[happy-kat]

Thinking about getting a basic scope and extending the enjoyment of looking at the stars and stuff, any other gazers out there?

[JPTipper]

Yeah me and the gf go up the cliffs behind the castle with a pair of big binoculars and the skymap app and try and locate planets and constellations, was thiking of getting another reflector scope at some point, mother sold my old one :/

Hows your gazing going?

[happy-kat]

Cool
Top of our list is the heritage 130p as it packs a punch and takes little space to store and is very portable.
I found an old webcam in a cupboard that is perfect if I ever thought to have a go at basic imaging.
Just so cold and cloudy still.
Stargazerslounge is an excellent website I have found.
Also probably going to get the book turn left at orion.
I would love to create my own image of a nebula.
No brilliant clear skies by us though.

[JPTipper]

Yeah i saw that one on Wex photographic website, i saw this which intrigued me

http://www.telescope..._IV.html#a52175

they do a cheaper more low res one, but was interested in this one as its mac compatible (yes the all too familiar Apple tax strikes again!) but both should work with the 130p with the 1.25" eye.

Can you get webcam adapters then?

No, our sky hasnt been that great, we've had maybe 2 clear skies in the last fortnight, both freezing and both at inconvienient times!

Il have a looky at that website

[CartMan]

I'we got a realy cheep one i bought, but i don't realy know how to use it />

Took this pic whit it thoug /> http://www.facebook....ize=1151%2C2048

And this http://www.facebook....ize=2048%2C1150

This post has been edited by CartMan: 06 February 2013 - 03:47 PM

[happy-kat]

But you took the pic :-)
Do you know what type of telescope it is, it might need the mirrors aligning. Can you see the mirrors or is the end of the tube a lense?

[CartMan]

Hmmm how kan i explain />/>/> it is a long tube, and i stick diferent lenses into the end wia an angeld mirror.

I can use it to se the moon quite good, but that's about it... I'm not to consserned, as it only cost the equvelantt of 65£ but it would be realy cool to be able to se more />/>/>

The picture was taken whit my old nokia N8 held against the eye pice />/>/>

It looks like this one

This post has been edited by CartMan: 06 February 2013 - 06:29 PM

[happy-kat]

That is a refractor from my reading. I would think it should be ok for big planets like jupiter to.

[CartMan]

Perhaps, atleast that was the intention, but it's so flimsy it's almost imposible to aim... Oh wel, atleast it was cheep may try to stifffen it up some how, or just get a real one, where i can mount my cannon as wel

[happy-kat]

Hang a weight or a bag down the middle of the tripod to steady it.

[CartMan]

That's a good idea may try to make some brackets to, as it's not to good stuck to gether

I realy enjoy the night sky.

These are some of my early atempts to capture it

http://www.facebook....=1&l=a422c4212c

[happy-kat]

You got some shooting stars, cool

[CartMan]

[happy-kat]

So the plunge has been taken we have bought the heritage 130p because it is decent enough apperature but minimal space need. Not arrived yet though, looking forward to it coming.

[happy-kat]

Sorry missed reply.
I have bought a cheap webcam to have a go with including postage 3.89 on ebay. Xbox lifecam.
http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1497.l2649
This has a CCD chip which is important as much more light sensitive then CMOS.
I could have made my own adaptor but choose to spend 9 pounds on a ready threaded eyepeice for it plus a infrared and uv filter but these are long term intended
There is an excellent post here.
http://stargazerslou...80#entry1836279
I will mod my cam to remove the leds.
You do not need to spend much to just try the last few pages of that thread show using a sleeve to make simple connection to eye piece.
http://stargazerslou...ac#entry1725946
Mac os10 mentioned
I will check the packaging if i can find it might be recycled already

[happy-kat]

Ebay buy second get 50% off under 5 pounds for 2! 390230195237
Not the seller i bought from.

[happy-kat]

So the new scope sits waiting for a break in the clouds, this weather is just plain daft solid cloud for at least 3 weeks now down south.
Just by what we can see of our new scope for us 10/10 />
Nicely made and pretty sturdy. So far bought a moon filter to use and a length of black kite rip stop nylon material so I can make a collapseable light shroud as we have a street light too close for confort out side the front door.
My second Webcam is a dud, so if I reordered anymore I would do the other seller and two for a fiver.
The packging being Microsoft says windows but I reckon given they work on Linux that you migth find it works on your Mac. You just need some capture software something like Sharpcap for Windows, interesting thread here. http://www.cloudynig...hp?item_id=1044

[warrenpenalver]

Take it out of the town and into the countryside.

Youll be surprised how much light pollution you get off even a small hamlet.

Not done any star gazing for years.

Very relaxing, even if your doing it professionally as i was. (for the purposes of navigation!!)

[CartMan]

Warren is right, the countryside is the best place to observe the sky.

This picture is taken about 15 - 20 km outside of skien, witch is a moeratly siced city, about 50.000 people i think if memory servs and you can clarely se the light polution, witch is what i wanted to capture thoug

http://www.facebook....ize=2048%2C1366

[happy-kat]

This is coming next week :-)
http://waitingforiso...omet-panstarrs/
Nice picture a few stars too :-)
Got the web cam going windows needed a poke but sorted it.
Cloudy here still!
With what we choose being so portable may well take a trip away from town Warren. Trip to Jack and Jills.
All i have managed to do is line up the red dot finder, lol, cloud! and tonight rain...