WOW!

I recently posted that my high power (6mm) eyepeice was no good. Mea
Culpa...I had not let the telescope thermally stabilise. Didn't know I had
to!

Toniht is the first clear night in Salisbury, Wilts. since Christmas and I
HAVE let the 'scope go cold.

As I said in subject... "wow". The moon is superb and the highest powered
eyepeice, even with a 2x Barlow, is returning images I have only imgined or
seen elsewhere. Amazing. Common to you lot, new to me!

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly? It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and how
do I make it do it?

Thanks for all help past, present and undoubdtedly future. Happy new year.

David

"david" wrote in message
...

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly?
It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and
how
do I make it do it?


Hi David

There's loads of help on the web.
Try this link for starters.

http://www.astronomyboy.com/eq/


--
Gareth Slee
http://www.sleefamily.com

"david" wrote in message
...

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly?
It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and
how
do I make it do it?


Hi David

There's loads of help on the web.
Try this link for starters.

http://www.astronomyboy.com/eq/


--
Gareth Slee
http://www.sleefamily.com

david wrote:

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Especially at high power!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly? It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and how
do I make it do it?

The basic idea is to align the telescope's axis with the earth's. There
should be an elbow-joint that you set to your latitude; when this is at
the correct angle and running due north-south you'll have achieved
"polar alignment". Having done this, when an object is placed in the
field of view it can be tracked with a single control, that for right
ascension, the declination setting remaining constant. A motor drive
(electrical or even clockwork) will match the right-ascension setting to
the earth's rotation, but even if you don't have such a gadget it's much
easier to guide the instrument by hand with only one dimension to worry about.

--
Odysseus

david wrote:

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Especially at high power!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly? It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and how
do I make it do it?

The basic idea is to align the telescope's axis with the earth's. There
should be an elbow-joint that you set to your latitude; when this is at
the correct angle and running due north-south you'll have achieved
"polar alignment". Having done this, when an object is placed in the
field of view it can be tracked with a single control, that for right
ascension, the declination setting remaining constant. A motor drive
(electrical or even clockwork) will match the right-ascension setting to
the earth's rotation, but even if you don't have such a gadget it's much
easier to guide the instrument by hand with only one dimension to worry about.

--
Odysseus

"david" wrote in message
...
I recently posted that my high power (6mm) eyepeice was no good. Mea
Culpa...I had not let the telescope thermally stabilise. Didn't know I
had
to!

Probably one of the most common mistakes people make with their first
telescope.

Toniht is the first clear night in Salisbury, Wilts. since Christmas and I
HAVE let the 'scope go cold.

As I said in subject... "wow". The moon is superb and the highest powered
eyepeice, even with a 2x Barlow, is returning images I have only imgined
or
seen elsewhere. Amazing. Common to you lot, new to me!

After 30+ years, the moon is still amazing and will never be common! ;-)

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the
moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly?
It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and
how
do I make it do it?

If you get it set up properly, it will slow down that moon. Working from the
bottom up, the first point where it can be adjusted should be set for your
latitude. Once that is done, take it outside and point that first axis at
the north star. If you have a motor, it will now track the moon (roughly).
If not, there should be a slow motion control that will do the same thing
manually.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
************************************************** **********


Thanks for all help past, present and undoubdtedly future. Happy new
year.

David

"david" wrote in message
...
I recently posted that my high power (6mm) eyepeice was no good. Mea
Culpa...I had not let the telescope thermally stabilise. Didn't know I
had
to!

Probably one of the most common mistakes people make with their first
telescope.

Toniht is the first clear night in Salisbury, Wilts. since Christmas and I
HAVE let the 'scope go cold.

As I said in subject... "wow". The moon is superb and the highest powered
eyepeice, even with a 2x Barlow, is returning images I have only imgined
or
seen elsewhere. Amazing. Common to you lot, new to me!

After 30+ years, the moon is still amazing and will never be common! ;-)

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the
moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly?
It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and
how
do I make it do it?

If you get it set up properly, it will slow down that moon. Working from the
bottom up, the first point where it can be adjusted should be set for your
latitude. Once that is done, take it outside and point that first axis at
the north star. If you have a motor, it will now track the moon (roughly).
If not, there should be a slow motion control that will do the same thing
manually.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
************************************************** **********


Thanks for all help past, present and undoubdtedly future. Happy new
year.

David

Permit me to chime in here, I've just bought my first telescope, which
I hope to take on trips to the american southwest desert on more than
a few camping trips. I'd seen mention of letting optics achieve the
ambient temperature and will take note of that, especially. The
clearest nights are the coolest nights. I might have to buy a
portable heater :-)

I live on the west coast, near Santa Cruz, and have a few locations
nearby where I can set up away from city light. With luck I'll have
my scope and a clear night for the 7th. Figuring how to align and use
the motor drives is a bit intimidating, at the moment, as I've not
done much more than camera-lens viewing (some great shots from Grand
Canyon South Rim, November 2000, full moon, etc, but not on the
computer yet :-( What should I take out with me on my first outing
(besides warm close and a thermos of hot coffee :-) ?

