7177 replies to this topic

[nitsky]

Welcome back nsomniac!

Seems there's a bunch of us who fell asleep under that tree. 

 

Hope the thrill follows every one getting back into the game.

Nitsky

[TheReboot]

Nice to meet you guys, I go by either Jed or Reboot. I'm new to astronomy although I've always had an interest in it. 

 

Something about the draw of space and the idea of things being out there has always interested me and after years of watching videos and reading articles about astronomy, I've finally bought my first telescope.

I've got an Apetura AD6 and am looking forward to a lifetime a viewing. 

 

 

 

If you have any tips on taking care of it properly please let me know!

 

[nitsky]

Welcome to CN Jed!

That scope will get you going nicely.

 

Any particular category of astronomy excites you the most?

Nitsky

[TheReboot]

Welcome to CN Jed!

That scope will get you going nicely.

 

Any particular category of astronomy excites you the most?

Nitsky

I'd love to view the planets first to get me started but after I'm practiced with it I would love to view the deep sky and take some photos in there. I know it won't be easy and it won't be where I start because astrophotography is difficult.

I'm going to print out my first photo onto a canvas so that I always know where I started and how difficult it was to get something even halfway decent.

[sheath]

I'd love to view the planets first to get me started but after I'm practiced with it I would love to view the deep sky and take some photos in there. I know it won't be easy and it won't be where I start because astrophotography is difficult.

I'm going to print out my first photo onto a canvas so that I always know where I started and how difficult it was to get something even halfway decent.

Nice purchase!  I really enjoy how it is so easy to sit in a chair, and really get comfortable behind the eye piece on these scopes. 
Once you get the hang of how long to let the scope cool to get to ambient, and how to find clear times of the night for steady seeing (https://www.astrospheric.com), the views are really cool.

Put the 9mm eye piece in and slowly move the scope along the limb of the moon.  It is an awesome "fly by" type experience, and a unique view each night.  

 

Then a reasonably priced Astrozap Baader film solar filter, will net you some fun views of the sun.  Can add filters as you want.  Really take advantage of all the solar system has to give.

Astronomy isn't just for vampires any more. 

[iurobz]

Howdy everyone.

 

Soon to be 60 y/o rookie. My first scope just arrived this afternoon (a Celestron 6se) which I chose by reading tons of input here. Your site is amazing. I don't have to post questions because it seems like everything I could ask has already been covered, I just have to search. The only thing that would make it better is if we had clear skies. 

[Jvswan]

Hi all, I’m Jason, from Western Washington. I have enjoyed astronomy since I was young. I started college as a physics major hoping to become an astronomer, but I couldn’t deal with the math! LOL. Now, many years later, I’ve recently purchased a lightly used GSO 12” Dobsonian with several nice eye pieces and some other pieces that I haven’t learned to use yet. Looks like tonight will be my first clear night, so I’m excited to get out there and take a peek at what’s going on out there! Wish it wasn’t so close to a full moon…

Anyway, I’ve started plowing through content here and am enjoying all the stuff I’m learning about! Looking forward to learning more and more!

[nitsky]

Top of the evening Jason.....to paraphrase Dr. Strange Love, "how I learned to stop fearing the moon and LOVE IT."

Especially through a 14", there'll be a WOW FACTOR involved. 

 

Welcome.to CN!

Hack

[nitsky]

Hi iurobz, and CONGRATULATIONS on the new scope!

 

There's a lot of things those there younger ones can do probably better than us older ones...BUT we've learned patients! And that's the most important thing to have in this hobby.

 

66 here, and starting over again .....and feel as giddy as a kid doing it.

Nitsky

[sadinoel]

Hello from cloudy Greece 
 
I'm pretty new to all this, got my 1st telescope about a year ago, using it for visual observation ever since. Living in a light-polluted area, I got a 5" Mak for portability and to avoid frequent collimation. First time I saw Saturn's rings and M31 were transformative experiences!
 
Now I just started with AP, to try and see what's the best I can do with what I have, spending as little as possible for additional equipment. Looking at the pics you all are taking, mine  much yet so I might be posting a couple of questions in the corresponding topics.
 
I have to say this past year I've been reading through these forums *a lot* and it's been very helpful already.
 
Clear skies!




