x404.co.uk
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/

Star Gazing
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15654
Page 1 of 3

Author:  Fogmeister [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Star Gazing

I was watching the BBC program tonight and I went to get the old (slightly broken) telescope that I was given when I was about 8 or 9. It's been in my grandparent's garage forever and I thought I'd see if I could fix it some how.

It is this one (I think it's the exact same model even) http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipm ... e=googleps

The only problem is that I only have the actual telescope. I don't have the stand or any of the stand attachments.

I've been outside to see if it can still get an image and I was definitely able to see stars clearly through it but, as I was holding it whilst looking through it, it didn't give a very stable image.

Do you know if I'd be able to get a replacement tripod stand for it? (for less than the cost of a new one)?

If not, how hard do you reckon it would be to make a rough stand for it from scratch?

Author:  Fogmeister [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

Hmm... in fact, I may just go buy one of these...

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-9432.as ... t=202-9432

Author:  brataccas [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

£50? :shock: for the size of that thing it looks cheap?

now im tempted to get one now, DAMN YOU OJFOGGIN! :evil: Im curious what the sparkling planet is that turns red and white really fast flickering, also if u do get that pls tell how good it is and how many craters u can see on the moon

Author:  Fogmeister [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

brataccas wrote:
£50? :shock: for the size of that thing it looks cheap?

now im tempted to get one now, DAMN YOU OJFOGGIN! :evil: Im curious what the sparkling planet is that turns red and white really fast flickering, also if u do get that pls tell how good it is and how many craters u can see on the moon

:D

Well with a 575x magnification (according to the Star Gazing show) that would almost fill the field of view if you were looking at the moon. So that should give you an idea of how powerful it is.

76mm diameter is enough to give plenty of light and detail and you'll prob be able to see the lines around Jupiter or the rings of Saturn. Personally I'd just LOVE to see Andromeda and some of the Orien nebulae.

That one is basically the same as the broken one I have so should be fairly good as a cheap thing if you want a mess about but are not thinking about properly getting into it.

For £50 you may as well give it a go anyway.

Author:  Fogmeister [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

OK, just seen that the 575x eyepiece is for looking at far away objects. Still 175x on the moon will be very good.

Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

Dammit. I really wanted to watch the prog but missed it. I've also wanted to get into astronomy and digiscoping but I live in the middle of a busy city and would have to drive at least 30 mins to avoid light pollution. In fact, my workplace would be perfect - out in the middle of the sticks. A few houses nearby but otherwise pitch black in comparison.

Author:  Fogmeister [ Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

I live in Leeds so a fair amount of light pollution but even just in the park away from streets etc you can still see a fair amount.

Or I can drive about 20 mins to get to the Otley Chevin (a huge hill) which doesn't have a lot of light pollution and is a common place to find star gazers.

Oh, also...

www.planethunters.org

Go there to try and find exoplanets!

Author:  pcernie [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

cloaked_wolf wrote:
Dammit. I really wanted to watch the prog but missed it. I've also wanted to get into astronomy and digiscoping but I live in the middle of a busy city and would have to drive at least 30 mins to avoid light pollution. In fact, my workplace would be perfect - out in the middle of the sticks. A few houses nearby but otherwise pitch black in comparison.


IIRC the last one they did was repeated on iPlayer not long after...

Author:  Fogmeister [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

Been browsing a bit more and there was a review on Amazon for a telescope that went something along the lines of...

"This was missing all of the software and manuals in the box so we had no idea how to use it making it useless."

I felt like replying with something like...

"Point it at the sky, fiddle with the dials until you can see something."

It's not exactly astrophysics is it! ;)

Author:  brataccas [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

quite a lot of negative reviews on that one actually :(

Author:  Fogmeister [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

brataccas wrote:
quite a lot of negative reviews on that one actually :(

Interspersed with excellent reviews :)

Author:  mikepgood [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

Ok for a quick point and look, but the mount doesn't track the way a more expensive one would. So harder to follow something if you're looking for a while.

Fine for the moon and perhaps planets, and for £50 hard to say no. It's too dam cold at the moment though. Wrap up warm.

Author:  Fogmeister [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

Well, I bought it.

I pick it up on Thurs after work.

I realise it doesn't have all the bells and whistles like fine tuning control and tracking etc... but for a telescope that has any of those features you're looking at paying at least 3 times the price.

£50 will do me just fine.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Author:  belchingmatt [ Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

An equatorial mount would have been a good thing. That way once you've got it lined up correctly then you only need to use one axis control to track an object.

A quick search shows Currys doing one for 72 GBP.

Author:  brataccas [ Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Star Gazing

I think with fogmeisters new toy he will have to come where I live :evil: saw a very very bright light, directly upwards at the sky, no idea what it was then it just slowly faded and vanished giving the impression it was going upwards into space :evil: coincidental or not a sea king heli was circling the area where that bright light was round and round over and over for quite a while :evil: bugging me wondering what the hell that was :evil:

Page 1 of 3 All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/