Hello from a complete newbie

[chris348]

Good afternoon one and all.  I have for always wanted to star gaze and finally having taken the plunge, bought myself my first telescope.  Alot of research ended up looking at the Celestron NexStar 8SE !

Not really sure what to expect but I would very much appreciate any guidance or lessons on what to look out for to enhance the experience.

Any advice ?

Chris

[callisto]

A big welcome from me  

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL. That’s a nice first scope. Beginners are usually recommended to get the book Turn Left at Orion as a guide to what to observe during the different seasons.

[Cosmic Geoff]

Welcome!

There is a section in this forum entitled 'What can I expect to see'.

Various monthly guides of what to look at are available online.

[Stu Todd]

Hi Chris,

Good buy btw!

To align your Nexstar, you have to know some bright stars, for the 2 star alignment.

Learn where these are. If you are serious about the hobby, then a decent planetarium, guide book is a great start. Get off the internet and start looking up. 

As an aside, your C8 is capable of doing ground-breaking spectroscopy in idintifying quasars -  http://www.spectro-aras.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1752&p=8310

 

A great telescope, a keeper!

 

[banjaxed]

Hi Chris, welcome to the beginning of your road to discovery, you have come to the right place for help and advice.

[Mr Spock]

Hi Chris, Welcome to SGL 

[Floater]

Welcome. Some good advice already. Mine is ... have lots of fun. That’s what it’s all about for me. 🙂

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi Chris, welcome. 

[cletrac1922]

Chris

Welcome from land down under

John

[PeterCPC]

Hello and welcome.

[tea_subtle]

Hi and welcome. Lovely scope to get you going. New interest for me too but plenty of help and advice to be had here. 

[iapa]

On 11/04/2021 at 14:20, chris348 said:

Good afternoon one and all.  I have for always wanted to star gaze and finally having taken the plunge, bought myself my first telescope.  Alot of research ended up looking at the Celestron NexStar 8SE !

Not really sure what to expect but I would very much appreciate any guidance or lessons on what to look out for to enhance the experience.

Any advice ?

Chris

Welcome

The 8” SCT is good general purpose - well, I would say that as I bought one  however I used mine on an equatorial mount.

 +1 for turn left at Orion

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire  🙂