I thank you for your very well done and very useful project for all levels of astronomers. I'll reference it often.
Be Well
Grey
How to Locate Some of the Major Messier Galaxies and Helpful Advice for Novice Amateur Astronomers
Started by
Dave Mitsky
, Jan 12 2012 01:00 PM
316 replies to this topic
#27
Jammer53
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- Loc: Central NY
Vostok 1
Posted 21 January 2013 - 12:28 PM
As a former moderator for six years I appreciate all the effort that you put into this for us Dave. Thanks very much for that.
I'll make use of it often.
Jim
PS: Star Ware is currently unavailable at Amazon for the Kindle. Seems they are pulling it until they investigate certain issues that were brought to their attention.
I'll make use of it often.
Jim
PS: Star Ware is currently unavailable at Amazon for the Kindle. Seems they are pulling it until they investigate certain issues that were brought to their attention.
#28
Meadeball
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Soyuz
Posted 21 January 2013 - 05:13 PM
I received a new book for Christmas; I like it because it's pocket-sized yet really, really detailed:
The Observer’s Sky Atlas by Erich Karkoschka.
Wondering if any of you have tried it out?
Meade
The Observer’s Sky Atlas by Erich Karkoschka.
Wondering if any of you have tried it out?
Meade
- yeldahtron likes this
#29
jkaiser
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Sputnik
Posted 22 January 2013 - 11:53 AM
Hello,
I am new to Cloudy Nights and wanted to thank you for all the links they were very helpful and loaded with alot of info. I been using a 4" astroscan from Edmund scientifics for the past year and now its time to upgrade, so this week I am purchasing a Celestron Omni 102xlt and at the same time I am also upgrading to the Zhumell Z10, I am very excited and can't wait, I have been saving all year for those 2 scopes....Again thank you for the links and thank you Cloudy Nights for being readily available.
I am new to Cloudy Nights and wanted to thank you for all the links they were very helpful and loaded with alot of info. I been using a 4" astroscan from Edmund scientifics for the past year and now its time to upgrade, so this week I am purchasing a Celestron Omni 102xlt and at the same time I am also upgrading to the Zhumell Z10, I am very excited and can't wait, I have been saving all year for those 2 scopes....Again thank you for the links and thank you Cloudy Nights for being readily available.
#30
Dave Mitsky
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topic starter
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- Loc: PA, USA, North America, Planet Earth
ISS
Posted 22 January 2013 - 05:23 PM
I received a new book for Christmas; I like it because it's pocket-sized yet really, really detailed:
The Observer’s Sky Atlas by Erich Karkoschka.
Wondering if any of you have tried it out?
Meade
I don't happen to own it but I have seen a copy of The Observer's Sky Atlas at NEAF, I believe. It has quite a good reputation.
Dave Mitsky
- manusfisch likes this
#31
krebs
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Lift Off
Posted 24 January 2013 - 05:41 PM
Thanks! Just got the bug a year ago and naturally started "behind" backwards with a little 90mm scope. Kinda got tired of looking at Saturn, Jupiter and the moon... Your instructions will be good and never knew that my Binoculars would be so handy!
#32
kenrenard
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Surveyor 1
Posted 25 January 2013 - 06:41 AM
Dave,
I want to thank you for you book tips. I bought Star Hopping for Backyard Astronomers used on Amazon. I would have never came across that book had it not been for your post and suggestion.
It really is a great book with loads of information. I've been able to learn quite a bit from 3 days of reading.
Thanks Again
Ken
I want to thank you for you book tips. I bought Star Hopping for Backyard Astronomers used on Amazon. I would have never came across that book had it not been for your post and suggestion.
It really is a great book with loads of information. I've been able to learn quite a bit from 3 days of reading.
Thanks Again
Ken
#33
lamplight
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Mercury-Atlas
Posted 29 January 2013 - 06:18 PM
Thank you dave
#35
JoeSmith
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Lift Off
Posted 31 January 2013 - 01:45 PM
Thank you Dave. This will give me even more reading on cloudy nights which is about 70% of the time around here. 
