Top 5 tips

[Alastair Smith]

Morning all

What would members top 5 tips be for someone who is starting out in astronomy, and why?

[CraigT82]

I think the best piece of advice I would give to someone (who hasn't purchased a scope yet) is to seek out your local astro club, go along to a star party or observing session near you and have a look through the various scopes there.  This would give you and idea of what you can expect to see through an amateur telescope (so many people are disappointed that the views aren't hubble'esque) and it will also give you an early indication of what you like to look at most, be it lunar/planets or the deep sky faint stuff.

This will allow you to make an informed decision on what scope to purchase.

As for the remaining 4 tips:

2) The mount is as important as the scope to your enjoyment of the hobby

3) Be patient at the eyepiece - the more you look the more you'll see

4) Invest in warm boots

5) Give up drinking/smoking/any other vices - you'll need to money for more kit.

 

 

[spaceman_spiff]

Good points in the post above.

I would add to keep things simple when starting out...learn the night sky and how to star hop (not too difficult to do but needs practise). Don't get carried away and buy a scope that is so big and complicated that you don't ever get it out. 

A small simple scope/bins that is actually used is magnitudes better than a fancy scope sitting in the garage! All this will probably be mentioned if you go to an astro club.

SS 

[Linda]

1 For choosing a telescope: have in mind what your priorities are: size of the telescope (transportation/storage), diameter (see most objects/most detail), image quality, future photography, price, weight. There are many types of telescopes and all have different characteristics and qualities.

2 Upgrade your scope with a good finder. That will cause less frustration. Buy a star atlas and a dim red light. Install Stellarium.

3 Go out and observe as often as you can. Don't believe the weather forecast too much. Sometimes it can suddenly be clear or clearish. If not clear enough for deep sky, then watch the moon or the planets.

4 Remember that darkness and night vision are important. Find a dark observing spot. Do the thing you can to keep your night vision.

[Vox45]

My advices would be:

(1) start with binoculars... less expensive than a scope and you can see a lot of stuff with binoculars (wide field) This will also be a good test to see if you have enough passion for astronomy to stay out in the cold for hours looking at faint objects

...and if astro is not what you thought it would be ... they can be use for non astro stuff.

(2) don't buy cheap from department stores, you'll end up disapointed by what you see because of the poor quality of the mount and eye piece

(3) buy second hand from people you can trust (this forum for exemple) you will end up upgrading your stuff anyway in the future so why buy new when you are not even sure that you will enjoy the hobby ? This way you can get a decent scope and mount for a good price and resell later without losing money if you change your mind.

(4) join an astro club, they sometime lend scopes so you can try different type and find the one that suits you... I, for one, can't stand newtonians...not that they are not good but I just don't get along well with them

Once you are past that:

Experience in the field is key. Some people dream about doing astronomy but change their minds when they find themselves standing in the mud in a dark field at 2am

(1) wear warm clothing (even in the summer ... night + humidity = cold!!)

(2) headlamp with red/white light ! keeps your hands free and you cannot lose it in the dark

(3) Go with a friend. Alone in the dark with expensive stuff can be a bit scary at times(4) plan ahead. A full moon rising 5 minutes after setting everything up can be quite disappointing to say the least

(5) no alcohol ... it does not warm you... quite the contrary

HTH!

[brantuk]

I pretty much agree with all the above. Best advice is - before buying any gear at all get out to your local astro soc observing sessions for a good half a dozen visits whilst researching all the types of scopes and mounts available. That way you will really learn what you are getting into and how much it's gonna cost and you can set your budget and expectations accordingly.

You may decide in the end to get a cheap scope for occasional use in the summer, that packs away in a small space for weeks at a time between uses. Or you may decide to go all out for a great rig and really get into the hobby on a reuglar basis. But without that initial research and talking to a lot of astronomers in the field you could end up wasting a lot of money. Though very rewarding, astronomy isn't quite the hobby beginners first think it is. Hth

[Putaendo Patrick]

1. Don't expect to see incredible coloured images like the photos in magazines! You won't.

2. Don't be fooled by promises of fantastic magnifications. Due to seeing conditions in the U.K., x200 is often the limit on a good night. In fact much less is often much better for many types of object.

3. Learn the sky. Consider buying binoculars to compliment your telescope. Get a book such as Turn Left at Orion.

4. Download the free planetarium program Stellarium on your computer, and maybe this or a similar program for a smart-phone or tablet.

5. Keep warm and have fun!

[LukeSkywatcher]

36 minutes ago, Putaendo Patrick said:

1. Don't expect to see incredible coloured images like the photos in magazines! You won't.

2. Don't be fooled by promises of fantastic magnifications. Due to seeing conditions in the U.K., x200 is often the limit on a good night. In fact much less is often much better for many types of object.

