Rekindling an interest in astronomy.

[Staffs Oatcake]

Hi all,

I've always had an interest in astronomy and was lucky enough to be a small child during the Apollo moon missions. Due to some of my interests I'm lucky enough to spend time out under star filled skies away from the light pollution. I would observe the sky with a pair of binoculars or my DSLR to enhance the view, but never really got serious about astronomy, until my wife bought me a telescope kit for my birthday a couple of years ago.

The kit gave reasonable results, but nothing I could say was inspiring. Part of the problem was that I couldn't polar align the equatorial mount properly, due to inexperience and the collimation wasn't adjusted correctly.

Earlier this year we were unlucky enough to suffer a small house fire, although it did minimal damage to the house, my telescope was damaged. Damaged enough to warrant a replacement. So by adding a bit of extra money I'm now the proud owner of a Orion Optics VX8 (with a1/10 mirror upgrade) on an EQ5 mount. I've also added the Synscan goto kit, a Christmas present to myself. The weak link is the eye pieces from the old scope, but I intend to address this issue once I've trawled the forum for advice.

[PeterCPC]

Hello and welcome. Nice scope.

Peter

[xtreemchaos]

hi mate and welcome from charl in south wales.

[ronin]

If/when you decide to ask about eyepieces specify a budget per eyepiece.

Otherwise you will get anything from plossl's at £25 up to Ethos at £450.

Locate a club is a fair idea: http://www.astronomyclubs.co.uk/

If you are someone that enjoys a club.

[badger111]

Welcome to SGL from Maldon, Essex.

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi and welcome, sorry to hear about the fire but if the scope was the only casualty it could have been worse.

[dweller25]

Hello and welcome to SGL, I have the same scope and it's very good, it will give many years of great service - when the clouds clear that is........

[seo]

Hi and welcome aboard.

[JamesM]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Clear skies

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL.

[Mr Spock]

Hi, welcome to SGL Nice scope you have - deserves top quality eyepieces.

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire  ​ 

[michigander]

Welcome to SGL, Staffs Oatcake!

Dana

[estwing]

welcome along from just down the road duck!...where abouts are you? there's a few on here from s-o-t area...

[Martin Meredith]

Welcome from a Stokie in exile. Just looking at your username makes me miss the old place….

Martin

[Phil-lost!]

Hi and welcome.

[Staffs Oatcake]

welcome along from just down the road duck!...where abouts are you? there's a few on here from s-o-t area...

I live on Norton Heights. Not a bad view of the skies from my small garden in the North and east. Very limited light pollution. But turn south I look right across the city. And I've got Bob hope of a westerly view. There's a 3 storey house in the way.

[estwing]

anywhere around leek is going to be a great improvement for visual

[Staffs Oatcake]

I'm originally from Leek. Lol. I have a few friends who live in the Staffs Moorlands. Once I competent at setting up the scope I may just go and crash their gardens.

[glowjet]

Hi and welcome to SGL, enjoy your new scope and the forum

[swag72]

Hi and welcome to SGL - Glad to have you on board and hope that you enjoy your time here.

Look forward to seeing you around

[Staffs Oatcake]

Hi and welcome to SGL, enjoy your new scope and the forum

I'm already finding it useful. Learnt so much in such a short time. Just need some clear skies

[Charon]

Welcome to the forum.

[Vox45]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Clear skies !