31 replies to this topic

[Neanderthal]

It all started about Thanksgiving of 2020, when my wife suggested we get a telescope for each other for Christmas. I've always been enamored with space but for some reason getting a scope never crossed my mind, and besides, I already have/had several expensive hobbies to deal with. But since she opened the door.....    So the search was on for what scope to get. I watched what seemed like 100's of You Tube videos and spent a lot of time reading reviews on the internet. For the most part, a 6"  to 10" Dob was the most recommended. I had the opportunity to borrow a coworkers 6" Schmitt-Newtonian (GEM) for a week and got it out every night. We liked what we saw when we weren't fighting the GEM, lol. We decided to go for either an 8" or 10", but there literally wasn't anything in stock to be had. I finally found an 8" Dob about 200 miles from me. The lady had just purchased it that spring but, unfortunately, health issues forced her to part with it. It looked like it had never been used and we were the happy new owners. So the journey began....

 

Rough Start

• I had a very difficult time coordinating what I saw in the finder scope to what I saw on star charts and in the EP. Too much backwards, upside-down overload going on. The charts reminded me of a target at a Turkey Shoot. Got nowhere with this. Bought the book "Turn Left at Orion", and it didn't help at all, I guess I just didn't mesh with it.

• Installed a Telrad and acquired star charts that were Telrad-friendly. This was a lot better, but the lack of visible stars made it pretty difficult except for a very limited part of the sky.

• Determined not to give up, I found a couple threads here on CN about using an azimuth circle and digital inclinometer. After installing these aids, GAME CHANGER. Using SkySafari Plus, I can now easily find things, quickly, within the limits of my light pollution and reach of the scope. Now it's fun! 

 

Sinking In

• Quickly learned how important a dark sky is. Dark sky trumps everything.

• This hobby helps with patience - nothing like searching deep into the blackness. Pure serenity.

• This hobby drives home just how immense the universe is. The James Webb telescope is going to blow the door wide open.

• I've got a lot to learn, but it's fun.

 

Realizations

• There's a lot of banter on forums about perfect scopes, EP's, ect, but at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is enjoying being under the stars and having a good time. This is a hobby, don't make it a chore.

• We are very lucky to have this forum (thank you Astronomics), it is an absolute treasure chest of knowledge, experience and a helpful membership. I know I have received a ton of good help!

• One gets a lot of satisfaction just finding something millions of miles away, it's worth it.

• Accept that this is for the long haul - no need to be in a hurry, there's so, so much to see.  

 

 

[jlinsobe]

I like your realisations.  Especially the first one.

The key is to get out and enjoy what the heavens have to offer, free of charge.

[daveb2022]

"I found a couple threads here on CN about using an azimuth circle and digital inclinometer. After installing these aids, GAME CHANGER. Using SkySafari Plus, I can now easily find things, quickly, within the limits of my light pollution and reach of the scope. Now it's fun!"

 

I totally agree. The speed of using setting circles lets me get to the targets quicker and view more objects during my viewing time. About the only time I star hop anymore is when I'm going after unnamed doubles on my star charts. Even then I can get really close with DSC's.

[jimandlaura26]

Thanks for sharing. Welcome to the obsession… at many levels. Most of us have stories and journeys that overlap with your experiences, especially in that crucial first year. Three thoughts, from someone who has been at this for about 20 years now.

First, if not already done, join an astronomy club - it serves as a great first-person resource of diverse talents and from which you will learn a great deal. I spent 12 years as a club public outreach coordinator in Northern Virginia.

Second, telescopes and their equipment are tools - a means to an end; and your objectives (e.g., what objects you enjoy observing and CAN observe) will evolve over time for numerous reasons. In purchasing equipment, favor quality and value over expediency and recognize that your mix of tools may need to change. In my case, I recently purchased a Unistellar eQuinox to punch through suburban light pollution for electronically assisted observation of dim DSOs that will replace the function of my larger scopes; though not replace my complementary refractors.

Third, the journey, process of discovery, and rewards will never end… if you so choose. Share your growing experience, especially with folks unfamiliar with the universe we all live in and particularly with the younger generation. This world and the self-absorbed attitudes of our fellow humans are changing rapidly in so many ways (not all good, even here in the US). Engaging people to look up into the night sky, vice down at their cell phones 24/7; and to help them recognize that the Earth we all live on is an intimate part of that universe - vice an attitude that space is something out there distinct and remote from our existence or just a Hollywood science fiction blockbuster abstraction, is critical for developing healthy perspectives of reality moving forward…

Glad you came aboard.

Edited by jimandlaura26, 06 January 2023 - 08:03 AM.

