The NexStar Arrives - and I'm an idiot

I finally received the new Celstron NexStar 6SE telescope - it had been delayed for almost a week due to the floods out west. Thankfully, UPS was able to deliver it without incident, and even brought the 50lb box into the house (I wasn't home, and I'm fairly sure my wife didn't want to kill herself dragging a telescope into the house).

It looked PERFECT. I can't believe the deal I was able to get, considering the overall condition of the scope and accessories. They didn't appear to have been used at all! The seller delivered it in original boxes, and even the "warning" tags were still attached.

I was able to assemble the unit in about 5 minutes - it really is simple. I picked up a large plastic tub at K-Mart that fits the packing material for the main unit perfectly. The tripod and my accessories case fit inside as well, making this the perfect all-in-one travel case for trips to Mingo (and other dark sites). Unfortunately, in my haste to pack the unit back up, I never aligned the red dot finder. Mistake #1.

I wasn't anticipating using the scope immediately - it had been raining all day. To my surprise, the sky became clear at around 9PM, and I hurried outside to set everything up. I didn't realize until the next day that I had attached the finder incorrectly (hey, it was dark!). Mistake #2. I went about trying to do an auto align, but after 3 failed attempts I knew I was doing something wrong. Even when doing a single star alignment, it just was WAY off - 15 to 20 degrees off. I looked at the scope in daylight the next day, and realized the finder was mounted cockeyed. I'm fairly certain I had entered the time incorrectly as well. I'm an idiot. I'll try again tonight, with any luck.

Even so, I know a few things about the sky, so I checked out M13 manually (a very easy find). Larger and more detailed than my previous scope, for sure. I sensed something was up, though, when I had trouble getting tight focus. Sure enough, my corrector was covered in dew. Grrrrrr.

I'm leaving for vacation in two days, so there isn't time to order a dew shield and have it arrive in time. I may make one out of craft foam as a temporary fix - here's hoping there is less dew in Nags Head (not likely!)

Overall, a great scope. Really solid on the mount, excellent tripod, easy to use computer (when I know the time!). I also have my exact longitude/latitude (thank you Google Earth), so hopefully that will help as well.

Todd

A new GoTo telescope = Happy Todd

Yes, I finally decided that manual tracking with a 3" Newtonian was no longer allowing me the time to enjoy my observing (OK, I was still enjoying it, but I wasn't seeing as many things due to the amount of time it took to find them!)

After much research, freelance (to save up) and debating, I was able to find a SWEET deal on a barely used 6" Celestron SCT (Schmidt-Cassegrain, for those of you not familiar with this stuff). Sure, I wanted an 8" (or a 9.25!), but budget and portability - and sanity - won out, and I chose the 6". SCT's are good general purpose telescopes for almost all subjects. The folded optics (see image inset below) make them particularly good for grab-and-go scopes (in smaller sizes), since they give the focal length of a very long scope in a very compact package. This allows for larger magnifications that simply aren't available in a refractor or Newtonian at this size. Since aperture (size) rules, I wanted to go as big as I could on a budget, and this one did the trick.

The picture (upper left) shows the scope: the main optical tube is mounted on a single fork mount (yes, single fork...I know that makes no sense, but they make double fork mounts, too). The on-board computer not only allows for tracking of objects - no more repeated nudging the scope to keep things in view - but it also has a built in database of objects that it automatically slews to. Called "Go-To" scopes, these telescopes can make a night of observing much more exciting for novices (raises hand) and those with children (raises hand again), since the hunt for Deep Space Objects (DSOs) becomes much easier. Besides, try telling a 4 year old that Saturn can be bigger in the eyepiece, but that it moves so fast at that size that you can't keep the scope on it. No, they don't like that. They want Saturn as BIG as possible, and don't want it to move out of their field of view.

Are there any downsides? A few. SCT's can be more susceptible to dew, since the front corrector plate is glass. There are dew shields and heating devices to help with this, but I'll worry about that after some actual field usage. Also, since there is a secondary mirror in the front corrector plate (the round circle) that causes a slight obstruction, the contrast of images is slightly reduced. I'll live :)

So, I should be telling you that Go-To is evil, right? That true amateur astronomers should learn the night sky using star charts, and learn to star hop the old fashioned way, right? Sorry, I'm too much of a tech geek to NOT have a computerized scope. I haven't even told you that you can hook up a laptop and actually aim the scope using on-screen star charts...oh, baby! So while yes, I think that star hopping and overall night sky familiarity are absolutely important, so is being able to enjoy your hobby the way you want to enjoy it. For me, that's with a helpful little thing called a motor.

