My First Telescope

rolion

Hello,

First of all...BIG Thanks to all the posts and members here...
I have managed to take the step and bought a telescope from adverts.

Got it home, looked trough the boxes, lens, mounts, papers...hmmm very very tricky for a beginner !
Decided to take it outside and give it a run...nothing worked, i just saw few spots and bright lights...more annoying it was the black circle in the middle of the image !

Went back in the house and started reading online and the books, i know now more about eye pieces, star diagonal, barlow and others....
Checked supplier website and discovered that I may need to buy additional items.

My first Qs are:
Is it really so annoying in wanting to do it and a big failure from first time ?
Is anyone around Dublin that organises courses for beginners ?
Can I ask someone to come for few hours to assist me in setting up and use it as first time !?

Thanks in advance...

Kersh

Straight in at the deep end! I love it

Often, yes, some things can be difficult to get right first time, but dont get disheartened. You have a fantastic scope there, its just a matter of taking baby steps.

The black circle usually means you are struggling with focus. As you focus, either in or out, this circle should disappear. Sounds like you need either an extension tube or star diagonal.

The mount needs to be at least roughly polar aligned before use, this procedure, when presented with it for the first time, can be a bit confusing.

Where exactly are you based? If its around Dublin/Meath/Louth Ill be able to get out to help,

Thargor

Some people like me are just allergic to equatorial mounts, I like a nice light alt-az mount on my 90 mm refractor, dont have the time or the energy for anything else these days, nice moon tonight? I can be looking at it in 30 seconds and back indorrs before my tea goes cold

rolion

Thanks guys for reply and encouragement !

I'm still reading the books, watching lots of videos on the YouTube.

I decided to wait until my "dear lovely" Moon is back on my shores.
With that in my scope focus, i can use it as a reference and hopefully, to get to next level from there.

I guess my setup with optical tube, lens and focus is wrong.

On top of that, I got myself a Nikon D5100 as the scope had a Nikon T ring /bracket. As well, waiting for my beauty to come out...
Going to take a 2 hour training for "how to" use the camera from a chap listing his services on Adverts.

I've purchased a reducer /corrector...understood that it will improve the FoV and make wonders with my camera.
Also, I'm getting a light reduction filter for the polluted area in my front / back gardens.

Also, in the process of ordering a Celestron Wi-Fi link and a Celestron Starsense Autoalign ...still trying to hide funds from me boss.

Next plan is to join a local club and see how do I mix with other "crazy" people like me !??

Thanks.

rolion

I need an advice from you, older & more experienced people (older like in the light seconds not human years).

I'm meeting a friend this week that is builder and I'm trying to get a "astro dome shed" in the back garden so I could have the scope setup all the time, a little hide away from "others".

Just worried about condense, security and not lastly...light pollution !

Any thing to share, please !?

Thanks.

Kersh

Thats a big project!

Observatories need an awful lot of forward planning.

Huge amount of reading in here -

http://stargazerslounge.com/forum/61-diy-observatories/

First things first, pick a spot in garden, lay a foundation, put up a pier, preferably in concrete, 2 feet deep, and build the shed/observatory around it.

Most people use dehumidifiers in them, to keep gear dry.

Nothing much can be done regarding light pollution, except move to a dark sky, or use light pollution filters, which will help a little.

rolion

A quick update..

Managed to set the telescope and got views of the Moon and Jupiter.
Moon came fine-ish with and without the filters.
Jupiter came very faint, bad, just a white spot...I saw the 4 moons and I can say is amazing, thinking that those fluffy balls are just floating there, in the middle of nowhere, in that emptiness of the space...fascinating !

Few lessons learned:
-is getting to be an expensive hobby, money and time, dedication.

-learned how to use eye pieces, from smaller to bigger. Understood to start searching for an object with a higher number /lower magnification number (ie 32mm Ploss) and the once in my focus, to change it to a lower number/higher magnification number to get a better view. Trying to see what is the limit on the lower end otherwise, the magnification of the optical view becomes blur.

-learned how to set the camera with a Barrel and within direct focal point of the scope. I may need to get a camera zoom module or similar so that will help me get a better view?


To Do:
-setup the scope on a pure Polaris Equatorial mount coordinates so that I can trace the objects automatically, with the motors on the mount
-get a zoom eyepiece, so that I will not have to look in the middle of the night for eye pieces and ... guess their size.
-buy an additional power tank for my dew buster and for may laptop.
-buy a portable tea / coffee maker to keep e warm
-get involved in the local community/ clubs, already met 2 people that are amazing, the 3 of us, on Friday night, at 1AM sitting on the middle of nowhere...chatting about stars !
-read read read...

