First Light - Nexstar 130 SLT

[Duns]

Having been waiting about 5 weeks to open my Christmas present - Christmas Day at last:D The scope was pretty well packed and very easy to assemble so no problems in that department. As I overlook Luce Bay on the Mull Of Galloway there was a nice bright yellow marker buoy far out on the Bay which I used to align the red dot finder. Now ready to go - not hopeful that I would get to use the scope as there was a lot of cloud about. Checked at 7.00pm cloudy - 8.00 pm CLEAR as a bell. The scope was out in a flash. As I wasn't sure how long the sky would remain clear I didn't bother setting up the GOTO - just wanted to try the scope. Orion was sitting perfectly and as there is plenty to see there thats where I started. sing the supplied 25mm EP I focussed on Betelgeuse - fairly sharp image and clearly red! Rigel next RDF working well. On to M42 - now being new to this I wasn't sure that what I was looking at was M42 or my bad focussing however after a while I convinced myself it was M42 - there was visible 3 bright stars in the middle of the wispy fuzzy area. The more I looked the better the image got.

Pleiades (M45) next - overwhelming number of stars visible - I want to have another go at this one as I'm not sure I was properly centred. Then disaster - the clouds flew in:mad: Well impressed with the scope - not so impressed with my proficiency - practice makes perfect however. Next time out I will prepare my observation schedule so that my approach is more systematic - and using the available time of clear sky more efficiently. Chance of clear skies tonight - can't wait:D Apologies for the War and Peace type post

[brantuk]

The three bright stars you saw in the hole in the whispy cloud would be four stars for M42. It's the "trapzium stars" and they're very distinct if your on focus - nice first light report

[Astro Imp]

Well done, that first look through your very own scope is something you never forget.

Hope for more clear skies, good luck.

[faulksy]

nice report. next time you use it try and let the scope cool out side for an hour or more get better views then

[Duns]

Thanks for the advice Faulksy - I thought 10 mins was enough cool-down time for a reflector - got that one wrong then lol. Will pop it outside in good time tonight if it looks like clear skies.

[mdstuart]

Point your scope at Jupiter..the really bright object overhead and see if you can pick up the moons either side of the disk and the bands of cloud on the surface!

Mark