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ravstar13

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Hello There,

 

I am Rav from east London, but originally born in Bedford, where as a kid was always fascinated with being a space man!! well that IS what my mum used to say i used to say. I would always look at the sky and the mind used to boggle and sometimes opened up a mindset that regardless of whether there is life out there or not, we got to respect and love where we are here. Moving to East London unfortuantly took that away for one reason and another, as I got dissolved in the hecticness of London town as opposed to the sleepiness of Bedfordshire. Recently my eyes have started looking to the sky a bit more than I used to, and boy i got emotional, it was like i had seen a long lost friend after years. I want to be able to have a passion towards it with the mind I have now and, something prompted me to come here for some reason. I want to to buy a setup to be able to see the planets, which would really feed the mind of the 10 year old version of me. I like reading so I would love to get the recommendation of books, magazine website etc from a really beginner mode but not too complicated for my little mind haha. It would be nice to be part of something, and this place seems like the best place for the 10 year old in me to take that step, also where would I look too to get equipment and specialist shops ? Sorry for all the simpleton questions, i still am the 10 year old but in a 37 year old body now!

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Hi, Rav, and welcome to SGL.

You could do a lot worse as a starter scope than an 8" dob from FLO (our sponsor). That is a general purpose scope that will get you a long way. If your interest is only planets, then something that would give you more magnification might be beneficial and if you want to get into AP then you would need something that would track the sky equatorially - both of which would push your budget a lot higher. For a better recommendation, a bit more information about what (apart from planets, which are not really well-placed for the next few years) you want to achieve with it (if you know) and the budget/space you have would help us give more tailored advice.

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Hi Thank you for your reply, Buy budget is not huge for the moment, just got married you see, so £200 - 300 on the telescope and then every month or so I can look forward to upgrades etc. Apart from planets the star clusters, im not an overly scientific or bright in that side of things, just enough to see the beauty of the universe, but who knows it could end up making me more appreciative of the science or the way the universe moves and be able to know just by looking at the sky. Space is not great living in London, but something that I can be able to see space in a more constructive way. I keep looking at the celestron? is this something that can work for me as a beginner, because i feel once i get a taste of it I will be able to answer better of what I would like to see.

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Welcome, Rav. You’ll get lots of good advice here but everything depends on your circumstances and conditions - financial and physical. DP’s suggestion of an 8” Dob is good - it’s a lifetime scope. But not much use if you have to lug it up flights of stairs or have nowhere to store it.

Best bet is to find an amateur astronomy club and go along to a meeting. Or visit a shop - the only one I know in London is the Widescreen Centre.

Whatever you do make sure you’re having fun doing it!

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Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL. I would suggest browsing the Getting Started section here. You will find that many have asked the same question as you. Once you have read some of these posts you will be able to ask questions specific to your circumstances. Dont worry you have a reasonable budget for starting out and you will soon find something suitable.

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Hi Rav

Welcome from land down under

Cannot go far wrong with a dob

Started out with a 10" Skywatcher collapsible dob, and other scopes have come along in time

Collapsible dobs lot easier to transport as well

Little trick when using a dob

Just lay a laser pointer along the dovetail of the spotting scope mount, and then aim your dob where want to view

To do solar viewing, just get some Baader solar filter film from FLO, and remove the small cap in the lid, and sticky tap Baader filter underside of the cover

Leave spotting scope off the dob when solar viewing

You will also find it easier to use a right angle spotting scope, instead of the straight through one supplied with the scope

Attached pic taken public viewing day with my club

Happy viewing

John

 

 

Skywatcher 10 inch Dobson.jpg

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