 
Skymax 127/1500 Mak-Cass, alu tripod
AZ-GTi in EQ mode with Star Adventurer polar wedge
Omegon Premium Flatfield 25mm/65deg eyepiece
Omegon imaging flip mirror
Nikon 1 J5

[nitsky]

Welcome to CN  sadinoel  from Cloud North America

Nitsky

[Microtech SAT]

Hello friends, I would like to introduce my self, mi name is Dorian and I'm the owner and technician at Microtech SAT, we are located in canary islands, Tenerife. I found this forum searching for answers because we have some customers who are bringing celestron Scopes in for service and repair. I hope we can help each other! Thanks to everyone!

[Cats and Brews]

Hello there CN Community! New to this group, new to telescopes, NOT new to optics (photography, videography, precision .22LR shooting). I'm a married guy living in the Kansas City metro area with a wonderful wife of 35 years, 3 kids out of the house, 3 cats in the house, and retirement staring me down (sometime in the 5 years is the plan at the moment). Enjoy travel, making BBQ, cooking in general, bourbon, tinkering with tech, cameras, rifles, gardening, etc. Lots of things keeping me busy (and taking my money!)

 

It has been decades since I spent any real time observing the sky, aside from the requisite shots of lunar eclipses, attempts at capturing stars when being in remote areas, or taking images and video of rocket launches while vacationing in Florida. However, over the last few years my wife and I have become aware of the night sky a lot more. We have vacationed multiple times in Portugal and Spain, and have also been taking long "glamping" weekends together 4X - 6X a year. Being in these areas with less light pollution and darker skies has led to a renewed interest in observing the stars and planets. And in a month, we will be taking a 7 night RV trip through the TX panhandle, with at least one night in each of the state parks in Caprock Canyons and Copper Breaks. Both of those sites are known for dark skies and great views, so what better excuse to buy a telescope!

 

As a beginner AND spouse of someone who isn't interested in taking forever to find objects, and who has little knowledge of the sky, I opted to get a Celestron NexStar 6SE (6" SCT with 1500mm focal length and f/10). I felt it was an easy scope to learn on, portable, easy to set up and control, and scratches the itch of being able to easily find objects using Sky Safari, SkyPortal, etc. I know it comes with some compromises, but for someone just getting into this hobby I felt it was a good first scope, one that I could grow with if I get more serious, and one that wold probably always have its place in a collection. As it comes with only a 25mm eyepiece, I've been researching some budget-yet-decent first eyepieces to take advantage of the trip we have coming up, our weekend getaways and even our backyard. Even though we are in a Bortle 8 area, I have already experienced great views of the moon, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and some DSOs. 

 

Looking forward to learning from the group and breaking into a new hobby!

Edited by Cats and Brews, 13 February 2025 - 02:09 PM.

[Jw_drums]

Hi all,

I just wanted to say hello and thanks for all the great info I've already gleaned from this forum! I'm brand new to the hobby, having bought a astromaster 70az for my 6 year old for Christmas. I wish I had half as much on this forum before the purchase as I have afterwards!

Anyway, following some weeks of research, anger at a sub-par mount and, most importantly, inspiring views, we're the proud owners of a 8 inch GSO dob under the RVO Horizon name.

My first view of the moon through the 70az was amazing, the first through the dob literally took my breath away.

So, thanks for all the info I've mined upto now and sorry for the inane questions that will follow!

Clear skies!

Jamie

[Dave Mitsky]

Right On!  Binocular astronomy is a lot of fun.
Just in case you haven't already found this:

http://www.skymaps.com  is a website where they have a monthly downloadable map of the sky, and cover cool stuff to see by eye, binoculars, and by telescope for the specific month. 

It's fun to print it out two sided and put on a clip board.  The chart has items that are discussed located, so that they are easy to spot in the sky.  Print double sided keeps everything on one piece of paper. 

Here is the download page, which currently has February available to download.

https://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html

 

As you'll find they also have books, planispheres, etc. for sale. 

 

Clear skies!

Monthly charts and information on potential observing targets are also available at https://kenpress.com/

[sheath]

Monthly charts and information on potential observing targets are also available at https://kenpress.com/

Wow! 

Just printed out the February chart double sided and looked it over.

Another great option that has some very cool info.

 

Seems this website, and Sky Maps compliment each other. 

 

Thanks for sharing Dave.

