The Official Astronomy Thread

[Crusader]

I think I need an intervention. While waiting for my filters to arrive I did too much window shopping for my own good. I've now convinced myself that I need a nice grab & go scope to keep my lonely XT10 company.

The problem is that I started out looking at the Starblast 4.5, from there I jumped to a 90mm refractor and now am contemplating between the Orion XT6 or XT8. Although the XT8 would definitely not be a grab & go (..but it's only slightly more expensive than the XT6!...).

If I go on like this I might just ditch the Grab & Go idea altogether and end up with a 16" Lightbridge.

 

[marine1]

DO it

 

[mercurial]

My next scope will definitely be a refractor. I need something that is very portable and doesn't take long setting up. I'll probably get a 120mm refractor. It's about R6500~.

 

[Crusader]

I've been looking at refractors but the price per aperture is crazy. Not to mention the colour fringing you'll get on planets unless you fork out for an Apo refractor.

 

[mercurial]

APOs are way too bladdy expensive. Apparently refractors are better for viewing planets.

 

[Crusader]

That's what I can't understand. Seems they are better on clarity, but the color fringing will drive me crazy. Did have one person comment that a f/8 Xt 6 provided better, or at worse, the same clarity as a Acro refractor.

 

[Crusader]

You guys have some homework to do, go check out: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=141430

Participate in the Great Worldwide star count and find out what the effect of light pollution is on your local skies.

I'm in luck with a mag 6 sky.

 

[nimthor]

Crusader,

Cool, I will give it a go tonight while I am busy drift aligning! We should have some clear skies in CT tonight.

How are those new filters working for you?

Clear skies!
Charles

 

[Crusader]

They couldn't source the Ultrablock, but the O-III is amazing. It more than doubles the area of nebulae you can see and brings out details nicely. Only did a quick test though - weather and time constraints. I'm hoping to get a serious session in over the weekend.

 

[mercurial]

I was so happy to see that Orion's belt is starting to stick out at night again. Will have a look at Orion nebula sometime soon. Should be interesting.

 

[nimthor]

Mercurial,

Was out on Saturday night, busy taking a few shots of 47 Tuc and when I turned around there was Orion above my roof, but it was getting late so just had a visible look at the great Orion nebula (M42) and went to bed. I can't wait for when it is sitting high overhead again! Hopefull by then I will have my 450D so I can get some primefocus shots of the Horsehead neb.

Clear skies!
Charles

 

[mercurial]

Sweet. Can't wait to see some pics

 

[Crusader]

Had a nice 5 hour session on Saturday. Seeing wasn't the best but it got better later on.

Managed to catch Io's shadow transit across Jupiter (my first). Then went nebula hunting. M20, M8, Helix nebula, Tarantula nebula and ended off with Orion nebula.

Must admit that with the O-III the Tarantula is now my favourite. I can get lost for an hour in it. It's way better than the Orion nebula.

BTW, have you guys heard the official IYA song "Shoulder's of Giants"? It's stunning - makes you want to grab your scope and go observe.

 

[nimthor]

Crusader,

I have only seen the tarantula once before (without a OIII) in the Cederberg a few years ago through one of the large Dob's there. I must have a look and see if I can see it from my mag-4 skies with my 8" or at least try to take a photo. I am slowly but surely getting to grips with astrophotography, even though it is still just afocal.

What size is your scope?

Clear skies!
Charles

 

[Crusader]

I've got a 10" dob works wonders in my mag 6/7 skies when it's not windy. I want to try some imaging but obviously the dob isn't really suited for it.

 

[porn$tar]

http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2418899,00.html

 

[mercurial]

Villard called the image a "weird interaction" of the two galaxies which are 440 million light-years away. A light-year is 9.3 trillion kilometres.

One of Hubble's cameras still needs time before it can start running again, but it should be working by early next month, Villard said. Two other cameras are back to normal.

Dang! That's very, very, very far away.

 

[waynegohl]

nice picture

 

[porn$tar]

Dang! That's very, very, very far away.

Yeah, those galaxies probably don't even exist any more. At least not the way look in the pic.

 

[Crusader]

That's the great thing about astronomy. Not only do you get to look at things that are massively huge and far away, cut you also get to travel back in time!