Just Joined

[Charon]

Welcome aboard.

[seo]

Hi and welcome aboard. Congrats for your new telescope and clear skies ! 

[Grizwold225]

Hi every body, and thanks for the warm welcome. Been doing a bit of skulking round on good old Google - what did we do before he came along? Anyway, been getting a bit of an ear bashing over all those big brown boxes stacked about the house and garage. No mention of you can't have them yet! So decided I'd get some padded carry bags and bought a set of the Geoptik's to put everything in. They arrive tomorrow and peace reigns again. Also got an aluminium lens case from good old ebay. Had a look at something to carry it all round in and, again on good old Google, found fold up four wheel carts, so I think I'm set now on the equipment front. Have also applied to Bedford Astronomical Society for membership. I'm hoping to get my hip replaced in the New Year which should get me back to about 100%. Only problem is it's a complicated one and I have to go to the specialist at the RNOH in Stanmore, and I'm waiting for the invitation. So, although I can't yet lug all this stuff about, I'll be able to play with it in the garden whilst I wait, and I thought I could always toddle off over to Bedford, assuming they accept me, and chat to them. They have a Skywatcher 200, so I could see that if it's set up and at least make a start. Busy times ahead, so thanks to all of you and have a good Christmas and New Year.

[JamesM]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Clear skies

[BobSki]

Well done on joining the ranks of the retired (I've been useless to the government for 9 wonderful years) and welcome to this wonderful forum.

Hmmmm, Yes, Now you've bought such a lovely instrument, you'll be filling the hours alright........watching the sky waiting for the damn fog or clouds to clear.

That 8" will be a handful (as someone said earlier) I know only too well as I have an 8" Newt too. If you observe with a local group I have no doubt somebody would help you put it on the mount if need be. If you're on your own well, just be really careful when putting it into the dovetail. make hanging on to the tube until those clamping bolts are tightened a priority.

As far as a cart to pull it around on is concerned, how about something like this:  CART

However I would be mindful of the fact that bouncing the newt about over rough(ish) ground might well cause collimation issues, so careful consideration to be given to the support packaging around the scope. It looks like this cart (or something like it as long as it is long enough) would convey most of the gear.

When you have it all set up consider where you place the eye piece. With Newtonians, if you set it up as shown in most pictures (eye piece at 90 deg to the balance bar), that eyepiece will get you into some pretty uncomfortable/difficult bodily positions and/or you will be constantly loosening the mounting rings in order to swivel the scope round within the mounts. Consider placing the eyepiece in the same plane as the counterweight bar, that way it will pretty much always be accessible.

Whatever you do, Have fun.

[Grizwold225]

Hi everyone,

Been doing a lot of behind the scenes preparations while I wait for clear skies. Currently a bit pushed for space as the builders are in 'doing' the bathroom, so things stacked everywhere. Also, my room that I use for the computer etc. has been taken over by madam with her painting table etc. so getting a studio built in the garden for her. That will give me enough space to set up the scope and play indoors in the warm. As I'm currently under 4 hospitals, with a fifth on the horizon had a whole rash of OP appointments. Best bit is looks like I could be on the move to getting the hip replaced. Joined Bedford Astronomical, so looking forward to getting over there and meeting everybody. I let you know if and how I progress with things.

[Grizwold225]

Hi,

Things have really gone from bad to worse, I'm afraid. Had an appointment with one of my consultants in London just before Xmas. They want to tidy up a surgical hernia I have following surgery they carried out. Should remove 6"- 8" from my waist! To confirm everything inside was OK they had a CT Scan done on Jan 19th. On the way home got to Kings Cross went to get off tube and went flying across the platform. I'm on crutches as I need my hip replaced. Lost a crutch on the lines, fortunately physios gave me 2 pairs so not completely immobile. Anyway, as a result of that, from the Sunday had an emergency hospital admission, in for 2 weeks. Now got to see my orthopaedic surgeon about the hip, he's had x-rays, and has now also arranged a further 6 scans, tests, images,physio and pre-op appointments. Trouble is I'm very immobile and really praying I can get my hip replaced soon. Obviously, as a result of all this, all my astro gear sits in its' boxes and bags around the house as I haven't got the strength to hump it about, and it's never been used since my wife bought it for me for Xmas.

[Demonperformer]

Terribly sorry to hear of your problems.

My advice: Concentrate on getting your health back again. Don't worry about the astro-gear "sitting in its boxes" - it will still be there when you are fit again.

[Geoff Lister]

Sorry to read about your bad fortune.

Perhaps "Stellarium" to pretend you are looking outside, and a pair of binoculars if you can get out there. And then there is always the learning experience of scanning the topics on this illustrious site, and its USA equivalent "Cloudy Nights" (other excellent sites are available).

Geoff

[tooth_dr]

I always enjoy reading sky at night magazine too. Get well soon. 

[Grizwold225]

Thanks for your good wishes. I've got my binoculars and I've also got a Tasco Galaxsee 60 x 700, this is easy and light to carry about, even if it does show everything upside down! Fingers crossed for the skies to clear. I'll download Stellarium and checkout Cloudy Nights to.