether I would get bored in time and so on. Well now, after 6 months or so, I'm wondering if a year is too long to wait? I could get a nice dob for the Autumn, or Christmas. I don't think I'd sell the SW127, it seems like a lot of people on here have this scope, and keep it, just adding other scopes to their list.

And yes, just going outside on a clear night and looking up is great, with a pair of bins or not, just learning the night sky.