cat
Cygnus
Posts: 6
|
Post by cat on Dec 3, 2014 10:29:15 GMT
Hi I am really excited to be getting my first telescope, a Skywatcher Explorer 200p, this Christmas. I am completely new to this and cannot wait to get started. Although I have to admit to being a little bit intimidated by my lack of knowledge - both about setting the telescope up and what I will manage to see! Any tips would be appreciated, especially about: - good places for viewing around County Armagh
- any essential pieces of kit that I will need to get started
- setting up the EQ5 mount and telescope
- anything else you think I should know!!
Eventually I would like to be able to take photos - although I want to get to get to grips with the basics first!
Looking forward to hearing your tips!
|
|
|
Post by stevie on Dec 3, 2014 19:23:17 GMT
Hi Cat, welcome to the forum, and congratulations on getting your new telescope.
An 8" reflector is a substantial piece of gear, and you will get some great views with it. I wouldn't worry too much about accessories in the beginning, just use the equipment supplied until you get used to it. As time goes on, you may feel that you want to upgrade your accessories, maybe with a couple of new eyepieces, or with a new finder. You will also need something to collimate (line up) your mirrors. But that is for the future.
There's no need to feel intimidated, it is, after all, just an aluminium tube with two mirrors in it.
If you wish, one of us could meet up with you and talk you through the things you need to know, so that you can get the best from your telescope right from the beginning, for instance, how to collimate your mirrors, how to set up the mount properly etc etc. If you are a complete beginner, this would probably be a necessity. Let me know if you want to do this, and we can make some arrangements. If you don't want to meet up, then we can try to guide you as best we can. Have you already got the telescope, or is Santa bringing it?
A good guide book would be useful, probably the best for beginners is "Turn Left at Orion". This will tell you the sort of objects you will want to see, and how to find them in the sky.
I'm not sure about observing sites in County Armagh. I know Oxford Island is an official dark sky site.
Don't worry too much about taking photos either, you really need a driven mount for this, and, in many ways, astrophotography is a completely different hobby to observing. It can also be a very expensive one.
Good luck with your new telescope, and I hope you get many years of enjoyment from it.
|
|
cat
Cygnus
Posts: 6
|
Post by cat on Dec 22, 2014 14:33:03 GMT
Thanks Stevie
The telescope is arriving by sleigh, so hoping for some clear weather in the coming weeks to experiment. It feels like every night since I found out about the telescope has been cloudy!
I have got Turn Left at Orion - which seems to be just what I needed.
Oxford Island isn't too far away for me, so will see what I can find out about viewing from there. Anyone been there and have any info?
Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by mikeyrea on Dec 23, 2014 23:15:23 GMT
Hi Cat The 200P is a great piece of kit! What kind of mount are you getting? It'll either be a Dobsonian or tripod mound (like an EQ5)? If it's the latter I can give you a bit of useful advice as I have the same setup! Like Stevie says 'Turn left at Orion' is a great book. I don't know if it's just me but I tend to fill in some of the diagrams with more star names and also draw in the constellation lines. Another helpful little thing is a free programme called 'stellarium' which can run on a pc or iphone / android device, etc: www.stellarium.org/One important thing to remember if you're planning to visit some remote sites is to take a few friends with you
|
|
cat
Cygnus
Posts: 6
|
Post by cat on Jan 26, 2015 12:11:42 GMT
Hi
It is an EQ5 mount. I have practised putting it together inside and seem to have got the hang of the basics - although still getting my head around polar alignment and all the knobs and dials! The idea of putting it together away from the comfort and light of my living room is another matter.
Also not sure how to transport it and all the extras around as I need to get away from the lights around my house.
|
|