My optical equipment

[Ylem]

I can't give you too much advice on Astro Photography.
The one thing I can tell you is to have patience.

I have been doing visual for 52 years and only ventured in to AP twice.

The first time was in the early 1970s. I had my own darkroom for film processing.
Just as today, a lot of AP is in the processing.

The other time was 5 years ago when I stepped on one of those cellphone holders in a fit of anger LOL

Have Fun, post your results, even if they don't turn out well, everyone is very supportive around here

[Butterfly Maiden]

Thanks Jeff.

I think I posted this in the wrong thread initially. My primary aim is to view the sky and identify as many objects as possible.

Any photos I decide to take will be for much later. I'll try and find the thread that just deals with spotting objects in the sky for now.

[Greenman]

Hey enjoy Vanessa first light is always fun and the weather may even be favourable to you this week. I would see if you can't line up the finder on something more like 1 km to a mile away if you can 500m is a bit too near IMO.

[Butterfly Maiden]

Hey enjoy Vanessa first light is always fun and the weather may even be favourable to you this week. I would see if you can't line up the finder on something more like 1 km to a mile away if you can 500m is a bit too near IMO.

Thank you for that.

I live in the New Forest so I've got plenty of space to do that

I'm not going to rush things though. I want to make sure I've got everything set up correctly and I'm familiar with the scope, before I go out sky viewing :smile:

[Ylem]

I wouldn't worry about identifying any objects.
Just put your lowest power EP in, that will have the widest field of view.
Then scan the sky, especially the Milky Way
It's like piloting a spacecraft

[astrowolf67]

Here are a few basic suggestions that might help. Above all, use a tripod. Auto settings almost always over expose moon pics. On manual settings, for lunar, I start with a low ISO setting 100-200, aperature of f10 or higher, and zoomed in as much as possible. Use manual focus. Once you have it in view, use the self timer to trigger the shutter, which will greatly help with vibrations. When using a DSLR, or any camera with a mirror, I always switch to live view, so the mirror slap won't cause vibrations. Once you take a few, play with the settings, and find what works best for your camera, and you. It just takes practice, and patience.

[JayTee]

Please check out this post it may help a lot.
viewtopic.php?p=1516#p1516

Cheers,
JT

[Butterfly Maiden]

Well, sadly the telescope didn't stay for very long in our house :sigh:

I hadn't realised just how large it was going to be, until it was fully assembled, and trying to move it from the house to outside was quite difficult.

We managed to do it in two halves, taking the scope off the wooden base and reassembling it outside, but they were still quite heavy individually. It was getting to be a bit of a chore I'm afraid

My partner and I had fun and games taking it apart again and trying to get all the bits and pieces back into their respective plastic bags, and the scope and base back into their boxes. Why is it always so much more difficult to re-package something than it is to unpack it.

Anyway, I emailed FLO and they have agreed to take it back for a full refund, but we have to pay the return fee of £45. We've arranged for Parcel Force to call at our house tomorrow to take it away.

It's back to the drawing board again to find something a bit more suitable, more easily transportable and not too heavy.

[JayTee]

I'm sorry to hear that the 8" Dob was not suitable.

Another very popular first scope is a refractor in the 80 - 102mm size, f/5 to f/9, on a goto mount. A much more portable setup than the 8" Dob.

Cheers,
JT

[Butterfly Maiden]

Thanks JT. I'll have a look into that a bit later.

[pakarinen]

I'm sorry to hear that the 8" Dob was not suitable.

Another very popular first scope is a refractor in the 80 - 102mm size, f/5 to f/9, on a goto mount. A much more portable setup than the 8" Dob.

Cheers,
JT

Many good options to choose from in that class. My 120mm refractor on a push-to mount weighs about 30-35 pounds - easy to carry outside. If I put my 80mm refractor on it, I can carry it one-handed very easily. Also both are very easy to put in my car if I want to head out somewhere darker to observe.

[Butterfly Maiden]

For the time being I am using my Nikon Fieldscope ED82.

It has an 82mm objective lens and a x25 - x75 eyepiece.

It weighs 1.5kg.

I set it up this evening to look at the Waxing Crescent Moon at 9.30pm from my back garden. Although the sky was still quite bright I got an excellent view of the craters.

I mounted it on my camera tripod and got a very good stable image, and I have to say that I was very impressed at the result.

It's always been an excellent scope for birdwatching and now it seems as though it could serve my needs for sky watching - for now at least.

The other advantage is that I can attach my DSLR camera to it when I get around to attempting photographs. I've tried that set-up for photographing birds, but I have yet to experiment with sky objects. There's plenty of time for that though. My immediate aim is to just learn as much about the nearest objects by eye and scope, where they are and what they are.

Who knows, as I get more experience I may hanker after a telescope, but I don't want to rush into anything.

[Lady Fraktor]

The Nikon should be capable of some very nice views.
I could not find what size the eyepiece barrel is though.
If it is the standard 1.25" you may be able to get an adapter that will fit the stock bayonet mounting and let you use a regular astronomical eyepiece.
Check with Nikon if it is possible and there should be a few places to purchase the adapter.

[Butterfly Maiden]

The Nikon should be capable of some very nice views.
I could not find what size the eyepiece barrel is though.
If it is the standard 1.25" you may be able to get an adapter that will fit the stock bayonet mounting and let you use a regular astronomical eyepiece.
Check with Nikon if it is possible and there should be a few places to purchase the adapter.

Thank you for that Gabrielle. I believe that particular scope is now discontinued, but I'll still send an email to Nikon as you suggested. I'll let you know what they say.

I've just measured the diameter of the opening for the eyepiece which is 1.25 inches. Is that the measurement you are referring to?

[Lady Fraktor]

I believe they should be 1.25"

Harrison, Firstlight Opics or 365 Astronomy may sell a adapter or may know where to find one, also check with Teleskop-Service, APM Telescopes or Baader Planetarium in Germany.

Which version is your telescope, the Monarch?

[Butterfly Maiden]

I believe they should be 1.25"

Harrison, Firstlight Opics or 365 Astronomy may sell a adapter or may know where to find one, also check with Teleskop-Service, APM Telescopes or Baader Planetarium in Germany.

Which version is your telescope, the Monarch?

Thank you Gabrielle. I haven't had a reply from Nikon yet, but they did say in their auto-reply that it could take a few days.

The scope isn't a Monarch, in fact it doesn't seem to have any specific branding anywhere, apart from Nikon Fieldscope ED82 on the side.

This is an exact photo of my particular scope:

[Lady Fraktor]

From around 2003, the reviews of it are quite good.
It should be capable of some spectacular views.

I was trying to find if there were more stock eyepieces available but the reviews only mention the one you already have

[Butterfly Maiden]

I imagine the newer models have improved optics, but I'm quite happy with the results I'm getting with my current scope for now.

I'll see what comes of the reply from Nikon regarding an adaptor to maybe take an astronomical eyepiece you mentioned. Failing that, I should still get some great views with my current eyepiece.

[Greenman]

Good luck in getting it all attached Vanessa.

[Thefatkitty]

Hi Vanessa, that is a cool looking spotting scope! You had me curious so I did a search for eyepieces for it, you probably already know about them: MC Fieldscope Eyepieces for Observation As for finding some, ebay seems your best bet, though pricey...
Good luck with it, too bad about the 8" (200p), though if it's too much you made the right decision. No point gathering dust. I went from a 12 (300p) to a 10 (250p) for the exact same reason

All the best,