jed Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 hi all stargazersMy name is Jed, i live in st austell, cornwall and as of posting i am a newbie. i have just bought my first real telescope a meade etx 105 thanks to steve who by looking at this forum i assume you all know(thanks again steve proper job) i've had my scope for 2 nights now both of which were so foggy i was lucky to find outside let alone anywhere else :? so instead i've been looking thru the site which is fantastic with some superb pictures, well done to all involved. i do have a couple of questions as a newbie, i hope this is the right place to ask otherwise i'll post the questions elewhere. first being about the alt/az home postioning for the autostar, the alt i get is horizontal tube 90degs according to the dial on the fork arm but az is a bit vague as it says fully counter clockwise and then back so the fork arm is over the computer controls, can anyone tell me what numerical reading should be on what i presume is the right assention dial ?? also the tripod has a bar for setting my latitude which i've set to about 50degs tilt but does my autostar know that?? lastly does anyone know of any gatherings in this neck of the woods??thanks to anyone in advance who takes the time to reply and happy new year to alllooking forward to my educationjed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Hi Jed and welcome to Stargazers.I wil leave the answer to your question to those more qualified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Welcome Jed - Cornwall! Just down the road - I may try and organise something for the South West later in the year. Keep an eye out in the calander section for meets and Star Party's.There's a Keilder star party coming up if your interested - a smashing bunch of blokes went on the Welsh Star Party in December. Weather was rubbish but the company - superb. enjoy the forun and we look forward to your posts.GregPS Follow this link for your ETX, helped me no end when I started.http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLO Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi Jed,Good to see you found us A quick response to your question:For the time being, ignore completely the dials on the ETX. It is enough to simply rotate the tube fully anticlockwise until it stops then back about a quarter turn (from memory) until the left fork arm is over the panel. Then, lift the tripod and place it so the tube points North (if you can see Polaris, point it at that) then level the tube. The more accurately you point North and level the tube, the better. There is no need to set the tripod bar to 50 degrees; only polar align the scope when imaging. You are bound to have other questions and this is a great place to post them (Just to keep things tidy, it is best to post questions in the Equipment Discussion section ). And of course, please don't hesitate to contact me at work for advice Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Welcome JedGlad you are enjoying the site As for the weather, I'm afraid its the law. New Kit = Bad Weather. It happens to everyone I'm afraid!!!Look forward to hearing your first light report, and feel free to ask any questions you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petermartin5 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi Jed, I live in Penzance. I dont know if you are aware of the West Cornwall Astronomical Society.They meet in Camborne and Falmouth, one meeting each place a month. Some distance from you I know, just thought I would let you know about it.Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunator Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi JedWelcome to the forum. Great buch of guys here.CheersIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulberry Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi Jedwelcome to the site -- i'm new to this myself. I was particulalry interested in reading your messages as I also have a 105. I've had a bit of trouble with mine but I think this is most likely due to the autostar than the scope itself. What I have seen though it has been amazing and you should get a lot more out of yours as I imagine you have far less light pollution down there (I often camp in Mullion in the summer). do let me know how you get on!! I remember how exciting it was getting it out of the box for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jed Posted January 6, 2006 Author Share Posted January 6, 2006 Thanks for the warm welcome and good advice, the link was particularly usefull cheers phattire shame I cant put my new found knowledge to use yet v cloudy but its been out today though, (cant keep my hands off it)does "The end of my hallway" count as first light??? well fingers crossed for tonighthappy gazing and thanks againJed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Your welcome Jed,Steve's round my place at the moment with an exotic scope waiting for the cloud cover to clear I was lucky last night - from midnight it cleared and I managed some excellent views, so we may be lucky.Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLO Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 I was lucky last night - from midnight it cleared and I managed some excellent views, so we may be lucky.We weren't lucky Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazOC Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 What scope were you trying out Steve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLO Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 An 8" Klevzov-Cassegrain ... more unusual than exotic:http://tinyurl.com/b53d3Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Warthog Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Welcome aboard, Jed! I don't know much, but that doesn't stop me from involving myself in the discussions. You'll have a great time here. Next time I'm in England, I'll have to go to Cornwall. I've never been, and I know all the words to "Pirates of Penzance." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulberry Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hi JedA rather belated welcome to the forum -- i've only just seen your posting. I'd be particularly interested in talking to you some more since we have the same scope. I'm in Liverpool (although spend a lot of time in your part of the world) where we have pretty badly light polluted skies. Without car at the moment, I can't leave my garden, or my neighbour's security light!) but have had some great views nonetheless. I'd be interested in comparing them. What do you find particularly rewarding to view through the scope? Have you bought any extra eyepieces or other kit yet? I look forward very much to hearing from you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_smith Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 hi welcome to the forum Jed great bunch of guys here mark_smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom.yates Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Welcome to the forum enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radioactive Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Jed welcome aboard you have chosen well this is one of the best astro forums online ps no I don't own it aint got enuff posts in LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jed Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hiya and thanks guysyeah mullberry I've had a couple of nights out now to try and set it up prop think I've got it sussed now, after initial alignment last night my first goto was saturn (as will always be the case i think she's beautiful) and with a beep there she was front and center, unfortunately i invited the mother in law out to have a look and she promptly kicked the north leg of my tripod and so knocked it out by about fifteen mins :nono:but it was alright, hearing her kick the bottom step going back in made up for it, clumsy cow. I've just got a barlow for it as well so saturn looks 2xs as good, the moon when it was up was cool but with no filters yet it was v bright and hurt my eyes after too much gawping, i only have the 26mm a barlow and a second hand 10mm at the min but got my eye out for a 4/6mm and maybe something like a 40mm? mars at the min just looks like a fuzzy red spot, the great orion neb is a fav as well, not been able to get up for Jupiter yet as i got some work on but hoping maybe sunday if it clears up (the weather not the work). i must learn to research my evenings before i go out because theres nothing worse than having the scope slew thru 180 degrees to point out the Andromeda galaxy (fuzzy speck ) to slewing back another 180 for the ghost of Jupiter (neighbours shed ) back and forth like Wimbledon, only in the dark oh yes and I've got to get a mains pack for it too.did my first proper recordings last night with a sketch of saturn and what I'm hoping are moons?really enjoying it so far and can even put up with the numb fingerswould like to hear the things you view with yours and with what eps as I'm struggling a bit with the best magnification to view different things? :insects1:clear skies to allJed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLO Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hi Jed, Good to hear that you are enjoying the scope. The 32mm is about the longest focal length that can be successfully used on an ETX105 (before the Mak's central obstruction becomes obtrusive). The 12.4 mm (119x) is also a particularly good match and can be barlowed to give 238x. http://tinyurl.com/hfdul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 2 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hi Jed, welcome to the forum.I'm a newbe too and this is a great place for us to learn, everyone one is very keen to help, all have a good sense of humour and its good to hear from someone else who lives in the southwest.Martin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaelicstorm7 Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hello Jed, welcome aboardAlan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom.yates Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Welcome to stargazers good bunch lots of knowledge and advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CELESCOPE Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 welcome to the forum Jed nice to have you on board , i,m an old cornishman , been away a long time now though , from Launceston ,or LANSON as we say, plenty of advice on here if you need it , enjoy the stay here , Rog AKA CELESCOPE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Welcome from the opposite end of the UK to the SGL Jed.nabban Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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