Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
I've been interested in astronomy since the late 1960s, and haven't lost my interest despite living under bortle 8 skies since 1977.
Astrophotography seems to require more patience and perseverence than I am now capable of managing, so it's visual only for me.
Looking forward to exploring and paricipating in this forum
Hello Oldfort. We're all happy to have you on board here at TSS and that was a nice introduction from you. Welcome to the forum Oldfort and the best of wishes on your astronomy hobby adventures.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
Hello and Welcome to the TSS forums. We hope you enjoy the conversation here.
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.
Stephen
- - - - - Telescopes: Questar 3.5 Standard SN 18-11421; Stellina (EAA); Vespera II (EAA) Solar: Thousand Oaks white light filter; Daystar Quark (chromosphere) Hα filter Mounts: Explore Scientific Twilight I; Majestic heavy duty tripod Local Club: New Hampshire Astronomical Society
Welcome and greetings from Ohio/USA.
*Older new member here too!
*Love this forum and have had very good luck with the information from members!
*Glad you are here!
Cheers...
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
If you are in Bortle 8 skies, then may I suggest Electronically Assisted Astronomy. It can help with light polluted skies.
Welcome.
Pete
EAA Observing from the Isle of Wight, UK Telescope: Celestron CPC800, NexStar 4se - Camera: Altair Astro 294c PRO, ZWO ASI 533MM Software: SharpCap, Stellarium and AstroPlanner. YouTube 'EAA with an 8-inch SCT' https://www.youtube.com/@Xio2011
Xio1996 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:24 am
Hi Oldfort,
If you are in Bortle 8 skies, then may I suggest Electronically Assisted Astronomy. It can help with light polluted skies.
Welcome.
Pete
Thanks Pete. It's something I have considered, but it can get expensive very quickly. I'd welcome any pointers as to how to do this for hundreds not thousands of pounds (or $, € etc).
Oldfort wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:17 pm
Thanks Pete. It's something I have considered, but it can get expensive very quickly. I'd welcome any pointers as to how to do this for hundreds not thousands of pounds (or $, € etc).
Hi Oldfort,
I agree our hobby has the potential to get very expensive.
It depends how much you can reuse from your current setup? I kept the same scope I used for visual and purchased a camera, though I did dip my toe into the EAA water with my DSLR first. As I had a Windows laptop I went down the SharpCap software route (Free or £12/year for Pro version). I tried to take it one step at a time using the astronomy forums and YouTube to guide me.
Have fun
Pete
EAA Observing from the Isle of Wight, UK Telescope: Celestron CPC800, NexStar 4se - Camera: Altair Astro 294c PRO, ZWO ASI 533MM Software: SharpCap, Stellarium and AstroPlanner. YouTube 'EAA with an 8-inch SCT' https://www.youtube.com/@Xio2011