Greetings!

[Mr Thingy]

Hello to all! 

Nice place you have here 😊

I've been a casual observer for a number of years. In my case that means very occasionally dusting off my kit and having a short, unplanned session viewing whatever takes my fancy. 

But I've recently invested in better gear and keen to do some more active (and better planned) sessions, so I thought I'd join here for tips and tricks to make for more productive and rewarding sessions.

I also just took the plunge and bought some astrophotography gear, so please look forward to some silly questions from me! I love observing - and what treats the planets have given us recently - but I can't help wanting to turn that fuzzy blob into something with visible structure.

Sadly my HEQ5 is still on back order, but I plan to test my gear on the milky way with my static tripod and some very short exposures, just to get the swing of things. Fingers crossed for a break in the clouds.

-thingy-

 

 

 

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Hi, Welcome to SGL, I hope the skies re kinder to you than for myself at the moment.  Ask any questions nobody judges on SGL and no question is considered silly.

Steve

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL.

[PeterCPC]

Hello and welcome.

[Neil H]

Welcome to SGL  planning a night depends on what you like.  me i look at everything so start with jupiter and saturn due to them getting out of me FOV really fast then i move on to double stars , gas giants etc while i wait for mars to come from the back of the tree near me and if i get time i let my goto do a tour of the heavens 

But other than that have fun and enjoy the hobby 

[banjaxed]

Hi and welcome to SGL.

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi there and welcome. 

[Floater]

Welcome. Hope you have lots of fun and success with the AP. 🙂

[Starwatcher2001]

Welcome aboard SGL thingy. Good to have you with us.

I find it very helpful to have a plan of some kind, however rough, otherwise I tend to look at my favourites and not really make the best use of the scant observing time we get in the UK. Currently on my list is a small collection of interesting doubles and variables, and some open clusters I've not looked at before. In particular I'm hoping to spend some quality time with RZ Cassiopeiae, which is a variable that drops over a magnitude over the space of a few short hours every 29 hours or so. I'm hoping to work out it's timing for myself and be able to accurately predict the next eclipse.

I rarely stick entirely to the plan as there's always interesting items in the neighbourhood that demand attention, but having a general direction of travel is useful.

Hope you get the clear skies to have some brilliant times with your favourites and some new jewels in the coming weeks.

 

[sloz1664]

Hi and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

[cletrac1922]

Welcome from Land Down Under

Hope you enjoy your stay with us

John

[Mr Thingy]

Thanks for all of the warm welcomes.

It's clear that this a very pleasant and helpful community - just what novice astronomers need to help get the most enjoyment out of this great hobby 😁

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @Mr Thingy and welome to SGL. 

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire 🙂