The scope arrives next week, and I'll have new pictures posted ASAP. I cannot wait for first light with it - so many things to look at, now with more aperture!

Until then,
Todd

Mars!

I was able to observe for about 25 minutes tonight. Problems with my finder scope and the odd patch of clouds hindered my session quite a bit, but I did get some time to view M42, the Pleiades, and Mars. At the clearest parts of the session, I had Mars near 200x, and was starting to detect some "seas" of darker color to the right of my view. Still, clouds came and ruined everything, and I packed it in after no further clearings looked likely.

New Year's Resolution: more aperture and GoTo. Passed on a few LX90s already this year, as I knew the weather wouldn't cooperate much in Dec/Jan, and I'd hate lugging an 8" SCT out for a 10 minute session.

I'm thinking of getting one of those inexpensive iOptron "Cube" alt/az mounts and a used 4" achromat just to have a grab-n-go scope for the winter. If it doesn't work well, I'm only out a few hundred :)

Clear (winter) skies,
Todd

More Orion

Took another early morning peak at M42, this time with the reflector. Hard to resist a calm, clear morning when it's so easily spotted in the sky. Since the moon was out and it was nearing dawn, there wasn't a lot of detail (oh, and my scope has a tiny mirror...lol...). I decided to spend a few minutes looking at the moon's terminator instead, since it was much more detailed. I'm dying for a larger scope!

Training at Mingo Creek Observatory

I was very excited and honored to be part of the first training class at the Mingo Creek Observatory over the weekend. Who knew the hobby would bite me so hard? :)

During the training, I learned the ins and outs of opening and using the observatory, and got some hands on training with the two massive scopes there (24" GoTo reflector, 10" refractor). The 24 has the new StellaCam3, a CCD camera which offers some pretty dang impressive views of DSOs through just the attached 5" refractor. I can only imagine what a larger scope can do. The 10" is a beauty - just a massive scope on an equally massive steel and aluminum EQ mount, all set on a pier. You have to really shove it to get it moving...it's fun :)

I stayed over the dinner break and watched part of the new Timothy Ferris PBS special "Seeing in the Dark". I will TiVo it later this month when it comes on. Great stuff for amateurs like myself. Who knew former Viking's running back Robert Smith was an avid skywatcher? Cool!

After dinner I did some more hands-on stuff and watched as the StellaCam3 was put into action. With a 30-second exposure we were able to see the central star in the Ring Nebula, and the nebula itself was bright and well formed.

I called it a night at 9PM so that I could spend some time with my wife - I'd been out for almost 6 hours at that point. The night was mostly cloudy, and the south was a complete washout with clouds and smoke from some concert's fireworks. I'll go back next week (now that I'm cleared to use the Observatory!) when my brother is in town.

Thanks to all of the AAAP members who helped with the training - it was a blast, and again, I am honored to be a part of the keyholder team. The picture below, from member Al Paslow's site, is the newly trained team. I'm the goof in the jeans, sunglasses and Firefly "Blue Sun" t-shirt.



Best,
Todd

Andromeda

Just a quick update to a few previous posts, as well as a short observing note.

I did manage to catch some Perseid meteors after all, spending about an hour outside on the Sunday before it ended. I was able to catch 4 good solid streaks, though I likely missed some while goofing with the binoculars. Glad I didn't miss them this year! Managed to get sidetracked pretty bad a day later with a kidney stone. I would not recommend that anyone get one of these...drink lots of water, kids!

As for the new scope...the deal on the LX200 was amazing, but my wife and I decided we should concentrate on getting the house done (we're in the middle of a major remodel including the kitchen, bath, and deck). There will always be scopes to buy, thanks to Astromart.com :) I put the money in my savings account. With football starting soon, I'm tempted to buy a 50" plasma, too. I need a 2nd job I guess.

And finally, I managed to see the Andromeda Galaxy tonight in my Nikons as well as 'ol blue. Reaction? YAWN. I need darker skies and a larger scope. MUST HAVE MORE DETAIL :)

I'll be headed off to Mingo next weekend for a training session on the observatory and the gear inside. There's a Star Party afterwards, should the skies cooperate. I'm very excited to meet more AAAP members when the sun is out - it's easier to get to know people when you're not all standing in the dark!

Until next time,
Todd

Delays, Meteors, and a possible new scope

Sorry for the delays, I've been rather busy and haven't been observing much. The good news is that I have found a GREAT deal on a used 8" Meade LX200R GPS, a fantastic Go-To SCT that is the only scope I should ever need. It is barely used, yet I'll be saving over $1500. SWEET. Hope to have it in a couple weeks.

