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Posts Made By: Dave budlong

October 18, 2006 12:34 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

SC vs. MC

Posted By Dave budlong
Sharper images in the Mak, but the wider fields of the SCT are easier to use than the Mak. I take my Dob when I go camping though.

October 19, 2006 02:30 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Newbie Identification help?

Posted By Dave budlong
A good place to start is with the Messiers, this gives you a broad spectrum of objects with differing brightness and size. Then as you start to hunt out other objects you will have a baseline to work with. smile

October 20, 2006 11:37 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Celestron Sky Scout! Yea, baby, Yea!

Posted By Dave budlong
Right on, it's good to hear your excitement coming through in your post. Got to love it when you find the perfect toys to play with. grin

October 24, 2006 02:18 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

finding way around sky

Posted By Dave budlong
Just to add one more thing, a subscription to either of the magazines helps as well. When I first got started all I used were the magazine centerfolds, a planisphere and binos to help me get around the sky. My computer at the time had less capabilty than my son's cellphone does now. grin

October 30, 2006 05:01 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Astronomy Clubs - How to start one?

Posted By Dave budlong
Mark if I were in your shoes and trying to get a club going I would first star at the local high school and see if you can meet with the Science Teachers. They are generally well informed and might be personally interested. Addittionally you might get a couple of kids interested by going that route. Also placing an ad in your local newspaper in the free community events section wouldn't hurt.

December 9, 2006 01:48 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

EZ Finder II or Telrad

Posted By Dave budlong
Telrad, and here is one more reason, there are plenty of charts available with the Telrad in mind online. When I was starting out it was the second best purchase I made within the first 5 years, my 8" dob was the best purchase and once I got a Telrad, I really got to where I could make the best use of the scope.

December 13, 2006 06:36 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Just how hard IS it to find objects?

Posted By Dave budlong
My worthless two cents,

Most of us learned the sky without the help of Goto or Push to, and while there were certainly frustrating nights under the stars, there were also the nights when you found that object that had eluded you before. I have an intelliscope now, but for a long time I just used my wits and and good chart and enjoyed the sky through discovery.
My personal opinion would be to go with the idea of getting the 8" intelliscope without the locater, and play with it for a while.

December 26, 2006 02:28 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Solar filter

Posted By Dave budlong
Kirk it should fit firmly over the outside of the front end of your scope, it is a friction fit type item. Hope this helps.

December 27, 2006 08:58 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Beginner Picture Questions (CCD)

Posted By Dave budlong
Matt, while Ivan is going to give you useful information, I am going to commend you on your attempts. Keep at it, and listen to the guys who know what they are talking about, (Ivan and others)and you will get it. smile

January 9, 2007 02:00 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Far fetched camera question?

Posted By Dave budlong
You can do it, I have taken pics of the moon that way. It is fun, just do not get to upset as long as you realize the limitations of the set up you will have fun with it.

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