Ditchers Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hi all,I've been interested in Astronomy for a while now and have been floating around the boards for a bit and thought I'd join you fine bunch.I am an avid watcher of all astro tv shows and am a regular visitor to the Hurstmonceux Observatory on their open nights (well recommended). I did buy a Meade LS8 telescope just over a year ago but as time has gone on I have found it to be a bit too easy (almost like cheating) and onerous when setting it up with power tank etc (although the scope was simplicity itself - flick one switch and away you go). After chatting to some amateur astronomers at the observatory I have now ordered a skywatcher 200P Dobsonian and as scopes are in short supply was able to sell the Meade for almost what I paid for it - result!Hopefully my scope will be delivered tomorrow (fantastic service, thanks FLO )I will no doubt have lots of questions as I have switched to the traditional method of observing. I have also invested in 'Turn Left At Orion' to assist me as I'm no longer part of the GOTO club Clear skies everyone!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheresthetorch? Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome! I've yet to get to an observing evening at Herstmonceux as the last one was clouded out. Hope to get there soon as I've been there by day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight 1 Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hi & Welcome to SGL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchers Posted April 25, 2012 Author Share Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome! I've yet to get to an observing evening at Herstmonceux as the last one was clouded out. Hope to get there soon as I've been there by day.It's well worth it, we went a couple of weeks ago to their Saturn event and saw some great stuff: Saturn, ISS, Mars, Venus, Globular cluster and a Binary star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sologuitarist61 Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome to the Lounger Ditchers, hope you enjoy your new scope when it arrives. Used to live not too far from Herstmonceux and have visited many times back in the days when it was still operational - a great place:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflowers Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome to the forums Ditchers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hello Ditchers and welcome to SGL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naemeth Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome to the forums, great choice of scope too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telesto Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hi and welcome to sgl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSuppalot Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hi Ditchers and welcome to SGL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesM Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hi Ditchers and welcome to the forum. It does pay to get decent kit from the start because as you upgrade, or in your case change direction, good kit will always demand good prices. Congratulations on the ordering the new which is the U.K's most popular scope and for good reason. As you are going 'manual' I thought you might like to take a look at 'Stellarium' here as it is free, easy to use with plenty of features to keep you going when the clouds come in. Can be configured to your precise viewing location and has a nice advance date/time feature to help you find objects and plan future observing sessions.Wishing you clear weather for the scope's arrival!James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker1947 Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome to the SGL, Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchers Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 As you are going 'manual' I thought you might like to take a look at 'Stellarium' here as it is free, easy to use with plenty of features to keep you going when the clouds come in. Can be configured to your precise viewing location and has a nice advance date/time feature to help you find objects and plan future observing sessions.Thanks for the tip James, I have heard of Stellarium and after your recommendation will definitely give it a bash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charon Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michigander Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Welcome to SGL, Ditchers!Dana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd8137 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hi and welcome sounds like your up and running Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheresthetorch? Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 It's well worth it, we went a couple of weeks ago to their Saturn event and saw some great stuff: Saturn, ISS, Mars, Venus, Globular cluster and a Binary star.Ah - I think that's the one I didn't go to as it was cloudy in West Sussex. Doh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hi Ditchers and welcome to SGL John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawksmoor Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hi Ditchers and welcome to SGL. Hope you enjoy your new scope. Good choice of book. I bought a copy of "TLatO" only recently, I should have purchased one a couple of years ago. Great advice nicely packaged for observing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hello Ditchers and welcome to SGL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergeek Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hi there and welcome to SGL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satcomsta Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Hi and welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celtic Deacon Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Hi Ditchers, welcome to SGL and growing band of 200p dob users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Hi and welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchers Posted April 27, 2012 Author Share Posted April 27, 2012 Ah - I think that's the one I didn't go to as it was cloudy in West Sussex. Doh!! Well, it was a bit touch and go on the night as it started raining - which normally means end of play.We were just about to call it a night when the clouds parted til it closed, most people had already left by then so the queues for the scopes were a lot smaller - result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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