andras Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi, I'm new to this site and new to astronomy alltogether. I have been talking about buying a telescope for some years now, and 8 months ago my wife (with help from family and friends) got me a Celestron Nexstar 4SE for my 30th birthday. So I have used it a bit when we lived in Denmark, but only in quite light-polluted locations, so I haven't seen that much with it yet.The accessories I have are quite standard (out-of-the-box). A plossl 25mm and a lunar filter and a solar filter. The solar filter I haven't got to see much. Only a white circle that isn't very impressing (compared to the reddish pictures of the sun that I've seen online. The lunar filter I use more often, because I like watching the moon through binoculars and now with my scope and lunar filter, it just got way more fun.About me, I am 30 years old, married and have 2 kids. I work with computers and develop software, which I like very much. I've been living in Denmark for the past 3 years, and just moved back to the Faroe Islands, where I was born and grew up. I am very new to telescopes, and have only been watching the moon, because that's the only place I've seen facinating views on. I did manage to see saturn and it's rings earlier this year, but it was so tiny that I barely managed to identify/spot it. (smaller than this image).I had expected more, but I guess this is where you'd invest in more equipment... ?!Anyways, I'm looking forward to getting input from you guys. Been reading some posts already, and this looks like a great place to be.Regards,Andras Eliassen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PortableAstronomer Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Vælkomin Andras,I hope you get dark skies there in Faroe islands?I must try out some skerpikjøt one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andras Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 Thank you,I did try to present some skerpikjøt for danish people, but they were not so fond of it But I guess most countries have their "specialty".The skies here get very dark in this time of year, but it's rare to get clear skies (almost always cloudy and fog).But some nights are perfect (only been here for a month since moving, so I haven't had the best viewing conditions yet).Andras Eliassen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick1948 Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Welcome to SGL Andras, from me in Sheffield, South Yorkshire....clear skies to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyH Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 And another hello from me, here in cloudy, 55°30′N, Scotland !!A nice scope you have. If you get a few more eyepieces, for a wide range of magnifications, you'll get even better views of the planets and the moon etc !Cheers,Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi and welcome from me too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andras Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 Thanks,@AndyH, regarding eyepieces: how do I read the specifications of the eyepieces? Especially I want more magnification. I bet there are other threads - I read the Sticky about minimun equipment, but it was a bit overwhealming. It says: You should have a high power, a medium-high and/or medium-low power eyepiece, and a low power eyepiece.How do I read "high power / low power" on a plossl? Mine just says 25mm...I know this is very basic, but I'm very ignorant on this subject Thanks,Andras Eliassen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyH Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi. Try reading this explanation, http://stargazerslounge.com/primers-tutorials/63184-primer-understanding-choosing-eyepieces.htmlHope this helps.Cheers,Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lensman Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi Andras, welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll find all the assistance you need here to help you get started. It's a nice friendly forum so please feel free to ask any questions and I'm sure someone will be able to help.The magnification on a telescope is based on 2 things :-1) the focal length of the telescope ( in your case I think it's 1300mm )2) the focal length of the eyepiece ( which you say is 25mm )to work out the magnification just divide the focal length telescope by focal length eyepiece.e.g. with a 25mm eyepiece your scope should be 1300mm / 25mm = 52xCheersFrank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hello Andras and welcome to SGL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi AndrasA warm welcome to the SGLDougEssex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezza123 Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Andras, welcome from north Hampshire :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REB Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi and welcome form South Yorkshire in England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Welcome to SGL. Regarding the solar filter: if it screws into the eyepiece THROW IT AWAY!!! These types are dangerous, as they can shatter. If it is the type that fits in front of the scope, they are fine. When there are no sunspots, white-light observing of the sun is rather boring. You need an expensive H-alpha filter to capture more detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andras Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 Thank you guys! That cleared up a couple of things for me.There is no telescope-shop here in the faroe islands (that I know of), but I would then probably buy something from Denmark instead when that time (or $$) comes.But this should probably keep me covered for a while?Thanks, Andras Eliassen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andras Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 @michael.h.f.wilkinsonRegarding the solar filter: if it screws into the eyepiece THROW IT AWAY!!! These types are dangerous, as they can shatter.The Lunar filter screws into the eyepiece, but I have been warned about pointing the telescope at the sun. Therefore I bought a solar filter that goes on front of the telescope.Thank you for the clearification about the H-alpha filter. I'll wait with that one for a while then Thanks,Andras Eliassen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talitha Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi and welcome to the group, Andras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesM Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi Andras and welcome to the forum.Clear skies James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan of Borg Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Hello and welcome to a fine forum!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just looking Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Hello from South Yorkshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Welcome from way up there in the Faroes, summer nights must be very short but no light pollution in winter, enjoy the forum.JohnH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Hi Andras,A very warm welcome to SGL, hope you enjoy the forum.John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michigander Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Welcome to SGL, Andras!Dana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Presland Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 hi andras welcome to sgl from bedfordshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Senior Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Hi Andras, welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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