Hello from the West Midlands

[Zoe35]

Hi. 

Just wondering if there are any fellow astronomers near me? I'm a total newbie to all this but have has an interest for a while. I bought myself a 2nd hand Celestron 130eq and a set of Meade 4000 eyepieces and have so far seem a few interesting things but recently came unstuck when I tried to collimate my scope....ah oh! I've decided to leave it for the minute until I can get out and check what I've done but may need assistance to rectify my fiddling Lol Would be nice to find someone local to get out and enjoy this cool hobby with too.  

[Mr Spock]

Hi, welcome to SGL  There are quite a few collimation guides around and, once you get the hang of it, it's not that difficult. It is a steep learning curve though and probably the best thing is to find someone local who can help.

[DavidJM]

Welcome, not much help as I relocated from Halesowen, do work though in Kingswinford occasionally, as already mentioned there are some great online guides, also look for a local club

[Floater]

I’m a bit too far away to be of any help, but welcome to the forum and the hobby.

The learning curves may be steep but make sure you have fun on them ...

[Doc]

Welcome to SGL.

There is an astro group in the East Midlands you can join just click on the link below.

https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/

[TSRobot]

Welcome. You might try CovAstro who meet only 5mins walk from where I live in Coventry. I've never been able to get to a meet with them because of the shifts I work, but I've heard that they're very helpful folk. Good luck with collimation ?

[TheMrGecko]

Im from east midlands. not great weather right now though. alwasy open to meeting new people

[Nyctimene]

Hello and welcome from a German stargazer!

A very good source on collimation is AstroBabys Collimation Guide; here's the link:

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

Stephan

[TSRobot]

Astrobaby's collimation guide is the best! Helped me use a standard Cheshire collimator as the only YouTube guides I found used laser collimators.

[Trikeflyer]

Hi Welcome, I live near Aldridge but a currently I Northumbria so can't help this week. PM me if you don't get it sorted and I will help. 

[Zoe35]

Thanks for all the replies. David, I'm only in Stourbridge...fingers crossed for a local stargazer!

I used astrobabys guide! I need to get a Cheshire collimator and shouldn't of messed before I did so. Hey ho you live and learn. I'll order one as soon as and have another bash at it. 

I did approach a group in Wolverhampton and one in Birmingham but haven't been to a meet yet....really feeling like a total newb and a little apprehensive about going ?

Onwards with my learning curve I guess, when the clouds go away that is! 

 

 

[Zoe35]

 

Oh and thanks for the offer trikeflyer I may have to take you up on your offer of help....will see how I go. 

 

[ronl]

Hello Zoe and welcome to SGL, hope you enjoy your time with us,

good luck with the collimation , it's easy once you know how.

Clear Sky's.

[PeterCPC]

Hello and welcome.

Peter

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi there Zoe, welcome.

[Charon]

Welcome aboard Zoe.

[JamesM]

Hi Zoe and welcome to the forum

Clear skies

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire  

[SteveWolves]

Hi

Come along to the Wolverhampton AS 

www.wolvas.org.uk

I also run an informal group at Perton Library south staffs

Message me here for more info

There is an Old Carolians AS that meet near you I think

[SteveWolves]

There is an Old Carolians AS that meet near you in Kidderminster

https://carolianastro.co.uk

[Sky-J]

Hi Zoe, 

Welcome to the forum.

I'm not local to you but I have a very similar scope to you and this video really helped to take the fear out of and get started with collimating my scope.

Good luck and clear skies

Jeremy

 

[sloz1664]

Hi and a very warm welcome to the Lounge 

Steve

[CrashEd]

Hi Zoe, welcome to SGL!