[NeroStar]

Very insightful!   I remember my first year(s) in the amateur astronomy field being fraught with frustration, but that was prior to the Internet (My interest grew as a result of the original Battlestar Galactica in '78/'79).  Too much time is spent worrying about whether your telescope and other equipment is right for the job, and that's a feeling that some still get after many years in the hobby.  I agree that you should make a choice and then enjoy what you have, even if its not optimal for every task. As you mentioned, patience is everything in this hobby as 'perfect' seeing nights are few and far between.  

[WillR]

Your journey is very similar to mine which also started on Christmas 2020 with the mutual gift of a telescope to and from my GF and myself. In our case, it was an Astronomers without Borders One Sky.

 

I also struggled with Turn Left at Orion. The targets were great and the drawings accurate, but the finder charts were of little help.  I also installed an azimuth circle and got a digital angle gauge. However after a short time, having reasonably dark skies, I abandoned these in favor of a laser pointer and 8x50 RACI finder combined with some charts. More work sometimes, but I am learning the sky in depth, so worth it to me.

 

After 2 years, still hooked and diving deeper, now with 4 telescopes and 2 pairs of binoculars.

Edited by WillR, 06 January 2023 - 10:28 AM.

[Neanderthal]

Your journey is very similar to mine which also started on Christmas 2020 with the mutual gift of a telescope to and from my GF and myself. In our case, it was an Astronomers without Borders One Sky.

 

I also struggled with Turn Left at Orion. The targets were great and the drawings accurate, but the finder charts were of little help.  I also installed an azimuth circle and got a digital angle gauge. However after a short time, having reasonably dark skies, I abandoned these in favor of a laser pointer and 8x50 RACI finder combined with some charts. More work sometimes, but I am learning the sky in depth, so worth it to me.

 

After 2 years, still hooked and diving deeper, now with 4 telescopes and 2 pairs of binoculars.

We picked up the little Astro-Tech 50mm finderscope as a quick grab-n-go. https://www.cloudyni...45-50mm-f5-rft/

 

This was a fantastic way to dip our toes into the refractor world, and it's so darn portable it's a hoot. I installed a laser pointer and look forward to learning the sky. Being a wide-field instrument, I'm hoping it'll be easier to navigate with charts vs the Dob. We have already used it many nights, it's perfect for a 5 minute look between clouds! 

Edited by Neanderthal, 06 January 2023 - 10:41 AM.

[Echolight]

What I found out was that good eyepieces are expensive. And that many are offended by someone enjoying a large achromat too much.

[TheChosen]

Realizations
• There's a lot of banter on forums about perfect scopes, EP's, ect, but at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is enjoying being under the stars and having a good time. This is a hobby, don't make it a chore.

Easy for you (and me) to say with the best and most versatile scope (8 inch f/6 DOB) that will work well with pretty much any eyepiece you put into it

As for finding stuff.. get a budget 2 inch 40mm 70AFOV eyepiece. I don’t even use the finder anymore as it shows over 2 degrees of the sky.

[Neanderthal]

Easy for you (and me) to say with the best and most versatile scope (8 inch f/6 DOB) that will work well with pretty much any eyepiece you put into it

As for finding stuff.. get a budget 2 inch 40mm 70AFOV eyepiece. I don’t even use the finder anymore as it shows over 2 degrees of the sky.

 

I removed the finder scope (the Telrad took it's spot) when I started using the setting circle/inclinometer.  

[Casualcal]

I have found that setting circles and RA are much slower than knowing your targets constellation and it’s B.S. Then find the bright star on your phone. Move to the Telrad and move it to the BS located on phone, target should appear in eyepiece

[rgk901]

haha I started Thanksgiving of 2020 as well LOL

great hobby.. it's sort of engulfs you!! no other hobby has me participating this much on forums/social media etc.


but you have a missing year someplace! 11/20 and we are already in 2023! 2+ years under our belt! we are PRO's

[AnotherMoneyPit]

It all started about Thanksgiving of 2020, when my wife suggested we get a telescope for each other for Christmas.
 

LOL. It all started this past Christmas for us.

I can still remember her words, verbatim: "I think I'd like to get a telescope. Something to watch the stars with on occassoin. Maybe take a few pictures".

 

Now, we're almost 4K in now (which still places us among 'the poors' in this community), and it's not even February.

Every time something new arrives, I just look at her and repeat those words...

 

"I think I'd like to get a telescope. Something to watch the stars with on occassion. Maybe take a few pictures".

 

[Kaladar]

I started this last Halloween. I've always been interested and used to live 20 miles from the middle of nowhere (MAN ... if I'd had a scope back then)!

