The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Bionic on November 29, 2012, 11:13:42 am
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Since we have moved to Wales we can actually see some stars so I am thinking of buying OH a telescope for christmas.
Does anyone have a recommendation for something fairly cheap that still does the job?
Sally
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Am no expert but as with every think it a case of how much. Also will he just want to look or take photos. This is where it may sound silly but the mount is more important than the scope. Theres a good forum I go on that is friendly dont know if am allowed to post its name here so will pm you it if you want will post one of my photos here in a min
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send brucklay a pm, bangbang had a lovely quality starter scope for sale...
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heres one of my pic of the moon
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Wow, bucketman thats a lovely pic. I had only thought of looking at the sky but the picture is something else.
Sally
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sent you a PM
Glad you like my photo
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just asked an the guys reckon this is a good starter scope
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/startravel/skywatcher-startravel-80-eq1.html (http://www.firstlightoptics.com/startravel/skywatcher-startravel-80-eq1.html)
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That's a woderful picture, bucketman. :thumbsup:
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That's a woderful picture, bucketman. :thumbsup:
Thanks
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Bucketman,
I am seriously considering buying the telescope you sent the link for. Do I need a special camera or will any DSLR do? I have a Nikon D3100
Sally
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Aldi this thursday have a lovely starter scope for £39 ...complete with CD of the night sky . :thumbsup:
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Doug,
thanks for that info I will definitely take a look
Sally
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dont go any where near the Aldi one you will be very disappointed
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You will need somthing off here to attach his camera http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors.html (http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors.html) if you ring the shop they will help. Ive got them for a D90 and it works fine. But just to let you know the photo I posted was taken with a £20 web cam plugged into a laptop. You would also need a motorized mount check out the link to the forum I sent join and ask what ever you want hope this helps. But please dont get the aldi one. Ive got nothing against Aldi but just looked and it worse than the one I bought you dont even get a mount with it
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Dont take this wrong but if the budget is limited the look at one of these you dont get a mount but it will fit on to a camera tripod
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/startravel/skywatcher-startravel-80-ota.html (http://www.firstlightoptics.com/startravel/skywatcher-startravel-80-ota.html)
but just Ring the shop there dead good and just looked and the firs one I sent link for come with the stuff to attach a DLSR
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Thanks buketman. I did email the shop yesterday but they haven't responded. Can't ring as OH is around and I want it to be a surprise.
Hopefully he will take the dog out later and I can do the deed then.
Sally
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Hi Bionic,
Though I'm very much a beginner, I'll second the recommendation of First Light Optics.
One wee suggestion - When you get to looking at the sky, there's actually quite a lot of nothingness up there, with bits of light in between. In other words, OH is definitely going to need a map to get the best out of his scope.
"Turn Left at Orion" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0521153972/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9555491469&ref=asc_df_0521153972) is an absolutely fabulous book for that. No pretty pictures or long winded explanations, but why would you want that in a road map anyway? :-)
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Thanks womble, I was looking for a book for him too so glad of this recommendation
Sally
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here the same scope from another shop
http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/productsd.php?search=Startravel+80&x=16&y=16 (http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/productsd.php?search=Startravel+80&x=16&y=16)
this is also a good shop
And as for map use this web site
http://www.stellarium.org/ (http://www.stellarium.org/)
its free and is in real time
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bucketman, I downloaded Stellarium yesterday but can't work out how to put my location in. I see that there is a location about 20 miles away from me already set. Would this be good enough?
I am sure OH would be better at this than I am but of course I can't tell him yet ;D
Sally
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It will be fine for now. will try and right down how to do it an Pm you it. Dont want to sound like am going on about that other forum but there a tutorial on how to do it there. Also forgot to say when he get his gift it will be cloudy of a night for about 6 weeks it always is when someone gets a new scope :-J
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this might help
http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Configuration#Setting_Your_Location (http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Configuration#Setting_Your_Location)
right off to get the bar sorted
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Bucketman - is there really a rule against mentioning other forums? It's hardly encroaching on TAS's patch to link to an astronomy website, is it ??? .
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Right the other forum is http://www.astronomyshed.co.uk/forum/index.php (http://www.astronomyshed.co.uk/forum/index.php) its really good if I get told off for this tell them you made me do it :innocent: :innocent: :innocent:
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looks fun. ;) :thumbsup:
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looks fun. ;) :thumbsup:
have you looked at it am Innkeeper on there. Dont Know if I can change my user name on this forum :dunce:
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I am struggling to register at the moment as it doesn't like my answer to the question. Will have to try again later as I have exceeded the max number of trys for now
Sally
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Hi Bionic
What is the question if you keep having a problem I'll tell the admin people and has the shop got back yet
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Its ok, It was me being stupid. I am now in.
thanks
Sally
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and has the shop got back
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Not yet :( I think there may be a problem with their email so I phoned them yesterday. I had to leave a message with them but also didn't want them to phone me back in case Geoff was in hearing distance. I asked them to reply to me by email and gave them the email address. not heard :(
Sally
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Strange have you tried the other shop I sent link for. Left you a message on the shed welcome page
Innkeeper
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Ordered the Startravel 80 EQ1 and it should be delivered today. Just need to hide it from OH until christmas now.
Thanks bucketman :thumbsup:
Sally
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If its anything like mine the box will be about the size of a large suit case and heavy
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Bucketman - is there really a rule against mentioning other forums? It's hardly encroaching on TAS's patch to link to an astronomy website, is it ??? .
No, of course not. :)
Link to wherever you want, unless it's to encourage everyone to leave TAS for greener pastures! ;)
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Bucketman - is there really a rule against mentioning other forums? It's hardly encroaching on TAS's patch to link to an astronomy website, is it ??? .
No, of course not. :)
Link to wherever you want, unless it's to encourage everyone to leave TAS for greener pastures! ;)
Dan,
Surely there can't be any pastures greener than TAS? :-J
Sally