Hi from North Wales

[SNT]

Hi all

Despite a life long love with astronomy (and borderline obsession - you ought to have seen my wife's response when she learnt I'd done a part-time MSc in astrophysics just for the fun of it!), I've never actually been able to justify owning a telescope.

That has now changed, with my better half surprising me with one as a 50th birthday present, with the comment that our boys are now old enough (at 9 & 10) to spend evenings starting at the skies with their dad, and that they should use something other than just their eyes!

So I am now the proud owner of a Bresser 4" f/10 achromat on a EQ5 type mount, and despite lousy light pollution, weather and seeing since, we've have several enjoyable observing sessions, with M42 being a particular highlight so far.

Having now discovered this clearly friendly and knowledgeable community, I  have a number of questions to ask, about eyepieces, bags and good observing locations amongst other things, but I'll put those in more appropriate places.

Anyway, this has ended up far longer than I intended, so I'd better stop...

Shane

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi and welcome from another North Walian.

[Mr Spock]

Hi Shane, welcome to SGL

[EWHB]

Welcome to the forum

[Cozzy]

Hello Shane and welcome to SGL.

It's great you're making this a family thing.

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL. Ask away. That's what we are here for.

[Floater]

Welcome. You may have waited a long time for the scope, but better late than never! (And any necessary 'justification' is there before your eyes ... ?)

Hope you and your young 'uns have lots of great fun.

 

[wookie1965]

Welcome to SGL I think there is a map somewhere telling you where dark skies are but there are a few places around snowdonia as for eyepieces the slower Fracs (f10) I have been told are easy on eyepieces so plossls and orthoscopics would be fine. This is what I was told for my Tal 100rs. 

[davehawkins]

Welcome to SGL. There's always someone who knows the answer to your questions

[JamesM]

Hi Shane and welcome to the forum

Clear skies

[estwing]

welcome along...

[SNT]

Thanks for the warm welcome 

[Dave In Vermont]

And a Hello, Shane! Welcome to SGL - where we love finding answers to even the most esoteric questions in matters of astronomy, astrophysics, and relateds.

So never feel a need to be shy and do feel free ask any/all of yours!

Starry Skies -

Dave

[Moonshane]

oooh, another 50 year old Shane in the north west. Welcome!

[Pondus]

Hello Shane and welcome from me too, located in Norway .

 

Rune

[Charon]

Welcome to the forum from another North 'Walian'..

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire :-) 

[SNT]

Yay, another Shane!

And more here in North Wales... I'm not feeling so lonely now... 

Now all I need are clear skies ...

[Lenny147]

Welcome to the forum, some clear skies up that way

[knobby]

Hi and welcome, if you have an android phone this might help with finding dark sites.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pa.lightpollutionmap

[faulksy]

hi and welcome from another north wales dude