3. Learn the sky. Consider buying binoculars to compliment your telescope. Get a book such as Turn Left at Orion.

4. Download the free planetarium program Stellarium on your computer, and maybe this or a similar program for a smart-phone or tablet.

5. Keep warm and have fun!

Honestly the above comment saved me a lot of time because i dont have to type the same. I really cant agree more. I would like to add an amendment to #5............so:

5.1 Learn to have patience. Not only for the weeks/months on end of rubbish weather, but also when observing objects. The longer you observe them, the more skilled you become at picking out the finer detail. Not everything (in fact nothing) in observing is served up to you on a silver platter.

[Waldemar]

 

StarWalk and SkyView are very nice apps for smartphones and tablets to learn the night sky. The views change according your aiming to the sky so they will give you a very good idea of what to find where. Really great tools!  And cheap! No money will be lost there...

[chiltonstar]

....all the above, but emphasising keeping warm (double layers, hat, warm footwear), and having something warm and comfortable to sit on (I use a resin garden chair with a piece of shaped camping mat as a cover).

Chris

[todd8137]

1,learn the constellations  for a while with out a scope  

2 ,if you have a scope in mind get the next model up ie if you want a 8" reflector ? Go for the 10/12"  saves time and money 

3 eye pieces what one person will love ,others will hate 

4 ,astronomy  can be as cheap or as expensive  as any thing  ( expensive is not always better)

5 if it's not fun ,then it's not worth doing 

[saac]

Be patient, persevere, accept the challenges gracefully - the rewards are fantastic.

Jim

[hjw]

In my opinion the first point should be no matter what you do:

1. Enjoy it, have fun. Astronomy can be frustrating. So when you can keep the enjoyment level up you are a winner.

2. Be patient. Astronomy is a waiting game... for the clouds to go away, for the right constellations to appear, for the occasional special event like an eclipse etc. Don't let it ruin #1.

3. Understand what you want to do. Observing or astrophotography are the big ones. Are you more interested in the solar system (sun, moon, planets) or in deep space objects (nebulae and galaxies). The approach will be quite different.

4. Read a lot and ask a lot (this forum is GREAT). You will get a much better understanding of what is involved and what the limitations are.

5. Get on with it. No matter how much you read, it doesn't replace the real thing.

That's it. It is a great hobby with a bit of a learning curve which also means it will give you the feeling of achievement for some time to come

Clear skies and have fun!

HJ

[Tim]

I like that reply @hjw

My tips would be:

1. Get a telescope. But take advice first by asking questions about them on here.

2. Use the telescope. Along with a guide to what is visible in the sky at the moment. Try to work through a list of targets a few times. The idea is to get familiar and comfortable with the gear.

3. Learn to read the weather so that you dont miss the best nights. You are looking for nights with both good seeing, and good transparency, i.e. how steady the sky is, and how clear the sky is. Typically, frosty sharp nights offer the best views. But keep an eye out for clear patches. www.clearoutside.com

4. If you are starting out, observe  bright objects first. Planets, moon, globular clusters. As soon as you get a chance, observe Saturn, you wont forget that moment

5. Enjoy it. Accept that you are looking for very faint things in a vast sky. The thrill of the hunt is addictive. Try to understand what it is that you are looking at. By appreciating the nature of the objects, they become more impressive.

 

Tim

[Alan64]

Hello Alastair, and welcome,

The desire for a telescope is rooted in the desire to see for one's own self the "Medusa" above and surrounding the world on which we live out our daily lives; to see "her" closer and closer; ever clearer and brighter still.

Telescopes come in all shapes and sizes; of differing designs and types.  Some like to observe most everything in the sky, and with one telescope.  Others specialise in observing only one type of object after years of general observing: the Moon, only; the Sun, alone, during the day, and with a SAFE solar filter; double-stars and the splittings of same; galaxiae, nebulae, and other deep-sky denizens and vistas.

The smaller the telescope(but not that small) and its mount, the more likely and often it will be used, lest one remains in front of the telly instead.  Smaller kits are also more portable, for travelling to dark-sky sites, and when camping.

The larger the telescope and its mount, the brighter and more-resolved the objects will present themselves in the eyepiece.  With the larger instruments, one must weigh several factors; including the design, the handling and upkeep, among other variables.

Do you have a telescope, or a pair of binoculars, already?

I have a few telescopes, three refractors and two Newtonians, and designs that originated in the 17th century...

I've observed with all of them except for the largest one on the far right. 

Which one would you like?

Cheers,

Alan

[Alastair Smith]

On 14/02/2016 at 15:48, Alan64 said:

Hello Alastair, and welcome,

The desire for a telescope is rooted in the desire to see for one's own self the "Medusa" above and surrounding the world on which we live out our daily lives; to see "her" closer and closer; ever clearer and brighter still.

