Suppose I will get moaned at!

[sooren]

Hi all,

My names Paul and I live in Beccles Suffolk UK.

Just signing in to say hello.

Never had a telescope before but always been interested in astronomy.

Heres the bad bit. Today I ordered a Meade 8 inch ETX lightswitch, now I know people will say that this is not the normal route to take for a first scope but all I want to do is spend my time looking at the stars and not setting the scope up.

I am also aware that there have been problems with these scopes but I am hoping that all the initial problems have been ironed out.

I would be interested if any one has bought one of these scopes lately and if they have been trouble free being one of the latest batches.

I hope to share my experiences in astronomy with you all in the future - both good and bad.

Enjoying the forum!

Regards

Paul

[Mr Spock]

Hi Paul, welcome to SGL I'm sure you'll get hours of fun out of your new scope - and no-one is going to moan at you!

[oldfruit]

Hi Paul and welcome to SGL. Nothing wrong with your choice of scope. There will probably be other members on here with the same scope that can advise you how to get the best from it.

[sooren]

Thanks for the kind words guys - I own an Estate Agency in Norwich and it is very stressful, all I want to do when I get home (weather permitting) is to have my tea and view the skys in all their glory for an hour or two now and then so I hope this scope will be just the job.

Thanks for the warm welcomes.

Regards

Paul

[brantuk]

Hi Paul and welcome to SGL

I'd be very interested to know how you get on with your scope as I've seen no reviews of that one yet. I look forward to reading your reports.

[nightfisher]

welcome to sgl paul, and good luck with new scope

[space3]

Hi Paul, welcome, good luck with the new scope,

8 inch is a nice scope youll have super views through it clear skies

[Rusty Strings]

Hi Paul and welcome.

[sooren]

Thank you, I look forward to keeping you all up to date on how I find it.

Should be interesting as I have absolutely no experience what so ever so you could say I am the sort of customer they are aiming these scopes at.

Mind you they are an expensive route to go, just wish I had the time to throw at the normal route. (and to save a bit of money)

Regards

Paul

[lulu57]

Moan moan moan moan moan moan...

(Wouldn't like to disappoint you.)

Good for you!

You are flirting flagrantly with the dark side and creating secret gadget-envy amongst our fine batch of techy-nerds.

I bet there's loads of us geeks who would love to have a crafty firtle with your dangerously forbidden technology.

Enjoy yourself!

Mwar har har!

[sooren]

Hi Lulu57

I have just realized I am a vacuum and you are a sub dwarf! You don't look that small to me!

You have a great way way with words - thanks for the warm welcome - you are a friendly lot.

Regards

Paul

[lulu57]

I may be a sub dwarf now, but if I am a very good girl and manage to avoid being barred, I hope some day to become a brown dwarf!

[glowjet]

Hi Paul, welcome to the SGL forum, I seem to recall something appearing in the S@N mag about this scope, splendid optics and its own in built imaging camera, so you should theoretically, be able to take picys straight away, although this may not hold out for very long exposures for deep space objects with the Alt/Az mount, it Will be interesting to see, enjoy your scope when it arrives and please keep us posted.

John.

[Astro Imp]

First off, welcome hope you enjoy your new scope.

I see from your initial post that your work is based in Norwich, I wonder if the Norwich Astronomical Society might be of interest to you. You can find details here:- Norwich Astronomical Society

[sooren]

I think initially I would feel too intimidated to join the Norwich club but if I make good progress I would give them a try.

Regards

Paul

[pete_l]

Never had a telescope before but always been interested in astronomy.

Heres the bad bit. Today I ordered a Meade 8 inch ETX lightswitch, now I know people will say that this is not the normal route to take for a first scope but all I want to do is spend my time looking at the stars and not setting the scope up.

That's a perfectly reasonable and valid way to start off in the hobby. It's just what I did (though I got a U2K). If you have the money and are interested in getting results and seeing stuff then it's the way to go. If it turns out that your interest wanes, you can always sell the kit and only take a small loss - though the value of the lesson learned probably means you'd come out even.

If I'd had to have learned all about star-hopping and constellations and all that malarkey then I'd in all likelihood just walked away and taken up stamp collecting instead. But being able to see the stuff I wanted to, right from day #1 was a great reward and motivator. Now here I am 12 years later and still using that scope and still interested in the hobby and filling in on the "basics" as I need to.

Good for you.

[Orion_the_Hunter]

'normal route?' that scope sounds pretty normal to me. An 8" Dobsonian will give you stunning views of things 'up there'.

You won't get moaned at here, just ask, these people are so helpful.

[Pete Presland]

hi welcome to sgl from bedfordshire

[GlynSmith]

Hi Paul and welcome,

don't worry about being moaned at, I get moaned at all the time, but being with the scope in the garden means I can't hear it

I'll get me coat

[BAZ Senior]

Hi Paul welcome to the Lounge.

If you are happy, then so are we!

Enjoy your scope and your time with the stars. Don't forget to wrap up warm..."I'll just give it another ten minutes".... Two hours later.

[robwoods]

Hi Paul , I am another newbie from Nowich, I am waiting for my scope to arrive, I was looking at the kind of scope you have, but got ended up going for a scope with a manual mount, I am a sales manager in the motor trade (yes, we are the ones with an even worse reputation than yours ) and have little spare time to pursue a new hobby, I have looked at the manual for my EQ5 mount online and got to about page 5 before giving up, talk about complicated!!. It will b intereting to compare experiences with you, and if you decide you would like to go to the club with someone thats probably more clueless than you, let me know!

[Simms]

Pffft - you wont get moaned at for your scope but you may get moaned at for being an Estate Agent!

Seriously, I`m sure you will have heaps of relaxing time with that scope - wrap up warm, flask of coffee, peace and quiet in the dark, immersing yourself in the skies... BLISS!!

[Donkeyears]

Hi Paul and welcome to the forum

[Jimmy Stix]

I think initially I would feel too intimidated to join the Norwich club but if I make good progress I would give them a try.

Regards

Paul

Hi Paul,

I urge you to try your local astonomy group. If they are anything like as friendly as the Sheffield one you will be glad that you did. I went to my first meeting (they have regular beginners nights), after only a couple of nights out with a planisphere and binos, and enjoyed it very much. There was a real mix of ages and abilities and I was made to feel very welcome and was not at all intimidated.

I fully intend to join as a full member this year.

[steppenwolf]

Welcome to SGL, Paul, I'll be interested to see how you get on with the LS - as you say, an unusual choice for a first 'scope but it will certainly help you find your way around the sky.