OT. astronomy moon

robnybbq

any star gazers out there?   My son got a telescope for Xmas and it is amazing what you can see.  We have allot to learn to see more.   

Here is the moon through the scope and the iPhone camera.

Zmokin

Yep, that's the moon.  It is much better viewing though when it is a crescent.  The shadows from the craters are very cool to view.  If the moon seems kinda bright, I suggest getting a lunar filter if you don't already have one.  I have 2 telescopes and more money in eyepieces than the scopes themselves.

I suggest getting a good viewing guide.  I have
Seasonal Star Charts: A complete guide to the stars
The above is a hyperlink to it on Amazon.

UncleFred

UrbanForestTurnings  I believe he does some work with his local observatory in Ohio.

Botch

I don't have a decent telescope, but the local college (Weber State) often sets up their arsenal for viewing by the general public, sometimes on Antelope Island (away from the city lights); to see the moons of Jupiter, or Saturn's rings, with your naked eye is really a treat!
One of the websites I visit daily, religiously, is the Astronomy Picture of the Day; I'm always changing my computer's desktop photo using these pics, awesome!  

UrbanForestTurnings

Find a local club in your area. And learn the night sky. Check out .http://cincinnatiobservatory.org/

UrbanForestTurnings

Legume

Yes, yes, yes.  Telescope and a good set of binoculars - amazing what you can see if you know where to look.  Agree with the comments above, get a good star chart, program, whatever, to give you an idea what to look at.

SmokingPiney

I'm a stargazer, but I haven't had my rig out in a while. Here a pic of an eclipse in progress I took a few years ago:

SmokingPiney

And here's the rig:

RedSkip

Sweet rig, you have some decent Cheddah in that guy.  Very cool!

SmokingPiney

Thanks, RedSkip.

Botch

Nice rig, SmokingPiney!  Does that actually have stereoscopic eyepieces?  

gdenby

Had a small scope as a kid, wanted to be an astronomer. Bought a better one for my kids, but where we live there is so much light pollution that it wasn't fun. Also had a microscope when I was a kid, so got one of those too for the kids. They spent lots of time in nearby woods and fields picking up odds and ends, and examining them when they came home.

UncleFred

Sold my C-8 years ago (long story). Bought my granddaughter a C-5...

These days I scratch my occasional itch with my Meade C-90 and C-60 (both of which I have T-mounts for)



BTW if you are even casually interested in astronomy and or whats going on overhead... download the FREE program & app called Stellarium.  It is one of the most amazing night sky programs I have ever seen and it's FREE.  Blows my mind every time I use it... the scope, breadth, and attention to detail coupled with the fact that they give it away!  Example: Last months total lunar eclipse. I wanted to confirm how far above the horizon it would be.. so I started the program, ran it ahead to the appropriate time and checked... then I zoomed in on the moon and they had PROGRAMED IN the entire eclipse onto the moon ahead of time!

I've used the program on my desktop  and laptop for years and have now put their app on my android phone.  (I think they charge a buck or two for the app). Check it out!

UrbanForestTurnings

UrbanForestTurnings

That was with my 5" ETX . I had a 12" LX 200 for a few years. Was a pain to move and set up. 

berndcrisp

My15" Obsession Classic with shroud and eyepiece box modification. (click on the thingee mcbob below). Also have a 60mm Lunt solar scope. Not into the photography aspect. My 10" Meade LX 200 was also a pain to transport and setup. I enjoy galaxies, nebula and double stars.

SmokingPiney

Botch said:

Nice rig, SmokingPiney!  Does that actually have stereoscopic eyepieces?  

Yeah, its a bino setup. It really helps keeping the eye strain down on long nights.

@UrbanForestTurnings: Beautiful pic! 

berndcrisp

Bino-viewers are great. Though the thought of 'doubling' up on eyepieces and filters gets a bit costly, especially with Televiews.

SmokingPiney

berndcrisp said:

Bino-viewers are great. Though the thought of 'doubling' up on eyepieces and filters gets a bit costly, especially with Televiews.

It does indeed! Those Pans are awesome..........but costly.

Nice light bucket, bendcrisp! 

SmokingPiney

@berndcrisp

I'm also a fan of chasing faint fuzzies. I'm lucky in that I get some fairly dark sky right from my deck to do it - My NS11 is also a major back pain to transport. Your Dob is sweet! 

NPHuskerFL

No scope here. But, that's one of the many things I like about living out in the county. The ability to see the stars etc. I remember going out with my Uncle in NE with a smaller scope and watched Halley's Comet.  I sat outside a few hours last night looking at the moon and stars and listening to nature. The owls were having a good ole time. 

Legume

Totally agree Husker.  You should grab a pair of binoculars next time you're sitting out.  Amazing what you can see just through those.

I haven't had my scope out in probably 10 years, but this thread has motivated to dig it out, maybe tonight.

SmokingPiney

@NPHuskerFL  - even when I have my scope out, I always enjoy the view away from the eyepieces to take in the entire sky. It sort of puts life's little problems in perspective..at least for the moment.

@Legume - Break it out, man! I'll be taking mine out soon again. 

Botch

NPHuskerFL said:

But, that's one of the many things I like about living out in the county. The ability to see the stars etc. I remember going out with my Uncle in NE with a smaller scope and watched Halley's Comet.  I sat outside a few hours last night looking at the moon and stars and listening to nature. The owls were having a good ole time. 

I love camping in the High Uintas east of here, and just laying on my back looking up, especially just as it gets totally dark; you can see satellites flying over easily, as they're still catching the sun.  

berndcrisp

Going to the East Coast Star Party in Coinjock, NC May 14-16. Pretty dark skies and not far from home, always a great time, good food, 60 or so others, and camping out.   I   need   my   s p a c e!