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What can I expect to see well?
As a beginner with a relatively cheap 500mmx114mm (f4.3) newtonian, what am I
likely to be able to see well? The optics seem pretty good, though with the 2 eyepieces I have (17 and 10mm plossl's), the top magnification I can get it 50x :-( Now I do have a 2x Barlow, and a 4mm Plossl arriving soon, which will give me a a range of magnifications of 29x, 50x, 125x, (and 58x, 100x, and 250x with the barlow). I know this 250x exceeds the 228 theoretical limit, but I'm hoping it will give a reasonable view of some things... I probably should have got a 6mm instead, but hey ho, I'm just starting out, and I get to keep the lenses if I sell the scope... Am I going to need filters to see nebulae? What magnification is best to get good views of jupiter and pluto? I think I'm more interested in the nebulae + galaxy type observations, is that what are called 'deep-sky obects'? Thanks all for your input - and please look out for my other thread regarding my next scope purchase!!! Cheers, CandT |
#2
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"CandT" wrote in message ... As a beginner with a relatively cheap 500mmx114mm (f4.3) newtonian, what am I likely to be able to see well? The optics seem pretty good, though with the 2 eyepieces I have (17 and 10mm plossl's), the top magnification I can get it 50x :-( Now I do have a 2x Barlow, and a 4mm Plossl arriving soon, which will give me a a range of magnifications of 29x, 50x, 125x, (and 58x, 100x, and 250x with the barlow). I know this 250x exceeds the 228 theoretical limit, but I'm hoping it will give a reasonable view of some things... I probably should have got a 6mm instead, but hey ho, I'm just starting out, and I get to keep the lenses if I sell the scope... Am I going to need filters to see nebulae? What magnification is best to get good views of jupiter and pluto? Forget Pluto - its a very dim star like dot observable in 8"+scopes. Jupiter should be rewarding (with your EP's) at 125x. I suspect that 250x will be too much for your scope - but give it a go. You may have more luck with Saturn which seems to take a higher magnification without breakdown. Don't get any filters until you have gained some experience. They do marginally inprove contrast on some objects (not galaxies though), but not really if the object is invisible to start with. I think I'm more interested in the nebulae + galaxy type observations, is that what are called 'deep-sky obects'? Yes. Thanks all for your input - and please look out for my other thread regarding my next scope purchase!!! Oh Oh! A very rapid onset of aperture fever! Read Stephen Tonkin's pages for recomendations. http://www.astunit.com/tutorials/firstscope.htm Cheers, Adam |
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CandT wrote:
As a beginner with a relatively cheap 500mmx114mm (f4.3) newtonian, what am I likely to be able to see well? Thousands of things. All the Messiers (although some, e.g. M101) will require excellent conditions, hundreds of NGCs, the planets out to Neptune, loads of asteroids, double stars .... Try _Turn left at Orion_ for good starter-lists. The optics seem pretty good, though with the 2 eyepieces I have (17 and 10mm plossl's), the top magnification I can get it 50x :-( x50 is fine for hundreds of DSOs, and too much for some. You may begin to wish you had a 32mm Plossl! Am I going to need filters to see nebulae? UHC, and especially O-III help on some emission nebulae (esp. planetaries for O-III), but don't rush into it. There's literally hundreds of things to enjoy before you spend 80+ quid on a decent filter. What magnification is best to get good views of jupiter Magnification equal to your aperture in millimetres. and pluto? Forget it -- too feint for your aperture. Also see: http://www.astspace.demon.co.uk/nigh...lyNightSky.htm and http://www.nightsky.org.uk/ -- Best, Stephen http://www.astunit.com |
#4
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On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 10:05:55 GMT, CandT
wrote: As a beginner with a relatively cheap 500mmx114mm (f4.3) newtonian, what am I likely to be able to see well? Take a look at Jupiter. you should be able to make out the fact that the planet's disk is not round but squashed. You should also be able to see several dark bands running across it's disk. Give yourself time and you may start to make out other features on the disk/bands. You should certainly be able to see the planet's four main moon - Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto (I Eat Green Cabbage - gives you the moon sequence in order of distance from Jupiter). Of course where the moons appear depends on their orbital position. Sometimes you may not see all four. If you are lucky then you will see the shadow of one cross Jupiter's disk. Another object that's good at the moment is Saturn. A wonderful sight any time it's visible. You should be able to see the rings without too much bother. Venus is unmissably bright at the moment. It's just about coming up to half phase and you should be able to see this. Don't wait for it to get too dark with Venus. It's a very bright object and it benefits from having it's contrast dimiished - i.e. look at it as soon as the Sun sets and and soon as you can find it. DSOs - M42 the sword in Orion is almost mandatory at this time of year. Take a look at the Pleiades - they are nice and easy to spot. Loads of stars in there. Then contrast them with M35 in Gemini (close to Saturn), M44 and M67 in Cancer. While you're around the Pleiades area, take a look at Mars (bleow the Pleiades). It's now an unloved planet compared to the obsessive attention that was given to it back in the summer/autumn of last year. It's size has dropped considerably and you'll be hard pressed to get much out of it at all. Galaxy wise, there's M81 and M82 in Ursa Major. Might give you a bit of a fiddle trying to point your equatorial (?) mount at them, but the view is worth it. M32 in Andromeda is also a possibility earlier on in the evening. However, it's starting to drop into the western murk at the moment which will dim it a bit. Don't be too disappointed if these objects look like faint smudgy patches. They look like this for most amateurs! -- Pete Lawrence http://www.pbl33.co.uk Home of the Lunar Parallax Demonstration Project |
