Low cost astronomy

[Catsumi]

Well, OT, must say that I LIKE your hobby. Be careful about directing gaze too low. Causes a ruckus in the neighbourhood.

[Jlabute]

Can’t think of any problems with that :-) Must have come with some eyepieces too huh? There’s not much to a reflector so should last you a long time, at least longer than your eyeballs ;-) Look at Orion’s sword next. Or andromeda.

[JagXKR]

Great hobby. Neat stuff right now is Jupiter and it's moons. Last night the moon was very close so makes viewing the big guy a bit more difficult. Your scope will be easily powerful enough to see the big 4 and if you time it right, possibly the Red Spot and maybe a shadow of one of the moons on Jupiter itself.

You can use this simple site to plan ahead.

http://www.shallowsky.com/jupiter/

Saturn is always an awesome sight in a telescope. Coming up to it's brightest in June.

Later, in the fall would be a great time to spot Uranus and Neptune.

But the big event is Mars. Will not be this close again until 2035. This summer it will be at it's brightest.

This is from Space.com

https://www.space.com/39240-when-to-see ... e-sky.html

[OKkayak]

Thats awesome! Star/planet gazing is always fascinating. Just the idea of being able to see another planet from ours is simply amazing. Enjoy the clear night skies and enjoy your telescope!

[TylerM4]

Can I bring my boys over? Might even let them look through the scope if they can pull Dad away from it.

Great hobby. Always got me frustrated - needed someone who could show me the basics to get me started.

[OKkayak]

Can I bring my boys over? Might even let them look through the scope if they can pull Dad away from it.

I hear you on that

[Catsumi]

Oh yeah, all you nerdys pointing your telescopes at my windows, drooling, slobbering.

Tonight?

New pink negligee needs eye approval.

[OKkayak]

Who needs expensive electronic gizmos for entertainment when you have one of these.

Amen to that!

[Jlabute]

I had a look at M51- Whirlpool galaxy...23 million light years away. Andromeda M31(2.2 million light years)...what 'section' of the Andromeda galaxy should I observe? Been watching the changing positions of Jupiters moons every night. It doesn't matter where I point it in the sky, even though with the naked eye there may be nothing there--my eyepiece is full of countless stars. Every few minutes I see micro meteors and satellites that would be otherwise invisible.
Who needs expensive electronic gizmos for entertainment when you have one of these.
Edit Sometime maybe there will be a 'nerd night' at oldtruckers place.

Queeniekins will wear her "I Love Nerds" t-shirt ;-)

[Jlabute]

I regret selling my 8" Vixen catadioptric... but it was a grunt to carry everything around. I may be in the market for a more portable telescope.

[Jlabute]

I purchased the tube for about $1000 many years ago, plus eyepieces $$, plus diagonal $$, and a motorized mount (2x telescope cost).

I see the scopes are still pretty close at $899US. All together fairly bulky, expensive, and 50lbs of mount, tripod, and tube. Good tube tho.

https://www.vixenoptics.com/Vixen-VMC20 ... /58291.htm

[Jlabute]

If you have what I am thinking, it probably takes standard 1.25" eyepieces. There are a number of places in Canada that sell new and used eyepieces in various focal lengths and qualities. There is 'astrobuysell.com' which is Canadian, plus various retailers of telescopes and accessories across the country, and even in Burnaby. Sirius Science in Penticton may also have something.

[Catsumi]

^^ There is always a price to be paid when gazing at lips and peaks OT. Suck it up, buttercup.
Skeeters extract their payment too.

[Catsumi]

"Catsumi, the Mosquito Tamer" is busy collecting vials of your sanguine fluids, sweetie, for analysis, possible replication and then, in the event of success, into the nitrogen bath with your twin.

Thought I better get on this cryoproject, just in case, well, you know. SofBunny might end it all.

BTW, I am missing my curtains in these early morning sunrises.

[Jlabute]

Hmmmm too bad. Well, comes down to quality optics, filters, useful magnification, and good viewing conditions. The Sky chart seems to indicate good viewing conditions though, lately.