Post by glightning on Aug 25, 2014 17:42:32 GMT
Hi Everyone,
Just signed up to the forum :-)
I've been observing for quite some time now (around 25 years!) - so since I was around 13 or 14 years old!
My main interest is in observing DSO's. Mostly galaxies, globs, and nebulae. I get decently dark skies here in Ballinderry, so some pretty good views.
I was out of the hobby for the past 18 months or so (couldn't stay awake at night after a day with the kids lol!), but recently got back in again and had been using a Skywatcher 200p this year until switching up to a 300p. I found this website after sticking my 200p up on Gumtree and looking around online to see if I could find some local interest in it.
Part of the reason for switching up to the 300p was after I spent an evening in Gran Canaria back in June using a 16" scope. I went on the tour with a small company (one person runs it) called AstroGC. Fantastic night's viewing with super views of Omega Centauri, Lagoon Nebula (with OIII filter), full spiral structure in M51, etc. Really worth doing if you are holidaying in Gran Canaria.
Anyway, after that experience I had to upgrade to more aperture. 12" is about the biggest scope I can fit through my shed door! The scope has been brilliant so far. I've been using it in combination with a UHC filter on nebulae and getting superb detail. M27 looked so detailed the other night with the filter. Very close to photographic quality. The major globs are very bright and resolved right through their cores. Awaiting late autumn / winter to attack the galaxies in anger!
Anyway, look forward to chatting with you all! I've been on Stargazers lounge for some time, but will be good to chat with locals. Clear skies to you all!
p.s. Hope this isn't too cheeky, but if anyone is interested in my 200p - it's up on Gumtree right now. The scope is around 5 months old and in immaculate condition (no eyepieces).
Just signed up to the forum :-)
I've been observing for quite some time now (around 25 years!) - so since I was around 13 or 14 years old!
My main interest is in observing DSO's. Mostly galaxies, globs, and nebulae. I get decently dark skies here in Ballinderry, so some pretty good views.
I was out of the hobby for the past 18 months or so (couldn't stay awake at night after a day with the kids lol!), but recently got back in again and had been using a Skywatcher 200p this year until switching up to a 300p. I found this website after sticking my 200p up on Gumtree and looking around online to see if I could find some local interest in it.
Part of the reason for switching up to the 300p was after I spent an evening in Gran Canaria back in June using a 16" scope. I went on the tour with a small company (one person runs it) called AstroGC. Fantastic night's viewing with super views of Omega Centauri, Lagoon Nebula (with OIII filter), full spiral structure in M51, etc. Really worth doing if you are holidaying in Gran Canaria.
Anyway, after that experience I had to upgrade to more aperture. 12" is about the biggest scope I can fit through my shed door! The scope has been brilliant so far. I've been using it in combination with a UHC filter on nebulae and getting superb detail. M27 looked so detailed the other night with the filter. Very close to photographic quality. The major globs are very bright and resolved right through their cores. Awaiting late autumn / winter to attack the galaxies in anger!
Anyway, look forward to chatting with you all! I've been on Stargazers lounge for some time, but will be good to chat with locals. Clear skies to you all!
p.s. Hope this isn't too cheeky, but if anyone is interested in my 200p - it's up on Gumtree right now. The scope is around 5 months old and in immaculate condition (no eyepieces).