First Light at Dover

Alright, this is for sharing of your observation experience. Or, if you are arranging gatherings, star-gazing expeditions or just want some company to go observing together, you can shout it out here.
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bodoh
Posts: 112
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 10:10 pm
Location: Dover

First Light at Dover

Post by bodoh »

Saw the skies clear up tonight and ran down to a nice open space to get my first look at the stars through my scope. Hence my first light adventure began....

Located Jupiter but in fixing on my red spot finder, managed to drop the fastening screw, which then rolled off the pavement I was setting up on into the grass. Searched for 15 mins but no luck. Finder still quite ok with only one fastner... sigh!

Managed to get sharp image of Jupiter at 48x with my 10mm (Think I saw the 2 rings) but couldn't resolve the image when I used my Barlow to extend to 96x ... me thinks there's something thing wrong with my barlow.

Called me wifey down. Wasn't impressed though... Looked at some stars but without a star map, had no idea what I was looking at... Need a planisphere and 5 mag star atlas soon...

Anyways, hope some of you managed to catch the stars tonight.
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starfirez
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 2:57 pm
Location: sOMe wheRe uP theRe..

Post by starfirez »

hi, if u are unsure it is better to observe with other ppl who know more, that's wad i did, n still doing. u wanna join wei xing tml at tampines? he is the pro!! he try to help everyone find n identify things until 45mins has passed and his mount still standing w/o scope haha. maybe if u can make it u can come down. check out his post :D

PS: nighthawk is a good scope with really good comments. thus it shud yield good images. but it has a small aperture like my scope so cannot expect big big images, only small ones but still shud be very clear.

~huiting~
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bodoh
Posts: 112
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 10:10 pm
Location: Dover

Post by bodoh »

Thanks :)

But Tampines really far for me... Although I would love to learn from Wei Xing!! Dempsey and SP are much better for me...

Yep... I love my scope.. stars seem ok... but I think I need a better eyepiece barlow set to view the planets...
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Sam Lee
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Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2003 6:54 pm
Location: Woodlands
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Post by Sam Lee »

Hi,

The astronomers in SP will be having an activity on friday (11/6). A slide presentation on the venus transit will be shown at 5pm. Will have observations if the sky is clear. Do join us! :D

Regards,
Sam (91837064)
We are the Borg, Resistance is Futile!
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Airconvent
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Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:49 pm
Location: United Federation of the Planets

Post by Airconvent »

Hi Bodoh,
Welcome to the action! Hopefully in future we will be able to meet to compare notes between our refractors.
As I mailed you on the intranet, try not to boost your mag too near the theoretical limit, especially in our skies here.
If you want to learn about the constellations, I suggest you get yourself a copy of "Stars and Planets" by Ian Ridpath. Its a good book with complete pictures of the constellations. You should start to recognise the constellations from there.
Choose a clear night, then find a place like Weixing's TSN area, spread a safari bed, lie down and make out the shapes of the constellations and learn to recognise them....that's how I learnt. Start with Scorpius and move from there....

cheers
rich
The Boldly Go Where No Meade Has Gone Before
Captain, RSS Enterprise NCC1701R
United Federation of the Planets
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