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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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