Astronomy, novice styles?

[mashman]

in your experience, what's the most useful telescope accessory? and why?

[NighthawkNZ]

in your experience, what's the most useful telescope accessory?


A big arse one... ;)

[mashman]

A big arse one... ;)

yup, married one of those :shifty:... anything else :)

[Murray]

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5V7KPZtcOVQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5V7KPZtcOVQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[rustyrobot]

in your experience, what's the most useful telescope accessory? and why?

Well, you couldn't get any more novice than me so this information is probably less than helpful, but the coolest astronomy related gadget I have seen recently is the iphone/android phone application that let's you point your phone at the sky and shows all the constellations within that field of view, laid over the image of what you are pointing at. I imagine it would save a hell of a lot of time searching this way and that to find Uranus.

android
http://augmentedreport.com/node/15

iphone
http://vitotechnology.com/star-walk.html

[slofox]

Your eye...telescope is fuckin' useless without that...

[mashman]

Well, you couldn't get any more novice than me

wanna bet :lol:... hard enough to get the bloody thing the right way up on the tripod :)...

I'd love a few whizzbangy things, but this one already connects to a PC and has a coordinates pad (or will connect to the PC later and will auto track should I be able to figure it out :rofl: could be a long night)...

I was thinking more along the lines of lenses for sun watching or filters for other, as yet unknown (by me), things that I can use the telescope for...

[MSTRS]

in your experience, what's the most useful telescope accessory? and why?

A hammer.
Because no matter what 'scope you have, it won't be good enough...

[Jeaves]

moon filter if you dont already have one.

[mashman]

A hammer.
Because no matter what 'scope you have, it won't be good enough...

I understand that now :yes:

[mashman]

moon filter if you dont already have one.

Not got one of those, not that I know of (day 1 last night)... but we were looking at the moon last night, bloody impressive, it must have taken a serious pounding over its life... i'm, weather permitting, gonna try taking some piccies tonight and see how they turn out... shite most likely lol, but hey :)

[EJK]

Just buy a rocket.

[MSTRS]

I understand that now :yes:

:rofl: You're welcome. I'm just here to help...

[mashman]

Just buy a rocket.

Bit expensive, but i'll look into it :)


:rofl: You're welcome. I'm just here to help...

Looks like I need to go on a lens hunt... any suggestions for lenses? Or would you just buy a shed load of Barlows and keep on stackin (i'm assuming multiple barlows won't be a problem) :)

[marie_speeds]

The one with the rifle attached to it :yes:

[MSTRS]

Looks like I need to go on a lens hunt... any suggestions for lenses? Or would you just buy a shed load of Barlows ...

Ah, you mistake my advice as being from someone who knows...sorry to disappoint.
And wasn't there just the one Barlow, innocent or not?

[mashman]

The one with the rifle attached to it :yes:

Got the scope, just need the rifle :msn-wink:

[mashman]

Ah, you mistake my advice as being from someone who knows...sorry to disappoint.
And wasn't there just the one Barlow, innocent or not?

heh, easy mistake to make shifty:?
Dunno how many there were or anything about the case... just saw a headline on the news a while ago and most likely ignored it... i'm an NZ newbie :yes:

[MSTRS]

Ah! John Barlow has just been released from prison as a convicted murderer, after 13? years inside, still refusing to admit guilt.
He was alleged to have been the trigger man in the shooting deaths of Gene and (son) Eugene Thomas. Evidence of his involvement/guilt is/was scratchy at best, and he went to trial 3 times before a jury convicted. Police may/not have got their man, but they were able to say the case was closed upon that conviction.

[Ronin]

in your experience, what's the most useful telescope accessory? and why?

A clear sky.

[mashman]

A clear sky.

smart arse :lol:... but also something else I learned last night too :yes:

can you get cloud repellent :)

[Ronin]

smart arse :lol:... but also something else I learned last night too :yes:

can you get cloud repellent :)

Yup. Live on a farm and have empty water tanks... Instant prolonged clear skys.

[mashman]

Yup. Live on a farm and have empty water tanks... Instant prolonged clear skys.

that easy huh... just need me a friendly farmer in burbsville then... always another door slamming in the face :)

[Banditbandit]

Not got one of those, not that I know of (day 1 last night)... but we were looking at the moon last night, bloody impressive, it must have taken a serious pounding over its life... i'm, weather permitting, gonna try taking some piccies tonight and see how they turn out... shite most likely lol, but hey :)

If you can see the Moon through your telescope without a Moon filter, then you don't need one. Way back, when I had a telescope, I couldn't look directly at it without the filter because it was too bright ...

But certainly a Sun Filter ... or maybe a Moon filter then take off the final lens fitment and project the sun onto a white piece of paper (that's how I used to do it) - then you can see the sunspots and all ...



Looks like I need to go on a lens hunt... any suggestions for lenses? Or would you just buy a shed load of Barlows and keep on stackin (i'm assuming multiple barlows won't be a problem) :)

How many you can stack up depends on the power of the basic 'scope - sooner or later you will reach a point where you have too many ...

The old me who was once into Science, especially Astronomy and Astrophysics ... is jealous ... the new me (post sex drugs and rock 'n' roll) would rather be out riding ...

[mashman]

If you can see the Moon through your telescope without a Moon filter, then you don't need one. Way back, when I had a telescope, I couldn't look directly at it without the filter because it was too bright ...


one less thing needed then :)



But certainly a Sun Filter ... or maybe a Moon filter then take off the final lens fitment and project the sun onto a white piece of paper (that's how I used to do it) - then you can see the sunspots and all ...


then again :facepalm:



How many you can stack up depends on the power of the basic 'scope - sooner or later you will reach a point where you have too many ...


fair enough, the supposed max is 307x so I probably have a wee way to go yet (10mm, 25mm wide and X2 Barlow)



The old me who was once into Science, especially Astronomy and Astrophysics ... is jealous ... the new me (post sex drugs and rock 'n' roll) would rather be out riding ...

So I need to quit work so that I don't have to splash out on a new me and will then have enough time for everything, including ma girls, de missus and massdebating... sounds like a fair trade :)

[Banditbandit]

So I need to quit work so that I don't have to splash out on a new me and will then have enough time for everything, including ma girls, de missus and massdebating... sounds like a fair trade :)

:rofl: No ... you see, I have no kids - so I can afford to indulge in a few things - I got bored with Science because I was on the same track as the ancient Greeks - I thought I could find the answers to my in Science ... when I realised the questions I was asking were philosophical questions .. so I went off to study Religion and Philosophy ... but that's just one big argument.

So I thought Fuck It .. and went off to ride my bikes ... (Fuck knows how I wound up back in Academia - well, I do know ... but it wasn't meant to happen ... I needed the money for a new bike and it pays well)

As a Zen Master once said; "If you can't stand not knowing the answer don't ask the question."

[mashman]

:rofl: No ... you see, I have no kids - so I can afford to indulge in a few things - I got bored with Science because I was on the same track as the ancient Greeks - I thought I could find the answers to my in Science ... when I realised the questions I was asking were philosophical questions .. so I went off to study Religion and Philosophy ... but that's just one big argument.

So I thought Fuck It .. and went off to ride my bikes ... (Fuck knows how I wound up back in Academia - well, I do know ... but it wasn't meant to happen ... I needed the money for a new bike and it pays well)

As a Zen Master once said; "If you can't stand not knowing the answer don't ask the question."

heh, fair enough. I'm just enjoying the sky (when there's no cloud)... and my 7 year old wants bike gear for her birthday next year :yes: who am I to deny her that...