Issues:
Can't get a clear picture and view of the planets, possible my scope been off-focus ? I heard about "collimation" ben a big issue.

That is the view of Jupiter...just a white spot ...




Moon, a little bit better but unprocessed in any software, just pure Nikon's raw format:




Thanks.

ThunderCat

Is that how Jupiter appears through the eyepiece aswell? Without using the Nikon camera I mean.

rolion

ThunderCat wrote: »

Is that how Jupiter appears through the eyepiece aswell? Without using the Nikon camera I mean.

Both unfortunately.

Tried different eye pieces, 2x and 3x barlow.
Played with the focus on the scope...no really much difference !

Thanks.

ThunderCat

rolion wrote: »

Both unfortunately.

Tried different eye pieces, 2x and 3x barlow.
Played with the focus on the scope...no really much difference !

Thanks.

That's a pity. On the plus side let me tell you that when you get it all sorted and working properly the views will be great. The telescope I have is far inferior to yours and I can get a good view of the night sky with it - moon craters clear and sharp, Jupiters two main bands visible with the 10mm eye piece etc. so when you have yours up and running the views will be excellent.
I can't provide you with any info as to how to get it working properly other than perhaps attending a local astronomy meet and get someone there with a similar/same scope to look at it for you. Could you take it back to where you got it and get the previous owner to show you how to set it up? Best of luck anyway. Hope you get up and running soon.

Thargor

You should have a waaaaaaaaay better view of Jupiter with a C8-SGT, I can get good detail with a 90mm refractor pointed at Jupiter or Saturn and the moon is crystal clear aswell.

rolion

Thanks.
That is good to know.
Scope bought off adverts, i don't think is a way back from here .
I'll see it tomorrow, if Stephen c/o KTech comes around.

I am aware than the astrophoto setup is not the greatest with what I have but I thought trough the eye pieces I should see it better...

What I guess I will need next ... is some sort of cover, so I can get inside, beside the scope and all the equipment and stay away from at least wind (if not rain) as sometime, at night ,the air is cold but the wind...a so chilly wind killing and reaching your smaller bones .
Any idea on what can I get !? If that will be portable, easy to mount/unmounts it will be even greater.

Clear skies...

Muppet Man

Rolion, I dont mean at all to be insulting here, but are you sure you were looking at Jupiter? I have a six inch - not very expensive- telescope and with a 2x barlow and 15 MM eyepiece, very definite bands can be seen on Jupiter.

By any slim chance, might you have been looking at Venus... which has been in the lowish in the western sky shortly after sunset around now.

The image you posted would somewhat match what I see when I try to look at venus. It is very definitely the brightest "star" in the sky at the moment. Not a lot can be seen (by me) only a bright circle when I look at it through my scope.

Again, no offence meant.

Muppet Man

ThunderCat

Muppet Man wrote: »

Rolion, I dont mean at all to be insulting here, but are you sure you were looking at Jupiter? I have a six inch - not very expensive- telescope and with a 2x barlow and 15 MM eyepiece, very definite bands can be seen on Jupiter.

By any slim chance, might you have been looking at Venus... which has been in the lowish in the western sky shortly after sunset around now.

The image you posted would somewhat match what I see when I try to look at venus. It is very definitely the brightest "star" in the sky at the moment. Not a lot can be seen (by me) only a bright circle when I look at it through my scope.

Again, no offence meant.

Muppet Man

He mentions seeing the 4 Galilean Moons when he took the image of Jupiter so unfortunately for him it isn't Venus he is photographing. Good guess though, as his photo really does look Venus like. Hopefully he gets sorted soon, it's a very nice scope he has.

rolion

Hello,

New things learned and ready to share... on my chilly time
I've learned so far...

If I want to play with the scope, please allow at least half hour for the optical unit to cool down or up.Put the scope out in a SAFE location and leave it upside down, with the eye piece out and open. That will allow the optical to warm or cool, based on location.

Get a red light ,flash light or similar. Is so hard to find what you need in the dark and if you use a white light, it will make you feel so awkward switching from scope to white flashlight.

Learned how to do a Polar Alignment using Polaris...yaahoo !

Setup GoToX but is kind of hard to know all the stars by name, specially when is cloudy !

Upgraded to a 2" diagonal star, better quality & more light than the original 1.25" older one.