Telescopes come in all shapes and sizes; of differing designs and types.  Some like to observe most everything in the sky, and with one telescope.  Others specialise in observing only one type of object after years of general observing: the Moon, only; the Sun, alone, during the day, and with a SAFE solar filter; double-stars and the splittings of same; galaxiae, nebulae, and other deep-sky denizens and vistas.

The smaller the telescope(but not that small) and its mount, the more likely and often it will be used, lest one remains in front of the telly instead.  Smaller kits are also more portable, for travelling to dark-sky sites, and when camping.

The larger the telescope and its mount, the brighter and more-resolved the objects will present themselves in the eyepiece.  With the larger instruments, one must weigh several factors; including the design, the handling and upkeep, among other variables.

Do you have a telescope, or a pair of binoculars, already?

I have a few telescopes, three refractors and two Newtonians, and designs that originated in the 17th century...

I've observed with all of them except for the largest one on the far right. 

Which one would you like?

Cheers,

Alan

Hi Alan.

Yes I had a bit of luck, my daughters fiance gave me his Skywatcher 200p and Dob mount. I also have a pair of 10x50 binoculars.  My biggest problem so far is getting clear skies!! However I was able to get out a couple of times this week. Managed to get a few photos of the moon through the scope, which I am happy with.  Looking forward to more clear skies soon, although the forecast doesn't look too promising at the moment!

 

[Alan64]

Hi Alastair,

Congratulations!

A 200m f/6 will put on a great show, but only if it's collimated properly, and for best image quality.  If you stick with it, and want to get the most out of it...

http://www.astro-baby.com/collimation/astro%20babys%20collimation%20guide.htm

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

If the kit didn't come with a collimation-cap... http://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/rigel-aline-collimation-cap.html

Newtonians can be wonderful performers, and an 200m f/6 is quite versatile, when observing within the solar system and without into deep space.  They're also fun with which to tinker; to modify, adding observing accessories like a Telrad or other.  Some even go so far as flocking and blackening the interior of the optical tube, for improved contrast and blacker sky backgrounds surrounding any given object within the field-of-view.

Collimation is not the beast as it might seem.  I just experienced a crash-course on the procedure myself, and an enlightening one at that.  I feel much more comfortable with the process now.

Enjoy!

Alan

[Alastair Smith]

On 20/02/2016 at 07:37, Alan64 said:

Hi Alastair,

Congratulations!

A 200m f/6 will put on a great show, but only if it's collimated properly, and for best image quality.  If you stick with it, and want to get the most out of it...

http://www.astro-baby.com/collimation/astro%20babys%20collimation%20guide.htm

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

If the kit didn't come with a collimation-cap... http://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/rigel-aline-collimation-cap.html

Newtonians can be wonderful performers, and an 200m f/6 is quite versatile, when observing within the solar system and without into deep space.  They're also fun with which to tinker; to modify, adding observing accessories like a Telrad or other.  Some even go so far as flocking and blackening the interior of the optical tube, for improved contrast and blacker sky backgrounds surrounding any given object within the field-of-view.

Collimation is not the beast as it might seem.  I just experienced a crash-course on the procedure myself, and an enlightening one at that.  I feel much more comfortable with the process now.

Enjoy!

Alan

Hi Alan.

Thanks for both the encouragement and the links.  Was wondering about collimation.  As a non technical type, after reading the Skywatcher manual I left well alone!! Will have to pluck up the courage I think.  One other thing; what is a Telrad and what is it used for?  I have been looking for a book (again a non technical one), that tells me about  the various accessories/eyepieces etc., what they are and what that are used/useful for, and other useful but not generally included in normal astronomy books; and ideas?

Thanks again, Alastair

[PeterCPC]

It's a type of finderscope http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/telrad-finder-astronomy.html

Collimation is not so difficult if you are methodical.

Peter

[billyharris72]

Here's mine.

1) Be patient and spend time getting to know your way around the night sky. Where things are and what they are. Telling a computerised telescope to point at a succession of fuzzy blurred patches of no significance is likely to get boring very quickly. Take your time and learn - the stars aren't going away anytime soon.

2) Don't get hung up on kit; get the best you can reasonably afford and then get to work. The astronomy of Copernicus was carried out with the naked eye, that of Gallileo with a telescope that would be outclassed by the cheapest Vivitar you could pick up at the local Argos.

3) You need to use the kit! Go out and observe. An absolutely cloudless sky is nice; a cloudless dark sky is nicer, but you don't need either. Don't put off observing but work with what you have.

4) Record your observations. Doesn't have to be anything fancy - a notebook with what you observed and when will be fine to start with. Also note what you failed to observe and what you think the issues might have been.

5) Sketching helps. Don't worry if you're not an artist. So long as you can recognise what you've drawn it will be of use. The most useful sketch I've made was of the sky where I thought an object that I couldn't find ought to be. Comparing that to a star chart meant I got it next time.

