1st telescope bought yesterday!

[CelestialHaz]

Well my lifelong ambition to own a telescope finally came true yesterday.

After consideration I decided to go to the used market to purchase it. Being my first telescope I thought I would buy second hand and then see where it takes me.

I got a Celestron C8 with a Vixen GP mount and wooden tripod (Ibelieve this is how they came many years ago) with a 2" crayford, 25mm, 17mm (plossl) and 10mm eye pieces, a 2" crayford and a T adaptor.

The chap I bought it from Paul was a fantastic guy who spent almost 2 hours going through everything and showed me his other telescope. He was extremely knowledgable and very polite.

I can't wait to get really stuck in. Just hope the clouds will thin out over the coming days and weeks. I'm just going to start observing for now

Any thoughts and advice will be welcome

[spaceboy]

Congratulations on your new scope. You may want to add a dew shield so as not to have your observation session cut short.

Look forward to your first light report.

SPACEBOY

[RogerTheDodger]

Congratulations - now watch the clouds roll in

[mdstuart]

Fabulous scope...You will really enjoy that set up...

Try it on the globular M15 rising in the SE and then look for the comet Gerrard up and to the right....

http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/comets/2009_P1.pdf

Enjoy

Mark

Mark

[JamesM]

Congratulations on your new scope and now the heavens await! Would also second the idea of a dew shield which you can make out of a piece of camping mat/tape.

James

[andrew63]

Thats a cracking setup - so many people jump on the electronic goto wagon but you have a classic telescope and classic mount - all you need is clear skies!

andrew

[twotter]

Sounds a great setup - fingers crossed for some clear skies to enjoy it

[space3]

good luck with your scope, clear skies

[todd8137]

great purchase hope the skies clear for you

all the best

[lw24]

Nice buy! Welcome to the Lounge

[CelestialHaz]

Thank you all for the comments and advice, I can't wait to start but looks like clouds again tonight

I did consider the whole computerized setup especially with me working in IT but thought against it as it'll be more fun the manual way.

The dew shield is definitely something i'll sort get.

One question, the wooden tripod certainly does give it the classic look but with the ota being black should I paint the wood black or leave it as is?

[swamp thing]

One question, the wooden tripod certainly does give it the classic look but with the ota being black should I paint the wood black or leave it as is?

Paint it???

Definitely not.

[EssexMigrant]

Hi Tal,

I agree wholeheartedly with all the comments; a terrific set-up, far better than many start with. I also agree with swampthing; do not at any cost paint it black!!

Max

[Altair]

Many congratulations on the ownership of your new scope. I think you are going to enjoy this! Maybe a telrad could be useful.. and definately the dew shield. I forgot to put mine on tonight and had to get the hairdryer out! Through an 8inch M13 looks fantastic!

[rwilkey]

Congratulations, Celestron make a custom dew shield for the C8, I bought one for my 200P and fits perfectly, I bought mine off UK Astronomy Buy & Sell for £20

[JoLo]

Good show! I started manual and upgraded when the imaging bug took hold...no substitute for learning the sky and mastering the star-hop. Where this will take you is limited only by your imagination....OK, that and your pocketbook. If you are like me, you just started a love affair that will last a lifetime...cheers!

[Sam]

Well done on getting your new telescope! I hope you get plenty of clear nights to use it.