Got as well, a nice Crayford Dual Speed focuser, still haven't got the hack of it as tonight it didn't worked properly,probably due to collimation or the clouds !

I've played with the scope, filters, mount, up & down on day time. Its making things so easy when I am are at midnight, outside, in complete darkness looking to do something !


I'm planning to buy few nice eye pieces...1.15" and/or 2",somewhere in the range of 30,20,10 and under. I need to play with the basic ones supplied with the scope then buy one piece a month, as they are expensive...around €250 mark. Been advised to get one with eye relief, a good Field of View and multiple coating /lenses inside. Any recommendations ?

I'm getting some training on Digital Photography, I hope that will massively help me to sort out ISO, resolution, framing, time and so on when I try doing a normal photo of the planet. Once basic handy, then I can move to long exposure times, taking snapshots and then combining them in the specialised software.

The scope is getting so quick dew these nights ! I have the dew extender but I reckon I need to get a proper ones, with electrical controller. I watched online that is recommended one for the primary mirror and second for the eye piece. KTech I saw has both in the shop so I may get them now.


Now...my problem is that the telescope is sick !
Stephen c/o Ktech came around last night and reckon it will need a proper collimation and some other basic maintenance.
I need to let him have it for few days and hopefully it will work better after.

Until then...clear skies ahead !

rolion

Hi All,

I thought I may call here to share the frustration over the weather in the past few nights...almost a whole week !

Seen the moon better and more in the day time than at night !!
I wonder how does the "sky master" knows I wanna go outside and play and he send over here all these clouds and rain !? Or is it only me ? Or...i'm I doing something wrong !

I've put all my expansion plans on hold, no more funds planned or spent.
Steven is getting pissed with my questions and emails...poor guy waiting for a clear sky to collimate my scope ! Feel sorry for both of us...
How can he operate a business here, with these clouds !?

Until I get my hands back on my scope, guys...let me wish you clear skies !!!

Regards

Kersh

frustration over the weather in the past few nights...almost a whole week

The good news is, its supposed to be clear tonight! Clouds and frustration are part and parcel of astronomy in Ireland!

Steven is getting pissed with my questions and emails...poor guy waiting for a clear sky to collimate my scope

Not at all, questions are great, cos they often save people money! Keep them coming, its all part of what I do!

rolion

Well...i fell in love with a Dobs.
Love the C8 and all the gadgy stuff,we had lovely nights out together but i feel that i want to push it for more...

I am planning in selling the current setup and go for a 14" or 16" Dobs.
As none of my stuff will work with a Dobs,i have to sell all of them,as a lot.

Thanks to all for info so far.

rolion

Well,i tought i may visit my hopefull,exciting and over estimated topic !

Since that day, i end up buying more stuff and exciting toys and gadgets.

All went fine,seen lots of things.
Clusters,i can stare for hours.
Moon,all "day" until Sun goes out.
Planets,more with the camera than eyeview.
Galaxies,less as light too bad here.

I have left the scope in storage for the past couple of months,maybe a year.
It developed soem fungus or some sort of strains on the glass. Thanks, no mirrors were affected.
Then,as i was doing the scope,i decided to give a good clean-up and grease my noisy trusted CGT5 mount.

Did an inventory of the eyepieces,just shocked how many you really need to have to see it nicely and expect the unexpected.
The beauty of having different size lens gives you an incredible amount of power to zoom in to see that small details...or..zoom out and panview entire space.
Luckily,i have a zoom eyepiece and that allows me to test the view then change it to a better prime set size and enjoy the view.

rolion

Scope works, based on a nice YouTuber,working on a professional scope lab.

Setup your workign bench.
Very important to get a clear clean free room..send all family members away to buy bread and butter or pay them movie tickets...you need no noise !



Small spots / bigger spots,tought is soem fungus or algeas from wet air or storage but went nicely with clear medical water and cotton buds.
Drop water first to discolve the spots,then clean/wash and apply soem washing up liquid again,with cotton buds.






Mark the glass in three different points before removing the glass.
Avoid droppign anything in the main body and cover with a antistatic textile the top side of the scope.
Put back all together and happy day...hoping you will need colimatting !

rolion

My trusted old noisy mount...

Last time use it i remember was skewing and droping the "follow-me" tracking of the stars.
Also,very noisy on a nice chilly quiet night,very noisy and at different angles...i could have had a soft move now and then suddenly,at various points of sky and / or loads screaming out...

Decided to open it up and take a look.
Greased most of the mechanics,surprised to see metal and not plastic gears.
Tidy up all the screws and looking forward for a clear sky.