I am a newbie to astro

Got a question on astronomy that you'd wanted to ask? Ask your questions here and see if the old timers can give you some good answers.
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IceAngel
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:05 pm
Favourite scope: Sky 90
Location: Tampines

Post by IceAngel »

starfirez.. if u r looking for scopes now, why not ask Harlequin who is selling scopes to give u some opinion?? his offer to me is not bad, but i cant reveal it to you.. maybe u can private message him about your needs for the scope?? i am sure he is very paitent to help you along the way as he really help and teach me alot of things :D :D
*~Stars AND Clear Sky always~*
Leslie
*Owner of Antares 93mm Achromat Refractor* :)
-10.11.03-
*Owner of Takahashi SKY 90 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat Refractor* :D
-25.03.06-
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IceAngel
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:05 pm
Favourite scope: Sky 90
Location: Tampines

Post by IceAngel »

i have gone a little research and finally found a free sky wheel or planisphere they called it.. and i have it printed out clearly... but i have a doubt.. i wondering if the planishpere will change every year? or it is forever the same (of course change unless a star dies)??

and i have a little difficulities reading the sky wheel/planisphere... can anyone teach me???
*~Stars AND Clear Sky always~*
Leslie
*Owner of Antares 93mm Achromat Refractor* :)
-10.11.03-
*Owner of Takahashi SKY 90 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat Refractor* :D
-25.03.06-
Quasar
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:03 am
Location: 3rd Rock from the Sun

Post by Quasar »

Hmmm, the best way to learn how to read one is actually to go out at night and look at it for yourself. Nothing beats sitting under the night sky and learning through trial and error which is the star on the star chart/planisphere you're looking at.

A guideline would be that if u were to lie face up on the ground, you hold the chart in front of you and turn it left or right until the stars match what you see in the actual night sky.
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IceAngel
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:05 pm
Favourite scope: Sky 90
Location: Tampines

Post by IceAngel »

ooh.. so that's the correct way of learning the planisphere alone ar??
ok! Thank you very much.. i will find one day with a clear sky and i am going to do that.. hur hur hur :D :D

so will the star position and pattern on the planisphere change every year or it wont change at all??
*~Stars AND Clear Sky always~*
Leslie
*Owner of Antares 93mm Achromat Refractor* :)
-10.11.03-
*Owner of Takahashi SKY 90 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat Refractor* :D
-25.03.06-
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VinSnr
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Post by VinSnr »

IceAngel wrote:hmm.. i sound like a girl?? hahaha.. itz ok.. always got ppl tell me that.. :X :X
Angel is usually associated with girl mah....

The only other guy I know who has a name Angel is Juan Pablo Angel, a premiership player for Aston Villa

:P
Quasar
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Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:03 am
Location: 3rd Rock from the Sun

Post by Quasar »

Hmmm... just a recommendation by me lor.
I'm sure u can also find lots of ways to learn online thru websites

Oh, the star position part, yes, the stars are all in the same position the same time the next year, except for planets, comets, and the moon.
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IceAngel
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Favourite scope: Sky 90
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Post by IceAngel »

Quasar wrote:Hmmm... just a recommendation by me lor.
I'm sure u can also find lots of ways to learn online thru websites

Oh, the star position part, yes, the stars are all in the same position the same time the next year, except for planets, comets, and the moon.
haha.. yeah.. tat's my ideal answer.. so i no need to print the planisphere every month or year.. haha
really have a hard time find a clear planisphere for print.. coz all the others need to buy.. maybe in the future when i have more experience, i will buy a stars poster.. for the time being, i will just use the printed planisphere.. hehehe :D :D
i really learnt alot through websites.. have some fundimental idea on choosing scopes and specs of scopes.. stil working hard.. hehe :P
*~Stars AND Clear Sky always~*
Leslie
*Owner of Antares 93mm Achromat Refractor* :)
-10.11.03-
*Owner of Takahashi SKY 90 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat Refractor* :D
-25.03.06-
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zong
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Favourite scope: 1x7 binoculars (my eyes)
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Post by zong »

Yeah. Well, I suppose if you buy one and bring to the observations, people can teach you. It's hard to describe how to use it in words...

The planisphere works as long as it is made for Singapore. If you bring in one from another country it might not work, and it will forever be the same. You can get one from Astro Scientific at Science Centre for $10 (dunno if that's a bit expensive, but never mind...)

With regard to your problem whether to buy a telescope... I've been using my 12X50 binos for years (though frequency isn't much.. :P) but I still haven't explored the sky fully yet! What do you think? With your 7X35 you'd be able to hold out at least a year, if you go out often enough.

But hey, really, why don't you go out and try all the observations and telescopes first... you'll see it's not very easy to use a scope at all... and why all the seniors here reccommended you a bino in the first place is because it is alot more easier to use, so that it doesn't frighten new observers. Many people have a first urge for astro, buy a telescope, and then find that it is too tough for them to find a star... so in the end they stop observations altogether...

Do things step by step, yes? We don't want to lose an enthusiastic astronomer here, in singapore! Or maybe, anywhere in this parallel universe... :P
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IceAngel
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Post by IceAngel »

hmm.. so you are saying that my 7x35 can also be used to search for a small portion of stars?? hehe.. :P

now i am not rushing to buy a scope.. but researching on different types of scope first before buying one.. maybe i join more often on the events first and learn the ways to use a scope before getting one.. is that correct?? :?
*~Stars AND Clear Sky always~*
Leslie
*Owner of Antares 93mm Achromat Refractor* :)
-10.11.03-
*Owner of Takahashi SKY 90 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat Refractor* :D
-25.03.06-
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IceAngel
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:05 pm
Favourite scope: Sky 90
Location: Tampines

Post by IceAngel »

is Pactrick Moore's astro books good?? i borrowed two books of him from the library to start off with.. :wink:

is there any other more things i need to know??
*~Stars AND Clear Sky always~*
Leslie
*Owner of Antares 93mm Achromat Refractor* :)
-10.11.03-
*Owner of Takahashi SKY 90 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat Refractor* :D
-25.03.06-
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