[konrad]

Welcome to all new members enjoy the many forums 

[Annalyn]

Hello. I've been trying to observe the night sky with my bare eyes for a few years now with little success. I own 3 telescopes that I will be testing at night soon, but 1 is giving me trouble. It is a Galileo FS-102NT reflector that won't focus. I have tried everything that people have told me and so far nothing has worked. I just want to know what I'm doing wrong or what the telescope is missing. Also the Galileo company (as far as I know) doesn't exist anymore and I don't think there's a astronomy club nearby I can take it to for help. If any of you might know how to help, I will take any advice at this time.

[sheath]

Hello. I've been trying to observe the night sky with my bare eyes for a few years now with little success. I own 3 telescopes that I will be testing at night soon, but 1 is giving me trouble. It is a Galileo FS-102NT reflector that won't focus. I have tried everything that people have told me and so far nothing has worked. I just want to know what I'm doing wrong or what the telescope is missing. Also the Galileo company (as far as I know) doesn't exist anymore and I don't think there's a astronomy club nearby I can take it to for help. If any of you might know how to help, I will take any advice at this time.

Sounds like some good hands on with an experienced person would be very helpful for you.

Couple of ideas, since it seems you may not have an astronomy club:
*It might be worth checking to see if there is a local school, college, university with an astronomy group. 

* An ad in the local paper for other astronomers in the area might bring someone out.

* Contact a club within reasonable shipping distance who might have a member you could send your scope to for evaluation and possible repair.  At least you'd have a good idea that the scope works correctly.

 

While you attempt the above, search the reflector sub-forum here, and if you don't find information that helps you resolve the issue, make a thread asking for help from someone who has the same telescope as you.

https://www.cloudyni.../68-reflectors/

 

Hopefully one or more of these will help you get some great views. 

Best wishes for success.

[A Star Geezer]

iurobz

Glad to see a young'un  buying a new scope. Alone with new scopes comes the new scope curse cloudy nights. Have fun and welcome. I'm new also

[JohnAng]

Hello from down under.

Am just starting out in this hobby and the main reason for it was because my daughter showed an interest in it so i got her her first setup just recently and figured we will learn together. Something we have done before with guitar.

I found a nexstar evolution 925 at a great price so grabbed one of them along with the following
asiair

asi678 camera

asi EAF

dew shield

focal reducer

 

to start off with we will just observing, learn how to use the equipment then attach  the camera and have a go at planetary photography.

the end goal will be to also get a good EQ mount and delve into some DSO

So much reading to do though and no doubt i'll have many questions along the way., 

[seware74]

Hey folks. Greetings from cold Iowa.

 

Looking for a little selling advice as a new user here.

 

I was last really involved with astronomy in 2007 as a way to connect with my young children. I bought a C8N on a CG5 mount and then got into the sub-hobby of roboscoping. (which was kinda new and cool way back then). I built a pretty useful "goto" (for 2007) and we had a lot of fun.  Along the way we moved to another state and had little sky readily available and my kids lost interest. The scope stayed in the box for the last 12 years except a few times. Now I'm getting ready to move yet again and decided this is a hobby that I can probably leave behind. I dug the C8 out recently and spent a few weeks getting it all back in tip top shape. I'd like to sell it but not sure where. It seems that CN would be the right place but I'm new so I don't think I can sell on the classifieds yet w/o a number of legit posts. I don't think I have anything legit to offer anyone since I'm a fading amateur. Is Fleabay my best option? 

 

Any thoughts? thanks for any help y'all. (and for helping me get the scope collimated!) 

[nitsky]

Hey John,  welcome aboard!

Doing it the right way, and for all the best reasons....Love seeing Family being Family!

Nitsky

[SoDakSky]

Greetings everyone. My wife and I got our first telescope a month ago and are beginning the hobby! Nice to meet you. My setup: Askar 103APO and Medium Duty Tripod with an EQ mount. SVBony eyepiece set. Canon EOS Rebel 3Ti with T-Ring 48mm and 42mm and Baader T-2 Adapter with 2.25x Barlow. Ready to explore!

[tombombadil]

Hello from northern New Mexico in the United States. I’ve long enjoyed sky watching with unaided eyes or binoculars, and last week at a thrift shop I couldn’t resist an Orion StarMax 102mm EQ Maksutov-Cassegrain. Now I need to figure out what to do with it! So that’s why I’m here. Looking forward to learning from you all!

Edited by tombombadil, 19 February 2025 - 11:26 PM.