[Alan64]

2 hours ago, Alastair Smith said:

Hi Alan.

Thanks for both the encouragement and the links.  Was wondering about collimation.  As a non technical type, after reading the Skywatcher manual I left well alone!! Will have to pluck up the courage I think.  One other thing; what is a Telrad and what is it used for?  I have been looking for a book (again a non technical one), that tells me about  the various accessories/eyepieces etc., what they are and what that are used/useful for, and other useful but not generally included in normal astronomy books; and ideas?

Thanks again, Alastair

Hi Alastair,

The Telrad is a non-magnifying finder, and may either complement the existing finderscope, or replace it.  It frames a larger portion of the sky, and for star-hopping to this object of interest and that...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/telrad-finder-astronomy.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=telrad+on+dobsonian&biw=1680&bih=916&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimvOCiyovLAhVBMj4KHQJ4C-kQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=telrad+dobsonian

Some prefer this one, too, and for smaller telescopes as well...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quikfinder-compact-reflex-sight.html

 

Why, the internet itself is a book...

http://www.chuckhawks.com/common_eyepiece_designs.htm

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/telescope-eyepiece-guide/

http://www.nightskyinfo.com/eyepieces/

http://www.telescope.com/Buying-Guides/Accessory-Guides/Choosing-Eyepieces/c/440/sc/443/p/99803.uts

With a non-motorised Dobson-mount, you'll probably want eyepieces with a wider field-of-view for your Newtonian.  Which eyepieces do you have, and what are their measurements?  These came with my 150mm f/5, and manufactured by the same company that produced your Newtonian: a 25mm and 10mm Plossl...

 

Cheers,

Alan

[Astro Imp]

I found when starting out this was a hobby with a very steep learning curve.

My tips, mostly aimed at newcomers to the hobby:-

1) Have a good play with your new gear in daylight, this way you can find how it all fits together and how it works in relative comfort. This includes getting the finder scope aligned.

3) Have an idea where at least a couple of the constellations viewable at the time are located. Use Stellarium or similar to help:- http://www.stellarium.org/

2) First time out pick one or two easy objects. Nothing kills the enthusiasm like being frustrated trying to find objects that might not even be visible with your kit under your skies. 

3) Dress in appropriate clothing for the time of year, it gets cold/very cold not moving about outside at night.

4) Be comfortable at the eyepiece. Many find sitting is best.

5) Enjoy yourself, this is a hobby and supposed to be fun. 

[Floater]

Good tips, Alan - though I might put your No. 5 at No. 1. 

[Alan64]

1. Stellarium: it's free and will be one of your best astronomy buddies.

2. Don't look upon the Moon as a hindrance when present, but rather as a viable target for you and your telescope.  If it's full, have a picnic underneath it instead, and in the manner of the Japanese.

3. Astronomy is not just a hobby.  It's as the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat; in other words: essential for life.

4. Acquire eyepieces of better quality one or two at a time; also a barlow of better quality, if desired.  Your eyes deserve better and will thank you for it.

5. Avoid Bird-Jones reflectors like the plague.

[Alastair Smith]

On 22/02/2016 at 14:55, Alan64 said:

Hi Alastair,

The Telrad is a non-magnifying finder, and may either complement the existing finderscope, or replace it.  It frames a larger portion of the sky, and for star-hopping to this object of interest and that...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/telrad-finder-astronomy.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=telrad+on+dobsonian&biw=1680&bih=916&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimvOCiyovLAhVBMj4KHQJ4C-kQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=telrad+dobsonian

Some prefer this one, too, and for smaller telescopes as well...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quikfinder-compact-reflex-sight.html

 

Why, the internet itself is a book...

http://www.chuckhawks.com/common_eyepiece_designs.htm

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/telescope-eyepiece-guide/

http://www.nightskyinfo.com/eyepieces/

http://www.telescope.com/Buying-Guides/Accessory-Guides/Choosing-Eyepieces/c/440/sc/443/p/99803.uts

With a non-motorised Dobson-mount, you'll probably want eyepieces with a wider field-of-view for your Newtonian.  Which eyepieces do you have, and what are their measurements?  These came with my 150mm f/5, and manufactured by the same company that produced your Newtonian: a 25mm and 10mm Plossl...

 

Cheers,

Alan

Hi Alan.

Yes I have he same lenses as those pictured.  I also have what is refered to on its box as a super wide angle 20mm.  Whilst it certainly gives a wider fiew of view, I still can't get grouos such as the pleiedes fully in the eyepicee.  This was going to be my next question; which eyepiece should I use for this sort of viewing.  The catalogs promise much, but often fall short of the mark.  I would rather go with others' views before making a purchase!  I also have a 2x barlow which helps with the moon view in detail.  As this is also an area of interest I am considering (when funds allow) a good lens for this kind of work.

Thanks for your help and advice

Alastair.