The night sky........

As mentioned on another thread, we have a new toy in the house in the shape of a Celestron 70 travel telescope.

Our interest in matters terrestrial was pricked by watching the ISS pass a couple of years ago, but this is the first time we have found a scope that doesn't cost a bomb whilst still being half-decent quality wise.

Any hints or tips to get us started, gratefully received

 

Sorry to mess the thread about so soon, FC, but I've moved it to the "Members Hobbies" forum.........I'll go now!!!

 

seeing stars!!! FC, get started pleeeasssse!!!

 

Typical, gcc, focusing on shooting stars instead of the Universe

 

Sorry, took me a while to work out where the thread had gone (that will teach me to delete the email alerts before looking back at the thread!)

As far as I know, its a 400mm reflector telescope - came with a tripod that is utter rubbish (we expected that having read the reviews), so has been mounted on our better quality Manfroto tripod (camera is now in the huff ); we've got a moon filter and a book of words on the way, and will go from there. Not sure about a sun filter (would the telescope be powerful enough to let us see anything in daylight, even if it had a filter?), but the one thing that Mrs C wants is the bits and bobs to attach her four thirds camera to it to take photos of the moon etc.

Despite it being a bit hazy last night, we managed to get a view of the moon using the 10mm eyepiece - the 4mm was a bridge too far; surprisingly sharp image, and the craters were easily visible.

I think we are more likely to get the best of it on those freezing cold, clear, winters nights when the sky is really clear?

 

I got the tail of a 747 as it passed in front of the moon - pretty cool

We do suffer quite a bit because of light pollution, despite the local council installing new fancy street lights in the last year or so (white light, more directional toward the ground, and remote dimming from a central control centre somewhere).

Mrs C has already got the skymap app on her phone - spent last night wandering around the back garden with her phone held up in front of her ; its just a sin that the skies aren't clear at the moment, coz she is dying to use it bless her.

We picked this one up for £54 on Amazon - down from £100, so not expensive at all; maybe you should re-invest?

 

- makes you feel really, really small doesn't it?

 

I'm not really a sky watcher but I've just taken a walk out into the garden [9.20pm] and while taking a bit of fresh air I saw what appeared to be a large flaring meteorite in the West going from North to South. It was a very bright pale green in colour and have a large wide bright flare as it's tail. I seen meteorites before but none have been green in colour or that large. No sound and it wasn't all that far away as it appeared very large and very clear and probably lasted about 3 seconds......I've only had one and half glasses of wine but I'll stop now