Posts Made By: van svenson

Thanks for the input. I'm using a Meade 8" SCT (focal length of 2000mm). I've found that I'm mostly using 3 eyepieces: 40mm, 25mm and 13.8mm. I do have a 6.something and a 4.7, but, due to either my collimation, or my seeing conditions, they are not really useable or rewarding. It's an older scope that has a motor drive on the RA (?) axis, but that's it. No "goto" so I'll have to figure out how to actually identify and locate what I'm looking at. That's why the planets have been so good!

I also have Starry Night Backyard, which has helped me identify quite a lot, but I haven't really used it to locate anything.

(I'll also put this in the beginner section)

Thanks for the input. I'm using a Meade 8" SCT (focal length of 2000mm). I've found that I'm mostly using 3 eyepieces: 40mm, 25mm and 13.8mm. I do have a 6.something and a 4.7, but, due to either my collimation, or my seeing conditions, they are not really useable or rewarding. It's an older scope that has a motor drive on the RA (?) axis, but that's it. No "goto" so I'll have to figure out how to actually identify and locate what I'm looking at. That's why the planets have been so good!

I also have Starry Night Backyard, which has helped me identify quite a lot, but I haven't really used it to locate anything.

I know how to calculate power (focal length divided by EP), but how do I know what my degree of view is?

I agree, Lisa. They've done a great job. In fact, I just ordered Star-hopping for backyard astronomers from amazon!

Now, if it will only stay clear for the weekend...

I am a Gemini...

I had a good night out last night. Nice and dark and clear. I didn't find any galaxies, but I did find some open clusters, and quite by accident.

I spent most of the night looking at the sky with my naked eyes. I've been tring to learn some of the constellations. I was looking at Gemini, 'cause I knew Saturn was at one twin's feet, and Leo, where Jupiter is. I was looking between the two at some fainter stars, and I saw this kinda blurry, fuzzy spot. I aim the scope at it with the 40mm eyepiece, and I see this nice cluster of stars. I rush inside to look it up (and warm up) and it turns out I found the Beehive cluster, which is in the middle of Cancer. I also found M37 and M38 (in Auriga -- is that pronounced "U-riga" or "A-riga" or "Or-iga"?)

So, no galaxies yet, but I have renewed hope and new skills! Plus, I looked at something very far away (M38 is 4200 light years away... Makes Saturn look close!)

Good luck with your viewing, Lisa!

-Van

Don't worry Christopher, I'm not going to spend that much! $100 to $150 would be OK.

I have a red dot finder (actually mounted one for a gun on the telescope) which I use most of the time. However I want to use a finder scope more, so, my thought was, if I could change the magnification on it, I could use it both as a wide FOV scope, and also use it as a finder for fainter objects, once I get to that level.

I have a pair of 7x50 binoculars... I'll have to dig them out and give it a try.

One more question: the nomenclature for binoculars and finders... I know the 2nd number is the diameter of the main objective. The 1st is the power of magnification?

We must be! I received the book, Star Hopping for Back Yard Astronomers. It looks very good. I've already spent 1 evening with binocular learning how to find more stuff.

Haven't had a chance to get my scop out, though. The weather's been pretty crappy...

Hopefully it will be clear AND warm for a change!

-Van

I went out for a little while last night, and had a great time. The moon was bright, so I just looked at that, and the planets. But the seeing was really good. I was able to use a lot of magnification on saturn (400x) and the view was pretty sharp and stable. I also got to really explore the lunar surface. Here's a picture I took with a little canon digital camera through the eyepiece. I was intrigued by the mountain range at the shadow line, about 1/3 of the way in from the right side. Does anyone know what this mountain range is?

Happy gazing.
-Van

I believe the Canon 10D might be a little more suited for astrophotography, as opposed to it's little Rebel brother which is lacking some features like mirror lockup. (maybe the noise reduction on long exposures, too?)