[off topic] - Buying a telescope I need advise

[t00fri]

I don't know how other people are but I can say with great confidance that my interest is NOT in observing planets and the moon. Yes I'm sure this would be a great bit of fun, but its not really where my interest is. From where I sit I want to be observing stars, singles, multiples, clusters, binaries, variables. My whole interest is to get a good look at the different stars in the sky and the systems they inhabit.

I supose by association I'd also like to see some Deep Sky objects.

In any event, planets are not my bag, so I supose that is something to consider from what You've said.

Yes! If you want to observe deep sky objects visually, you definitely need access to a /dark/ site, (perhaps a good light pollution filter helps already). Also CCD's are not too expensive anymore and allow phantastic deep sky observations even at light polluted sites. You may simply digitally subtract the light pollution!

In any case, with your interests, I would definitely advice a good medium sized reflector that may be 'strongly enhanced' with a CCD at a later stage!

Bye Fridger

[ElPelado]

t00fri, what do you think of an OPTISAN reflector with 114mm diameter and a f.8?

and what do you think about starting with a binocular?
i found those ones, do you recomend me one of this? all of them are BUSHNELL
7x35
10x50
16x50
12x50

[t00fri]

t00fri, what do you think of an OPTISAN reflector with 114mm diameter and a f.8?

and what do you think about starting with a binocular?
i found those ones, do you recomend me one of this? all of them are BUSHNELL
7x35
10x50
16x50
12x50

I do not know OPTISAN first hand. Anything cheaply priced will certainly not produce their own optics but buy it from some unspecified source. All you can do is testing before buying. The variations in quality may be really /big/. The cheaper products gamble with the fact that most customers are simply unable to quantitatively test the quality of the optics they bought!

Concerning the diameter, I advice a 150mm (6 inch) rather than a 4 inch, except the 4 inch is of excellent optical quality. 6 inch is sort of a standard 'beginner's' reflector size.

Concerning binoculars, I propose 10x50. Any bigger magnification increasingly becomes a pain in holding still.
50 mm diameter is a nice size. I have a fairly cheap 10x50 binoculars, tested it before buying, selected the best among quite a few and am /very/ happy with it since >10 years.

Bye Fridger

[Nexstar 4]

Hi all i m new to this forum and i m new to astronomy

I want to buy the nexstar 4 celestron go-to telescope and i want to tell me your opinion because i dont know to mush things about telescopes

have you in mind that the money i have to spend isnt for mush better telescope


Friendly Dimsot

[Calculus]

Yes, all were taken with my Newtonian, I haven't got any other telescope, at least for now :P

I've created this comparison image of my photograph and Celestia, take a look!:

I can see on your picture that the galilean satelites are not quite in the same position, is it due to light time delay (I dont think so), or a scale slightly different ? or what else would be the explanation ?

[Darkmiss]

Wow, hello again Calculus, long time no post.
great to see you back, i really miss your Phenomenon posts.

I also have a telescope question:

Is there such a thing as a home user, afordable telescope.
that will track objects (motorised) and is viewable via your PC

im not talking about hooking up some web cam to the front

im talking about a telescoe that is made to work on a PC and monitor
rather than a view finder

[selden]

Darkmiss,

I don't know of any mass-produced affordable telescopes intended for use by amateur astronomers that are specifically designed for CCD photography.

Affordable motorized telescopes are designed to work with eyepiece drawtubes of a particular diameter, usually 1.25". (Telescopes that use 2" drawtubes usually cost more. 0.98" drawtubes are usually used in the cheapest telescopes. It takes more work to make optics that produce a good image over a larger area.)

CCD cameras intended for astrophotography by amateur astronomers are designed to fit into those drawtubes. High quality CCD cameras cost a lot, typically ~$1000 US. That's why many people are interested in using WebCams instead.

(CCD cameras used for astrophotography by professional astronomers are individually designed, so they cost more than a lot. )

Standard video cameras can be modified to be used with amateurs' telescopes, and mounts are available to hold camcorders in place, too.

Software is readily available, both commercial and freeware, for using CCDs and Webcams for guiding and astronomical photography.

Does this help?

[Harry]

CCD cameras used for astrophotography by professional astronomers are individually designed, so they cost more than a lot.

Oh yeah, but they are really sensitive: a single 20s exposure with a Zeiss Distagon 40 mm f/4, and the result is:

The observatory structures are lit solely by starlight.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021109.html
http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0081.html (currently not available, try google's cache)

I am impressed,

Harald

[Calculus]

The observatory structures are lit solely by starlight.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021109.html
http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0081.html (currently not available, try google's cache)

I am impressed,

Harald

Indeed, impressive

[Calculus]

Wow, hello again Calculus, long time no post.
great to see you back, i really miss your Phenomenon posts.

Hi Darkmiss and thanks. I've been very busy lately. I'm still thinking of posting new Celestial Phenomena. But don't know when. I do read the Celestia Forum from time to time. There are a lot more people. It's a big hit!

[Darkmiss]

Thank you Selden, that does indeed help

it tels me that ill never be able to afford my dream telescope

Hell, i need to got out of this light polluted London, before i even think about it yet.

[selden]

Paul,

Many people find themselves in the same situation as you, with eyes bigger than their wallets. There are several ways you can reduce the cost, though. You might consider making or assembling it yourself. Or you might try searching for a bargain priced used telescope.

There are at least six astronomy clubs in London. You should seriously consider attending some of their meetings. I'm sure there will be people there who will be delighted to offloa\\\\\get rid o\\\\\\provide access to telescopes they've outgrown.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/myspace/localspace/london_index.shtml for a list of some of those groups.