SEBEN BIG PACK

Hi, I am very new to astronomy (and you can probably guess what is
coming...). I purchased a SEBEN Big Pack scope from ebay to get me started
(I know I should have spent time getting advice etc but bit of an impulsive
buy etc..Having read more about SEBEN on th internet it appears the scopes
are of poor quality, although it was very cheap) I have used it quite a bit
recently and can just about put up with the flimsy tripod etc.
I have used it to look at the moon with pretty spectacular results. However,
I am having trouble seeing anything of MARS with it. I am sure I am looking
in the right place and have had it in focus using all the supplied lenses,
giving magnification 0f 35,56,116 and 175. The problem is MARS still just
looks like a spot of light! What could I possibly be doing wrong as it is
getting a bit frustrating.
Is it the cheap scope I have purchased? Could it be too bright where I am?
Could I have been seduced by some other object in the night sky and not be
looking at MARS at all? What should I expect to see? (Sorry about all the
questions!)
It has been suggested thqat I need to purchase a ZOOM PLOSSL 8-24mm LENS(?)
(also from SEBEN) to improve my viewing. Would this help as I am very
reluctant to spend anymore money if the scope is no good.
Any advice for me would be greatly appreciated!

Dan

ps anyone know of any astronomy clubs around Fareham Hampshire??

"danny" wrote in message
...
Hi, I am very new to astronomy (and you can probably guess what is
coming...). I purchased a SEBEN Big Pack scope from ebay to get me started
(I know I should have spent time getting advice etc but bit of an
impulsive
buy etc..Having read more about SEBEN on th internet it appears the scopes
are of poor quality, although it was very cheap) I have used it quite a
bit
recently and can just about put up with the flimsy tripod etc.
I have used it to look at the moon with pretty spectacular results.
However,
I am having trouble seeing anything of MARS with it. I am sure I am
looking
in the right place and have had it in focus using all the supplied lenses,
giving magnification 0f 35,56,116 and 175. The problem is MARS still just
looks like a spot of light! What could I possibly be doing wrong as it is
getting a bit frustrating.
Is it the cheap scope I have purchased? Could it be too bright where I am?
Could I have been seduced by some other object in the night sky and not be
looking at MARS at all? What should I expect to see? (Sorry about all the
questions!)
It has been suggested thqat I need to purchase a ZOOM PLOSSL 8-24mm
LENS(?)
(also from SEBEN) to improve my viewing. Would this help as I am very
reluctant to spend anymore money if the scope is no good.
Any advice for me would be greatly appreciated!


Hi Dan,

Don't Panic! and certainly don't spend any more money just yet, particularly
not on a zoom eyepiece.
Can you give us a bit more info on your scope? (Reflector or refractor,
aperture, focal length)
You should be able to see that Mars is a disc and not a point object like a
star, particularly at the higher magnifications. If not, you are probably
looking at a star and not Mars. The features on Mars are very subtle,
particularly at this time in the Martian year so you may have to look long
and hard to make out even the vaguest dark areas.

A more interesting planetary target is Saturn (50 deg high in the SE at
midnight) The rings will make it an unmistakeable wow! target

For something more distant, try looking at the Orion Nebula at low
magnification (In the sword of Orion, due South at 22:30) Find a spot in
shadow to view it from and let your eyes get acustomised to the dark. Best
to avoid a bright moon for this one too. You should see a fuzzy cloud with
stars imbedded in it. This is the famous "Stellar Nursery" where new stars
are forming.

Robin

Hi,

To follow on from Robin's advice, you may wish to investment in a book
called "Turn Left at Orion".

It gives practical advice on how to get the best out of your scope and more
importantly, gives detailed locations of objects in the night sky.

A good read and highly recommended.