 

I started watching some of the Nasa/SpaceX launches and some space/astronomy-centric YT channels. Eventually I fell into astrophotography channels -- and while I don't aspire to doing that myself -- I was a little enamored with the idea of looking at the planets and moon, at least.

 

Few months later, watching local Craigslist somewhat casually, a person was selling their XT8+. Had everything but the solar shield - 2x Barlow, 2" 28mm and 1.25" 10mm eyepieces. I debated it for a few while and the seller went down to accepting $600 for it and I pulled the trigger.

 

It has been a learning experience, but even on a 'bad night' I can always find SOMETHING and have been blessed to have something to do what the whole family can participate in.

 

Got a Celestron zoom eyepiece for Christmas, which I REALLY like. I'm still a little astounded by how much more I see with the 28mm vs the 24mm on the zoomer. I saw TheChosen mention a 2" 40mm 70AFOV and I can only imagine how much more that would show!

 

I'm not really satisfied with the Orion II red-dot finder that came with the scope. I'm very much into the idea of star-hopping and do it when my target its near other things I can see. I did it to find Pallas and some open clusters in Sirius earlier in the week, but I'm ready to get an AZ circle worked in sooner than later. Digital Inclinometer is helpful, but getting even closer would be nice. I'm truly not impatient, but there are times I want to just look at X

[Neanderthal]

haha I started Thanksgiving of 2020 as well LOL

great hobby.. it's sort of engulfs you!! no other hobby has me participating this much on forums/social media etc.


but you have a missing year someplace! 11/20 and we are already in 2023! 2+ years under our belt! we are PRO's

Yep, typo on my part, but for some reason it won't let me edit that post. Should've said "2021".

[Neanderthal]

I have found that setting circles and RA are much slower than knowing your targets constellation and it’s B.S. Then find the bright star on your phone. Move to the Telrad and move it to the BS located on phone, target should appear in eyepiece

There are huge sections of my sky that I can't see any stars. The setting circle/inclinometer has been a reliable and quick way to find things.

[gnowellsct]

Realizations
• There's a lot of banter on forums about perfect scopes, EP's, ect, but at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is enjoying being under the stars and having a good time.

No, that can't be true.

[Astro-Master]

 

 

Realizations

• There's a lot of banter on forums about perfect scopes, EP's, ect, but at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is enjoying being under the stars and having a good time. This is a hobby, don't make it a chore.

 

Being under the stars and having a good time is the key.

 

The best scope is the one you enjoy the most and have fun using.  I hope it becomes a lifelong adventure of exploration and wonder, as it has been for myself.

[Mike Q]

With you on the setting circles that is for sure.  Its like GPS for a dob.  Wouldnt be without one on a manual dob 

[Daniel Jackson]

With you on the setting circles that is for sure.  Its like GPS for a dob.  Wouldnt be without one on a manual dob 

 

 

Would some kind soul be good enough to point me to something that explains what is meant by GPS for a dob?  

[Echolight]

Would some kind soul be good enough to point me to something that explains what is meant by GPS for a dob?  

You have to know the coordinates of the object at the present time to use setting circles

[Daniel Jackson]

You have to know the coordinates of the object at the present time to use setting circles

 

A GPS can tell you the coordinates of a celestial object?  Or by object, do you mean... the telescope?  

 

Sorry, I guess I need to study up on setting circles, never had any experience with them.  

[Neanderthal]

You can get real-time azimuth/altitude coordinates from programs like SkySafari and Stellarium. I use SkySafari Plus.

[Echolight]

A GPS can tell you the coordinates of a celestial object?  Or by object, do you mean... the telescope?  

 

Sorry, I guess I need to study up on setting circles, never had any experience with them.  

I would hope you could find your telescope without assistance 

 

What Neanderthal said. You get the altitude and azimuth for the object from an app. And then align the scope with the degree circles aka setting circles.

Edited by Echolight, 26 January 2023 - 09:02 PM.

[Daniel Jackson]

I would hope you could find your telescope without assistance 

 

 

I wouldn't make too many assumptions.  

 

Anyway, thanks, I get it now.  So a basic GPS to determine directions, then an app to figure out where to point the scope (assuming I can find it).  Excellent.  

 

The Brown Truck brought this about an hour ago, so maybe I'll be spared for a while (assuming there is ever a clear sky around here again).  

 

And just to try to reverse my hijacking of the thread, I've been at this for about a year, and appreciate the points made by the OP and others.  A wonderful "hobby" for those of us who have spent a lifetime staring into the sky with wonder...