Llamanaut Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 buy binoculars first and spend time learning the night sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmahon Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Excellent thread this (from another newcomer - who has just ordered some binoculars). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCloud Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 Hi all,Yeah, some top suggestions here! Very, very useful, thanks everyone!Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 buy binoculars first and spend time learning the night skyThat's about the best advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenkat Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 My advice to a beginner would be , dont go and buy a telescope , start with binoculars and learn the brighter stars & constelations. If you decide you want a scope, see if you can have a look through someone elses first and dont expect anything like you see in photos. If eventualy you get the bug and take the plunge, expect to have a dwindling bank balance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheThing Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 At a star party, always, always approcah the chap or chapess frantically imaging away, shine a powerful white torch down their scope and say 'What's all this then?'They love it! The laughs you'll get! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 At a star party, always, always approcah the chap or chapess frantically imaging away, shine a powerful white torch down their scope and say 'What's all this then?'They love it! The laughs you'll get!Only recommended if you can out-sprint Usain Bolt in the 200 metres. :D:DJohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 At a star party, always, always approcah the chap or chapess frantically imaging away, shine a powerful white torch down their scope and say 'What's all this then?'They love it! The laughs you'll get!Or ask the visual crowd how many faint fuzzies they have seen tonight... unless they are using a 16+" inch dob....Find at least one other "hobby" that you can do on cloudy nights...Billy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollypenrice Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Get to a dark site. Take paper charts printed from software but leave the laptop at home. Dark, dark, dark... is everything.Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BinocularSky Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Don't look through better kit until you can afford it! (It'll breed dissatisfaction with what you have) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshane Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 great advice so far. not sure anyone has recommended this one.'have a plan for a night's observing'when I first started I had a number of wasted nights trying to identify targets I had decided on in the dark on spec. I now have more success concentrating on one researched constellation / set of targets before I begin. always have a main list and a back up list in case you have more success than you expect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingOfColly Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Dont knock your Guinness over and be careful of hedgehogs On a more serious note: get yourself a good box to put stuff in like eyepieces, filters, etc. Then when you are outside everything is in one place. Anything will do - I use a shoebox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astro_al Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 All of the above. Plus observe as often as possible and learn to interpret your local weather patterns and their effect on seeing conditions. Oh, and have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3ggman Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I was always sorry I didnt do a little more research before I bought my first scope (thats not to say I dont love my 8" dob, i just couldve got more apperture if I had bought online, do'h) And find another hobby to do when its cloudy cause if you live anywhere like I do it tends to be cloudy a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve C Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 My advice would be to take your time, theres a lot to learn. Some of the kit you now have may look a bit intimidating but dont expect to become an expert in only a few sessions. Having only been in this game for only a year I consider myself to be a newbie, although I'm happy with my set up theres still a lot out there I havent even considered yet.Last of all, enjoy yourself, dont feel like you have to go out & set up just because its dark, you might be tired, not feel like it or whatever........remember its supposed to be a hobby (too late for me, I'm already addicted & a lost cause) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcdearn Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 If you see me at a star party don't pitch your tent next to me...I snoreA lot..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobilly Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 If you see me at a star party don't pitch your tent next to me...I snoreA lot.....And don't smoke near mine because I .......... :evil6: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gedmac Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 enjoy yourself...........what its all about:evil6: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeti monster Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Dwindling bank account!! I prefer the optimistic outlook, increasing collection of fine scientific instruments......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Don`t run before you can walk, if you can hold back your enthusiasm, binos and a star map to learn the night sky, is a very good way to start.John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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