Astonomy: I once had a few telescopes including a 10 inch Schmidt cass with an observatory built around it. I got out of the hobby and recently have been bitten by the bug again. Can...

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

I once had a few telescopes including a 10 inch Schmidt cass with an observatory built around it. I got out of the hobby and recently have been bitten by the bug again. Can some of you who are into this, post some photos along with info of what telescope and eyepiece you used and how you went about capturing the photo. The more details the better.
You will either convince me to make a purchase or remind me why I got out of the hobby.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

For one thing you can go on the hubble site and see things you never could with your telescope. But if you want to take your own shots go for it. Get the best gear you can afford. Theres some real good stuff out there now that has come down in price since their always comming out with new gear just like the new cameras.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

There is a section for astronomy on the forum

here are mine £2500 and £1400 respectively though I only use decent eyepieces at approximately £100-300 each

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/JPEGImage93746.jpg

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/scope.jpg

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/Moon-5.jpg

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

If you look at OVL who do the Skywatcher range, and read the reviews by the late Patrick Moore (my friend) it was in fact I and Patrick who did the reviews at Farthings, his home

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/refractors

BW326 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

I've been away from astronomy for too many years. Back in the day (early 80's) I built my own Dobsonian reflector scope using a 12 1/2" Coulter mirror, plywood for mounts and pieces of teflon for bearings. It was super stable and a real "light bucket" but unfortunately couldn't track like with an equatorial mount. Great pictures of the moon and some planets because they are so bright in a 12 1/2", but otherwise disappointing for deep sky objects.

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

That is one of the things I am considering and may be why I sold my stuff. Thanks.

Hal81 wrote:

For one thing you can go on the hubble site and see things you never could with your telescope. But if you want to take your own shots go for it. Get the best gear you can afford. Theres some real good stuff out there now that has come down in price since their always comming out with new gear just like the new cameras.

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Thanks for the posts.
And you were friends with Mr. Moore.....I'm impressed.
He made a statement in one of his books that still stirs up a debate.
I don't remember the wording but he stated that a refractor is basically as good as a reflector twice the size.
Do you feel this way also?
I haven't read this myself but have found the statement in a few forums. May not even be true.

JR1 wrote:

If you look at OVL who do the Skywatcher range, and read the reviews by the late Patrick Moore (my friend) it was in fact I and Patrick who did the reviews at Farthings, his home

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/refractors

Marc G Loc: East Grinstead, West Sussex, England

JR1 wrote:

If you look at OVL who do the Skywatcher range, and read the reviews by the late Patrick Moore (my friend) it was in fact I and Patrick who did the reviews at Farthings, his home

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/refractors

Whom spent most of his childhood in my hometown where at the age of 14 he was given the job caretaker to a small observatory :thumbup:

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

I didn't realize there was an astronomy section. Thank you for letting me know... I will check it out.

JR1 wrote:

There is a section for astronomy on the forum br ... (show quote)

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

I don't know why my reply to JR1 reposted his photos.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Eugene wrote:

I don't know why my reply to JR1 reposted his photos.

You quoted and replied not just replied perhaps

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Eugene wrote:

Thanks for the posts.
And you were friends with Mr. Moore.....I'm impressed.
He made a statement in one of his books that still stirs up a debate.
I don't remember the wording but he stated that a refractor is basically as good as a reflector twice the size.
Do you feel this way also?
I haven't read this myself but have found the statement in a few forums. May not even be true.

What he said was that his advice to any one starting was to get EITHER a 3" refractor or a 6" reflector

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Hey - Why not as "Telescope" John Dobson for his thoughts on one you could build. LOL John is such a character- 95 and still calling out on street corners "Come Look At The Moon".

Eugene wrote:

I once had a few telescopes including a 10 inch Schmidt cass with an observatory built around it. I got out of the hobby and recently have been bitten by the bug again. Can some of you who are into this, post some photos along with info of what telescope and eyepiece you used and how you went about capturing the photo. The more details the better.
You will either convince me to make a purchase or remind me why I got out of the hobby.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Looking at your Moon photos they look great in detail and contrast.... It is just too bad that Exon has had an oil spill there too as evidenced by the blackened areas!!!!

I have taken some surprisingly good photos, hand held, with my Panasonic ZS20. One, using a 650mu IR filter, demonstrated heat coming off of the dark part of the half moon.
d/p