#5
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On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 10:05:55 GMT, CandT wrote:
As a beginner with a relatively cheap 500mmx114mm (f4.3) newtonian, what am I likely to be able to see well? The optics seem pretty good, though with the 2 eyepieces I have (17 and 10mm plossl's), the top magnification I can get it 50x :-( Now I do have a 2x Barlow, and a 4mm Plossl arriving soon, which will give me a a range of magnifications of 29x, 50x, 125x, (and 58x, 100x, and 250x with the barlow). I know this 250x exceeds the 228 theoretical limit, but I'm hoping it will give a reasonable view of some things... I probably should have got a 6mm instead, but hey ho, I'm just starting out, and I get to keep the lenses if I sell the scope... Am I going to need filters to see nebulae? What magnification is best to get good views of jupiter and pluto? I think I'm more interested in the nebulae + galaxy type observations, is that what are called 'deep-sky obects'? Thanks all for your input - and please look out for my other thread regarding my next scope purchase!!! Cheers, CandT Thanks all - got my Barlow and 4mm this morning, but looks like the first clear night will probably be tomorrow night now. But that'll give me time to Cartes up all those objects! Cheers, CandT |
#6
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On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:29:27 -0000, "Adam" orion105@Eschew
obfuscation.gmx.co.uk wrote: "CandT" wrote in message .. . Am I going to need filters to see nebulae? What magnification is best to get good views of jupiter and pluto? Forget Pluto - its a very dim star like dot observable in 8"+scopes. LOL I can't believe I typed Pluto, when I meant Saturn!! I'de just finished watching the news about Sedna, so it was obviously on my mind... Newbie's eh ;-) CandT |
#7
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On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 08:18:19 GMT, CandT
wrote: Thanks all - got my Barlow and 4mm this morning, but looks like the first clear night will probably be tomorrow night now. But that'll give me time to Cartes up all those objects! Go easy on the 4mm and especially the 4mm + Barlow (!). High powers are often highly sought after commodities for new telescope users. However, the image quality that they deliver is often poor. -- Pete Lawrence http://www.pbl33.co.uk Home of the Lunar Parallax Demonstration Project |
#8
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Hi there,
CandT wrote... LOL I can't believe I typed Pluto, when I meant Saturn!! I'de just finished watching the news about Sedna, so it was obviously on my mind... Saturn and its rings are a beautiful sight in any telescope, but the Cassini division is probably not easy in a small telescope at only 50x. Instead try to spot Saturns largest moon, Titan. Titan isn't as easy as Jupiters four brightest moons, but even at 50x it should not be hard. When your 4mm eyepiece arrives try again, you just might spot 10'th magnitude moon Rhea. You can this Java application to indentify the location of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn: http://www.cpac.freeserve.co.uk/docs/solar.htm . Clear skies -- Stubbe B.R., Copenhagen, Denmark. |
#9
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Hi
Check out my web site with reports fromastronomers who use equipment like yours. It will give you an idea of what to expect. http://www.geocities.com/the_150mm_reflector Alistair |
#10
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As a beginner with a relatively cheap 500mmx114mm (f4.3) newtonian, what
am I likely to be able to see well? You'll enjoy starting with the moon, Jupiter and Saturn. Then branch out to the Messier objects. The optics seem pretty good, though with the 2 eyepieces I have (17 and 10mm plossl's), the top magnification I can get it 50x :-( Now I do have a 2x Barlow, and a 4mm Plossl arriving soon, which will give me a a range of magnifications of 29x, 50x, 125x, (and 58x, 100x, and 250x with the barlow). I know this 250x exceeds the 228 theoretical limit, but I'm hoping it will give a reasonable view of some things... I probably should have got a 6mm instead, but hey ho, I'm just starting out, and I get to keep the lenses if I sell the scope... You may find the 125x is as high as you can go, but you'll have to try it to find out. Am I going to need filters to see nebulae? What magnification is best to get good views of jupiter and pluto? Nebula filters can help, especially if you live in the city. However they are not much help with galaxies or reflective nebula. I think I'm more interested in the nebulae + galaxy type observations, is that what are called 'deep-sky obects'? Yes. Thanks all for your input - and please look out for my other thread regarding my next scope purchase!!! Enjoy the scope and let us know what you find! Clear Skies Chuck Taylor Do you observe the moon? Try the Lunar Observing Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/ Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/ ************************************ Cheers, CandT |
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