I have a compass and a GPSr, the scope is a Meade ETX-125EC with
AutoStar.

Richard

"Chuck Taylor" wrote in message ...
"david" wrote in message
...
I recently posted that my high power (6mm) eyepeice was no good. Mea
Culpa...I had not let the telescope thermally stabilise. Didn't know I
had
to!

Probably one of the most common mistakes people make with their first
telescope.

Toniht is the first clear night in Salisbury, Wilts. since Christmas and I
HAVE let the 'scope go cold.

As I said in subject... "wow". The moon is superb and the highest powered
eyepeice, even with a 2x Barlow, is returning images I have only imgined
or
seen elsewhere. Amazing. Common to you lot, new to me!

After 30+ years, the moon is still amazing and will never be common! ;-)

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the
moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly?
It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and
how
do I make it do it?

If you get it set up properly, it will slow down that moon. Working from the
bottom up, the first point where it can be adjusted should be set for your
latitude. Once that is done, take it outside and point that first axis at
the north star. If you have a motor, it will now track the moon (roughly).
If not, there should be a slow motion control that will do the same thing
manually.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
************************************************** **********


Thanks for all help past, present and undoubdtedly future. Happy new
year.

David

Permit me to chime in here, I've just bought my first telescope, which
I hope to take on trips to the american southwest desert on more than
a few camping trips. I'd seen mention of letting optics achieve the
ambient temperature and will take note of that, especially. The
clearest nights are the coolest nights. I might have to buy a
portable heater :-)

I live on the west coast, near Santa Cruz, and have a few locations
nearby where I can set up away from city light. With luck I'll have
my scope and a clear night for the 7th. Figuring how to align and use
the motor drives is a bit intimidating, at the moment, as I've not
done much more than camera-lens viewing (some great shots from Grand
Canyon South Rim, November 2000, full moon, etc, but not on the
computer yet :-( What should I take out with me on my first outing
(besides warm close and a thermos of hot coffee :-) ?

I have a compass and a GPSr, the scope is a Meade ETX-125EC with
AutoStar.

Richard

"Chuck Taylor" wrote in message ...
"david" wrote in message
...
I recently posted that my high power (6mm) eyepeice was no good. Mea
Culpa...I had not let the telescope thermally stabilise. Didn't know I
had
to!

Probably one of the most common mistakes people make with their first
telescope.

Toniht is the first clear night in Salisbury, Wilts. since Christmas and I
HAVE let the 'scope go cold.

As I said in subject... "wow". The moon is superb and the highest powered
eyepeice, even with a 2x Barlow, is returning images I have only imgined
or
seen elsewhere. Amazing. Common to you lot, new to me!

After 30+ years, the moon is still amazing and will never be common! ;-)

Is it me or does "desolate" come to everyone's mind when they view the
moon?

And, doesn't the darned thing move fast!!

Oh, p.s....can someone tell me how to use an equatorial mount correctly?
It
seems very complex and well designed...but what's it designed to do and
how
do I make it do it?

If you get it set up properly, it will slow down that moon. Working from the
bottom up, the first point where it can be adjusted should be set for your
latitude. Once that is done, take it outside and point that first axis at
the north star. If you have a motor, it will now track the moon (roughly).
If not, there should be a slow motion control that will do the same thing
manually.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
************************************************** **********


Thanks for all help past, present and undoubdtedly future. Happy new
year.

David

"Richard Adams" wrote in message
om...
Permit me to chime in here, I've just bought my first telescope,

Congrats and welcome to the world-wide brother/sisterhood of astronomers!

I might have to buy a
portable heater :-)

Costco currently has a large box of chemical handwarmers at a good price.
You can also get them at sporting goods stores. One in each back pocket (or
higher on your back if your back tightens up in the cold) and you are good
to go!

I live on the west coast, near Santa Cruz, and have a few locations
nearby where I can set up away from city light. With luck I'll have
my scope and a clear night for the 7th. Figuring how to align and use
the motor drives is a bit intimidating, at the moment, as I've not
done much more than camera-lens viewing (some great shots from Grand
Canyon South Rim, November 2000, full moon, etc, but not on the
computer yet :-( What should I take out with me on my first outing
(besides warm close and a thermos of hot coffee :-) ?

You're brand new to this and you've already figured out what's vital :-)

I have a compass and a GPSr, the scope is a Meade ETX-125EC with
AutoStar.

I would get a decent lunar atlas and a good star chart. If you have a
laptop, consider VMA (free) and LPP for the moon and Cartes du Ciel (free)
for the stars to start out with.

Let us know what you see.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
************************************************** **********