Astronomy Stuff

[Pcenginefx]

So anybody else here into astronomy (aka, finding things in space with a telescope?).  I ask because I will be really getting into this very soon with an upcoming purchase of the Orion Skyquest XT8 Dobsonian Reflector:

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=09707


If you have a telescope, any kind of scope - it doesn't have to be big like the Skyquest above...you can see so much (planets, stars, galaxies, nebula, star clusters) but you really need a guide...otherwise you'll be looking at random objects in the sky with no background information.  I just bought this book which is perfect for seeing all there is to see using even small scopes, and shows exactly what to expect when viewing (no Hubble photos here): http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundred-Telescope/dp/0521781906.  The book is great because it will use "star hopping" to find the area of the sky to look at, then tell you what you are looking at and why it's cool.  The Skyquest I'm planning on buying won't have any star-finder computer on it as I want to find everything myself (which is more rewarding in my opinion).

All telescope sites talk about the sad fact that millions of scopes are bought every year and are used a few times and then put into storage all because they don't have a guide.  If you have a scope, get this book (or another highly rated one is called "Nightwatch" http://www.amazon.com/NightWatch-Practical-Guide-Viewing-Universe/dp/155407147X/ref=pd_sim_b_img_7) and you can start to personally view the universe yourself.  I can't wait to start my exploration of the universe, but I'll have to wait a few more months (I'll have photos here for sure as well!)

[guyjin]

All telescope sites talk about the sad fact that millions of scopes are bought every year and are used a few times and then put into storage all because they don't have a guide.

maybe you should buy one of those instead of that big expensive thing. 

[Pcenginefx]

Oh man, this scope is CHEAP for the size - you can get it from Amazon or whatnot for about $380.  Dobsonian scopes are awesome because you can get larger diameter mirror for way lower cost then other types of scopes.  The great thing about scopes that are 6" diameter and larger is that you aren't limited to just viewing the moon, sun & planets, but you can start to see detail in DSO (deep space objects) such as galaxies 4,000,000 light years away...or see the colors in stars, or see nebula's (even when viewing in the city!).  Also, smaller scopes (say smaller than 3" in diameter) can't resolve finer details in the planets (such as the clouds on Jupiter, or the polar ice caps on Mars) so investing a bit more for a larger scope will provide a much more rewarding experience when viewing such objects.

Even if you don't have a scope, binoculars can see planets and even some galaxies as well!  You just need to know where to find them.  A great online star chart (with galaxies) is here: http://skychart.skytonight.com/observing/skychart/skychartlaunch.asp (must have java installed).  You just plug in your zip code, and it shows you the stars/planets/galaxies that you should be able to see from your location.  I just bought a pair of 10x50 binoculars to tide me over until I get my XT8, so I'll be checking out the sky as soon as it becomes clear (all cloudy here in Seattle right now

[Lord Thag]

Yeah, I like astronomy.

I scored a $3000 Meade 8' Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a worm drive tracking mount for about $400 from a friend's dad. It's really awesome. THEN, my brother found a box of expensive lenses for it ... sitting in an empty parking lot. So yeah, I got hooked up.

It's truly amazing to look at some of the celestial objects or planets with the naked eye. Seeing it on tv is just not the same. Makes you feel ... small.

[Joe Redifer]

I've never really understood the whole "feeling small" thing, instead it makes me excited.  I want to know more about what's out there.  I like to think how old the light rays are that are hitting my eyeballs and just think for a bit how those actual light rays touched whatever I am looking at at one time (if I am looking with the naked eye, TV doesn't count).

[Pcenginefx]

Yeah, I like astronomy.

I scored a $3000 Meade 8' Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a worm drive tracking mount for about $400 from a friend's dad. It's really awesome. THEN, my brother found a box of expensive lenses for it ... sitting in an empty parking lot. So yeah, I got hooked up.

It's truly amazing to look at some of the celestial objects or planets with the naked eye. Seeing it on tv is just not the same. Makes you feel ... small.

WOW man........that is a kick ass scope.  When I think about the universe or just space in general, it doesn't seem "real" to me, so that's why I'm so excited to start exploring the universe - to see with my own eyes what is out there that I've only seen in photos.  Weird part is that I've always been interested in space since I was little and never really thought about exploring the night sky until now.

[ceti alpha]

Yeah, I like astronomy.

I scored a $3000 Meade 8' Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a worm drive tracking mount for about $400 from a friend's dad. It's really awesome. THEN, my brother found a box of expensive lenses for it ... sitting in an empty parking lot. So yeah, I got hooked up.

It's truly amazing to look at some of the celestial objects or planets with the naked eye. Seeing it on tv is just not the same. Makes you feel ... small.

WOW man........that is a kick ass scope.  When I think about the universe or just space in general, it doesn't seem "real" to me, so that's why I'm so excited to start exploring the universe - to see with my own eyes what is out there that I've only seen in photos.  Weird part is that I've always been interested in space since I was little and never really thought about exploring the night sky until now.

