This site is a free downolad service whereby 'they' send you via e-mail a monthly sky chart of the relevant stars in your chosen hemi-sphere.
I'm no expert but find the whole thing rather interesting. Just got back from fforest Fields and the skies over the Brecons are truly amazing. As a city dweller it just great to see so many starts that are normaly blotted out with street light polution.
Anyone got any tips for a half decent transportable telescope or good bino's?
------------- Snowmen fall to earth in kit form........
Every day is a gift..That's why it's called the present.
Im in the same boat. Living in the suburbs of london when its cloudy the sky has a sickly orange glow, and when its not i can only see a handful of stars.
i cant wait until weds night when ill be in the new forest looking up a the stars, and who knows, someone might be looking back at me, from thousands and millions of years their gaze looks back. But we are blissfully unaware, if not hopeful.
I cant help with a telescope, i just thought id share my thoughts on the matter.. I hope one day to see the milkyway stretched across the sky, millions of stars and planets, who knows how many civilizations looking back....
you only realise how much light pollution there is when you get into the countryside spotted 3 shooting stars and plenty of satelites last year camping in the lakes .
Any Bino's of 10x magnification with at least a 50mm aperture will give a fairly good view of most stars As for telescopes there are so many out there it's a bit like tents If you do get one try and get one with drives as objects do tend to move out of your view fairly quickly I could do some more links but I'm now about to get ready for a night shift
I love the stars and like Shadowx live in London suburb so quite difficult to see.
On holiday I often find myself standing outside my campervan staring at the sky late at night. I bought myself a star map thingy which you position above your head and it shows a representation of what is really in the sky above your head - if you know what I mean. Only problem is that you need a torch to see the map!!
Went to Northumberland a couple of weeks ago but it did not get dark at all.
Was on a walk last week and went past a mini observatory and the club members were there mowing the grass etc and they let us look at the telescope, wow!!
They said we could go back one night and they would let us use it, can't wait.
I have a celestron nexstar 8 computerized telescope,it is incredibly light and easy to transport.If you are looking for a big telescope with a big lens,that is very cheap,the best bet would be to look on ebay for a Newtonian telescope.
------------- Boris Karloff: '' now will you give me my chalk!? ''
My Tents:
Eureka K2 XT
Terra Nova Solar 2
Outwell Jersey S Pop Up Tent
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe.
After checking prices on the net,i would go on ebay.A new telescope with a decent 8'' lens seems to cost £700.00 upwards in the shops.
Here is a decent online shop to help you decide what type of telescope to look for on ebay,or even buy from the actual shop:
If you go to the above site,look on the top left and you will see the words: Bargain Basement.They have some really good telescopes there,selling at a reasonably reduced rate,due to slight damage to certain parts of them ( dents,scratches etc ).As you look at the pictures,you can decide which telescope design you like the look of,and focus on that style.
To be honest,when you look through a telescope that has a small lens,it is very frustrating,as everything looks small and compact.I have an 8'' lens on my telescope,and it still seems quite small up in the night sky.to get those delicious large looking visuals people see in films from a telescope,a person would ideally have to buy a telescope with a lens of about 12'' upwards.The bigger the lens,the bigger the view your eye will see when you look through the eye piece.I do seem to recall seeing a binocular type eyepiece for a telescope being sold ages ago,but they cost a fortune,about £250.00 or something like that.
When i got my telescope,i experienced the famous: '' Awww if ONLY the lens was a little bit bigger !!! '' like everybody goes through.that is why people sell their smaller models,in order to upgrade to a telescope with a larger lens,and they usually opt for a 12'' lens.
Post last edited on 29/07/2009 23:38:03
------------- Boris Karloff: '' now will you give me my chalk!? ''
My Tents:
Eureka K2 XT
Terra Nova Solar 2
Outwell Jersey S Pop Up Tent
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe.
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Topic: Star gazing