Rich

Hi,

I recently bought the Navigator II from Seben and although they sold me used
for new price.
The actual scope is not bad, not great, but not bad. I wish I had bought the
Big Pack myself
as they are ridiculously cheap at about 80 quid for a 6" reflector with
motor drive.
My battle with Seben wages on, but the tripod with the larger scope is ok,
reasonably sturdy.
The eyepieces are so-so, the 3mm one is useless though, will never focus.
The Orion nebula with my scope is too big to fit in the viewfinder with
anything but the widest eyepiece
so as the last fellow said, you should see that with no problems.

M




"mucker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

To follow on from Robin's advice, you may wish to investment in a book
called "Turn Left at Orion".

It gives practical advice on how to get the best out of your scope and
more
importantly, gives detailed locations of objects in the night sky.

A good read and highly recommended.

Rich

Thanks for all help. I intend to purchase recommended book and continue
trying. If sky is clear (which it doesnt look like it will be!) I shall
attempt to find orion nebula tonight! Thanks again!!

The scope has 700mm focal length, 76mm aperture, coated reflector with 5x24
finderscope. Accessories are 1.25".
"Jihad against Seben" wrote in message
...

Hi,

I recently bought the Navigator II from Seben and although they sold me
used
for new price.
The actual scope is not bad, not great, but not bad. I wish I had bought
the
Big Pack myself
as they are ridiculously cheap at about 80 quid for a 6" reflector with
motor drive.
My battle with Seben wages on, but the tripod with the larger scope is ok,
reasonably sturdy.
The eyepieces are so-so, the 3mm one is useless though, will never focus.
The Orion nebula with my scope is too big to fit in the viewfinder with
anything but the widest eyepiece
so as the last fellow said, you should see that with no problems.

M




"mucker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

To follow on from Robin's advice, you may wish to investment in a book
called "Turn Left at Orion".

It gives practical advice on how to get the best out of your scope and
more
importantly, gives detailed locations of objects in the night sky.

A good read and highly recommended.

Rich

"danny" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all help. I intend to purchase recommended book and continue
trying. If sky is clear (which it doesnt look like it will be!) I shall
attempt to find orion nebula tonight! Thanks again!!

The scope has 700mm focal length, 76mm aperture, coated reflector with
5x24
finderscope. Accessories are 1.25".

OK - 50x per inch of aperture is a good rule for absolute maximum
magnification (ie about 150x in your case eg using a 6mm. eyepiece) Any
higher and things just get fainter and blurier with no more detail. Often
you will find using less magnification gives best results. The shorter
focal length eyepieces supplied with these types of scope are usually pretty
poor anyway. Probably best to forget the Barlow lens if you have one, they
too are generally of poor quality.

Good luck with the Orion Nebula, though the moon is getting brighter and
closer to it over the next few nights.
If you want to check out if you were looking at Mars, it will be very close
to the moon tomorrow night (closing within one moon diameter around 19:00
but plenty bright enough to see despite the moon.

Robin

As yet another prospective newbie skypeeper, I'd very much value anyone's
thoughts on this beast on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/203-1000-8-Seben-...cmdZ ViewItem

It says that they have motor and camera mount available to suit it and the
scope itself will probably go for about 200 beer tokens. For a complete
beginner in a city area that isn't terribly dark, would it give me a
sporting chance set up on my concrete shed roof? I'd like to see planets
and some deep sky stuff too if at all feasible. I do have a quality laptop
which I'd intend to use to make it GOTO since my knowledge of the skymap is
minimal.

Telescope is "OK"

Company is utter ****e, avoid at all costs.



"TeaTime" wrote in message
...
As yet another prospective newbie skypeeper, I'd very much value anyone's
thoughts on this beast on eBay:


http://cgi.ebay.ie/203-1000-8-Seben-...ope-New_W0QQit
emZ7577943814QQcategoryZ3636QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It says that they have motor and camera mount available to suit it and the
scope itself will probably go for about 200 beer tokens. For a complete
beginner in a city area that isn't terribly dark, would it give me a
sporting chance set up on my concrete shed roof? I'd like to see planets
and some deep sky stuff too if at all feasible. I do have a quality
laptop
which I'd intend to use to make it GOTO since my knowledge of the skymap
is
minimal.