That's Awesome! I didn't realize you could get those telescopes for so cheap.  I'd really like to get into that myself. I have a real crappy telescope that is nothing more than a glorified magnifying glass. I know what you mean though - I've always been interested in the universe and how it was created (black holes and whatnot), but yeah, actually scanning the sky never really came to me. Now that I know I can get one of those things for so cheap, this summer is going to be the summer of sky watching. 

Thanks for posting all the guides too.

[Pcenginefx]

Glad to hear that ceti!  I've been going through the book that I bought ("Turn Left at Orion") and it has really made me excited to go out and start finding some of this stuff.  Many objects are at least visible with binoculars or small scopes (1" or 2") so even with your crappy one you should be able to at least identify all of the planets and probably some galaxies.  Use that interactive skychart to see what is above you right now and you're all set!

Probably won't have any clear sky at least till the weekend (boo)...but I plan on taking a photo of what I can see with my new binoculars...we'll see....

[Pcenginefx]

BTW, here is a good example of how Saturn looks like with the Skyquest XT8 scope:



Eye piece used: "25mm Plossl" (which is one of the eye pieces that come with the scope).  So doing some easy math, the eye piece used was only 48x (and the XT8 can handle up to about 300x magnification).  This was a hand held shot so I'm sure there is more blur in the photo than what you would see with your own eye

More photos from this guy using the XT8 are here: http://home.comcast.net/~astrohammer/Photogalleryastrophoto.htm

[ceti alpha]

   

[Joe Redifer]

I hope you plan on bolting that sucker down to the ground.  I'm sure you're familiar with how bad camcorders are when they are zoomed even 8x.  But when something is zoomed extreme amounts like a telescope, the slightest touch would make the image very blurry or make it so you lose whatever you were aiming to look at altogether.

[Lord Thag]

Quote from: Pcenginefx on Today at 12:44:16 AM

That's Awesome! I didn't realize you could get those telescopes for so cheap.

Yeah, telescopes are like boats and camping trailers. People buy them, never use them, and then just want them out of the way. You can get great deals on Craigslist and other 'freecycle' type sites.

The big key is getting a mount that has the motorized worm drive. You will pull your hair out trying to find something the size of a pin head in the sky. On high mag, it will drift out of view in about three seconds without a motorized drive. With the drive, you just align the scope with the sky, and it rotates with it so whatever you point it at stays in view, even on a 4mm or 8mm lens.

I'd also recommend getting a barlowe lens and a moon filter. They extend you options by quite a lot. A wide angle 25mm lens is also a must for spotting.

Very fun times. I'll check my stock, but I think I may have a few duplicate lenses from that find of my brothers. If you're interested, I'm sure we could work out something. I'll part with 'em cheap 

[guyjin]

Point that baby at the moon - see if you can find footprints! 

[TR0N]

Point that baby at the moon - see if you can find footprints! 

Naw he should point it at mars to see those pyramids 

[Pcenginefx]

I hope you plan on bolting that sucker down to the ground.  I'm sure you're familiar with how bad camcorders are when they are zoomed even 8x.  But when something is zoomed extreme amounts like a telescope, the slightest touch would make the image very blurry or make it so you lose whatever you were aiming to look at altogether.

Oh yah, I fully expect to have this issue.  We will see once I get the big scope.

The big key is getting a mount that has the motorized worm drive. You will pull your hair out trying to find something the size of a pin head in the sky. On high mag, it will drift out of view in about three seconds without a motorized drive. With the drive, you just align the scope with the sky, and it rotates with it so whatever you point it at stays in view, even on a 4mm or 8mm lens.

I was thinking about that but the classic XT8 doesn't come with a drive (and I don't think you can put one on the Dobsonian type of scopes..?) but from all of the reviews they say that it is very easy to "track" with the scope (but again, we'll see). 

I'd also recommend getting a barlowe lens and a moon filter. They extend you options by quite a lot. A wide angle 25mm lens is also a must for spotting.

Oh yes!  Also on my XT8 wish list is the Orion Shorty 2x Barlow lens (http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Shorty-Barlow-Lens-1-25/dp/B0000XMWQW/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3JOIE9DV1TS4T&colid=3MKZ8GDKGGWIT).  For those other people who don't know what this is, this eye piece will double the magnification of your existing eye pieces.  So just pop this into the socket, then pop in your eye piece and now you got double the power (for cheap!).

I also plan on buying this Orion Variable Polarizing Filter (http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Variable-Polarizing-Filter-1-25/dp/B0000XMU96/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I17ZMJAKBUIZDG&colid=3MKZ8GDKGGWIT) which can cut down on light from 1% to 40%.  Great for viewing the moon (and adjustable too).

The XT8 comes with two 1.25" Sirius Plossl eyepieces, 25mm (48x) and 10mm (120x) so adding the barlow and polarizing filter, I think I'll be set to start seeing some great stuff.

Very fun times. I'll check my stock, but I think I may have a few duplicate lenses from that find of my brothers. If you're interested, I'm sure we could work out something. I'll part with 'em cheap 

Hey, let me know.  I'd be interested in anything that would improve the scope.