#36
PhotonFanatic
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Sputnik
Posted 02 February 2013 - 09:40 PM
#37
jarhead
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Explorer 1
Posted 04 February 2013 - 08:12 PM
I just joined recently. I have already shared this in my other beginner area. You need to pay a visit to MESSIER 45 This is a GREAT site, as far as a newbie like me, because it has hotlinks to each object. It has listings of Messier , NGC, IC, Herschel, and separate areas with Most Popular, Popular Galaxies, The 88 Constellations, Open Clusters, and Planetary Nebulae. The link for the site is http://messier45.com/
- Jbabcock likes this
#38
Terry Dactile
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Lift Off
Posted 04 February 2013 - 08:38 PM
I just joined recently. I have already shared this in my other beginner area. You need to pay a visit to MESSIER 45 This is a GREAT site, as far as a newbie like me, because it has hotlinks to each object. It has listings of Messier , NGC, IC, Herschel, and separate areas with Most Popular, Popular Galaxies, The 88 Constellations, Open Clusters, and Planetary Nebulae. The link for the site is http://messier45.com/
This looks like a great website but nothing on the page seems to work. Anyone else having problems with it?
#39
jarhead
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- Loc: Tennessee USA
Explorer 1
Posted 08 February 2013 - 11:05 AM
Darn! It works for me and I'm on a Linux box. I have trouble with several sites and have to boot up (Stupid) Windows 7.
#40
Dave Mitsky
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topic starter
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ISS
Posted 08 February 2013 - 02:46 PM
Messier45.com seems to work for me. What OS are you using?
Dave Mitsky
Dave Mitsky
#41
WaterMaster
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Gravity Engineer
Posted 08 February 2013 - 06:57 PM
I had no problem accessing from either a Windows 7 (Firefox) or my Mac (Safari). 
#42
PhaedrusUpshaw
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Viking 1
Posted 10 February 2013 - 11:56 PM
The Backyard Astronomers Guide is a reference book I find myself returning to time and time again.
Clear skies to all,
Bill
Clear skies to all,
Bill
#43
Benson
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Vostok 1
Posted 12 February 2013 - 01:04 AM
Star hopping can be very ... interesting. I usually retire for a vodka martini when frustrated - shaken, not stirred.
- Juan Rayo likes this
#44
nikdangr
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Vostok 1
Posted 16 February 2013 - 03:34 PM
Footnote: Several copies of Star-Hopping for Backyard Astronomers are available used from Amazon for as low as $18.
#45
mac57
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Viking 1
Posted 21 February 2013 - 08:29 PM
Hi, my name is Mark and I am a 55 year old novice, but I aced my college Intro Astronomy course, so I know a little. As an observer, I am a beginner. I am trying to decide on a first scope, and am torn between an 8" Dobsonian, or something on an EQ mount. I like the idea of an EQ mount, because I don't want to constantly be distracted by moving the Dob. Is this a big deal? I know that the cheap EQ mounts have their drawbacks, but is the tradeoff worth it? Please explain, and grateful for your input.
#46
Doc Willie
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Vanguard
Posted 22 February 2013 - 11:37 AM
The hassle of manually moving an 8' Dob to keep a target in the field of view is less than the hassle of dealing with a cheap EQ mount. IMHO.
The former is more likely to induce you to upgrade to a better telescope. The latter is more likely to induce you to give up the sport.
The former is more likely to induce you to upgrade to a better telescope. The latter is more likely to induce you to give up the sport.
#47
rinalmj
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Ranger 4
Posted 22 February 2013 - 01:13 PM
I don't think it's a very big deal. I've done most of my observing with 8" and 12" dobs and very rarely found it to be a problem. Wide-field eyepieces help a lot with this too. The only times I've ever thought that re-positioning was a distraction are times when I've used extremely high magnifications (>300X), but sky conditions rarely permit that anyway.
#48
csrlice12
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ISS
Posted 22 February 2013 - 01:58 PM
While I do like the tracking of my EQ mount, I still enjoy the views my dob gives me better. With wide-field eyepieces, viewing thru the dob is a pleasant experience...
#49
mman22
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Sputnik
Posted 22 February 2013 - 05:08 PM
I don't find tracking with my 8" dob to be distracting at all. As far as moving to new objects, naked eye is very easy to do.
#50
RocketScientist
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Mariner 2
Posted 27 February 2013 - 08:53 PM
Thanks Dave! I still have yet to get M101...
I have seen M101 with 80mm from a dark sky site in the Sierra Nevada mountains, but I cannot find it with 250mm from my condo (mag 4.5 skies). Low-surface-brightness galaxies are one class of object where aperture is not a substitute for dark skies.
M104, on the other hand, is visible with 80mm from my home. As noted, it's smaller and has higher surface brightness.
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