In order to get the funds together, I sold a few pieces of my prop collection (nothing worth keeping), plus an older iPod (I had too many) and my 7 year old PowerBook (which I'll miss a little). No worries, this is all for the greater good.

I missed the Perseid meteor shower - I was at the Steeler game on Saturday, and was VERY tired already from a late night on Friday. Sunday was cloudy as I went to look at 11:30PM, so I gave up in favor of sleep. Next time...I hope...

Thanks,
Todd

Trees, Trees, Everywhere Trees

Would it be too nutjob of me to request that all of my neighbors cut down their trees? I thought so.

I was trying to get a clean shot of Jupiter (near Scorpius) over the weekend, and by the time I was able to get outside Jove had fallen behind the tree line. Sure, I could just barely get a shot between the trees at low power, but that's not good enough for me :)

So, those trees have to go. Or I need a higher driveway...

Friday Night at Mingo Star Party

I journeyed out to Mingo park again on Friday, where the AAAP was holding another weekend of star parties. I meant to go Saturday, but Friday was looking good and my kids somehow got to bed early. Go figure!

I brought my usual gear, but this was the first time with the new eyepieces and case (pics coming soon). I setup my tripod, for the camera and binoculars, my scope (‘ol Blue), my beach chair and the small equipment table. The table is actually a kids folding table that I steal from my 6 year old. Remind me to get a real observing table.

Venus and Saturn were close together, but setting fast. I used the barlowed 9mm to view them both at 155x, which was a treat. It’s the largest I’ve seen either in this scope, and they both looked great. They moved fast, so I decided to try Jupiter for a while.

Jupiter stayed out all night, and Mingo has a GREAT view of the southern sky. I saw more in the south tonight than I ever have before. Jupiter and the 4 main moons barely fit into the eyepiece view at 155x, but I got them. Better detail than I expected, including 2 cloud bands and possibly the red spot (I may have seen it, or I may have wanted to see it so badly that I faked my own eyes out ;-)). At that magnification, it moved out of view FAST. Tracking would be a good thing to have on the next scope, so maybe the Dob is out after all.

By far, my favorites of the night came from Sagittarius, where I was able to see several Messier objects with just the binoculars. I spotted M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M20 (Trifid Nebula), and M21 in what has to be the prettiest binocular-ready section of the sky. The Milky Way was “flowing” right out of the teapot of Sagittarius, and made my night. I can only imagine what darker sites would do for this part of the sky.

I also spent some time on Antares in Scorpius, and again used binoculars to find M4. By this point, I was also viewing M4 and M25 through the 24” reflector Mingo’s observatory, so I was getting a little spoiled. This scope now features a rotating turret of eyepieces, so changing between the 5 or 6 magnifications was perfectly simple. A great star party addition, especially since those eyepieces were all Tele-Vue Naglers. What I’d give to have a set of those in my eyepiece arsenal! Someday!

I started packing up at about 12:45, just as a lovely reddish-brown moon rose behind me. I took several shots of the moon, none of which really worked. Ah well.

Overall, a great night! I met several new people, and I’m sure I’ll even remember their names someday (I’m terrible with names!).

My Favorite Astronomy Books

I was lucky enough to get a bunch of new books lately, so I thought I'd create a post of my favorites for you to check out. I've mentioned some of these before, but I'm putting the whole lot here for easy reference :)

Astronomy Hacks
By Robert Thompson, Barbara Fritchman Thompson
This has become my bible of sorts. Always a good read, and plenty of things to keep the newbie busy. How to pick a scope, how to trick it out, computer gizmos to buy, etc. A must read.



The Stars: A New Way to See Them
H.A. Rey
Yes, the same H.A. Rey that wrote and illustrated Curious George books. He was also a scientist, and this book is a the coolest way to learn the constellations. My kids love it, I love it, you'll love it.






Nightwatch
Terence Dickinson
This is one I just got, and like the Hacks book, it is a great beginners guide to all things astronomy. Lots of pictures, easy to read, and it is spiral-bound to lay flat. The 2006 edition has all new goodies, too.


Sky Atlas 2000.0
Wil Tirion
I just found the older 80's printing (black cover, spiral bound, unlaminated) at a half-price books store for under $9! Had to buy it, even if it is SO hardcore. This is an amazing book of star charts, well organized and full of great stuff to hunt down. The link is for the new edition, and has sprial bound laminated pages. Pricey, but a great resource.


Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas
Roger W. Sinnott
An easy to use field guide full of star charts. Many deep sky objects, easy to read (even at night), and a super bargain. If you're not going to spend $75 on SkyAtlas 2000.0, this $10 book is right up your alley.

A beautiful night for Luna

Last night was clear and cool here in Western PA, so I took all of the gear outside for an hour or so. I finally got to use the new barlow to view Saturn and Jupiter at higher magnifications - what a difference! Saturn is lower in the sky now, and is blocked by trees from my driveway almost as soon as it is visible. I ended up wandering down the street to my neighbors driveway to get a better view - I'm sure they all think I'm nuts.

Saturn through the barlowed 25mm eyepiece was about 56X magnification, and showed two moons and defined rings. I need to get a 8mm or so to really max out the magnification of the scope - it was a great view.

Jupiter was high in the darker eastern part of the sky, and the larger magnification helped me see 2 or 3 bands of color across the surface of the planet. The 4 large moons showed up 2 per side, making a nice view in the eyepiece. I'm sure the 8mm would be worth every penny on this planet as well.

I got distracted by the moon midway through the viewing session - it was a bright crescent in the South West, and I spent a while looking at the surface at 56x in the 25mm and 22x in the 32mm. It was such a nice view that I took the picture you see at the right. I think this was taken at f3.2 and ISO100. I'd have to check. I used my Canon S2IS digital on a tripod, and used the 10 second timer. Not bad! Took about 15 shots, and this was the best.

What I didn't remember, however, was that the ISS (International Space Station) was due to pass by the moon just before 11PM. Not only that, but the recently undocked shuttle would be following it, only 10 degrees or so behind. Only after I came in did I read how great a sight it was. RATS. Hopefully my brother in VA got to see it (he's been waiting all week).

As usual, I picked out M13 to close out the night. One of these days I'll get out my charts and plan an actual session. Likely I'll save that for a star party with darker skies and more time.

Bought some new eyepieces

I found some inexpensive eyepieces on Ebay (SmartAstronomy's store, ebay id Ruby123) and decided to give them a try on 'ol Blue (the Bushnell 3" reflector). These are Guan Sheng eyepieces, rebranded for SmartAstronomy. As far as I can tell, there are others (including Celestron) that offer the same ones with different branding.

I bought a 32mm Super Plossl and a 2x Barlow (both 1 1/4" and fully multicoated). They arrived in only 2 days, were packed very well, and came with dust caps. They were further wrapped in small baggies and placed inside nice little boxes. The 32mm also has fold-down rubber eye guard. Nice touch.

The 32mm preformed well - nice eye relief, wide view (52 degrees, according to the specs), and good overall contrast and darkness of the sky. Stars appeared sharp to the edges of the field as well.

The barlow also worked well, but the focuser in 'ol Blue has a rivet inside that doesn't allow easy insert of longer eyepieces. Thank you Bushnell. I did get it in, but it isn't easy. Not the way to go when you're trying to do a simple swap to get a little closer to a DSO.

I did manage to get a nice view of M13, easy to pick out now that I'm learning my way around the sky. It was late when I tested, so the planets were out of view (behind trees or already set). I'll try the planets again soon.

Overall, a great deal at under $50 for both. I'll likely pick up a 9mm to go with the set, since the price is right and the company is SUPER easy to deal with.

Amazing beginners book - Astronomy Hacks

Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to a book that I LOVE. A fellow AAAP member reminded me of it when he recommended it to me yesterday (two of us like it - so it must be good!).

The book is called Astronomy Hacks, by husband and wife team Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson. Click the link to find it on sale at Amazon.com.

This book saved my time and money, and reading it was fun and informative. I'm still not done reading it, because I keep re-reading the early parts :)

First Star Party

I attended the April star party held by the AAAP in Pittsburgh. The party was held at the Mingo Creek observatory in Washington County, about 25-30 minutes from my house. Beautiful night, calm, clear, and cool.

It was my first party, so I brought my wife and 6 year old along for company :)

I got to see some great images of Saturn (with Cassini seps and moons! WOW!) and a few Messier objects (M3, M42), plus good 'ol Luna as it waned. Even saw Venus in one of its phases. Doesn't hurt that they have amazing scopes to take a few peeks through!

My 6yr old got tired early, but he was loving every minute. When I go to the next one in May, maybe he'll stay home. We'll see. I have decided to dive head-first into the hobby, and that means I do a ton of research. I bought a planisphere and a few books, my favorite of which is called "Astronomy Hacks". I must-read for the beginner, worth every penny.

The books and research led me to my first astro-purchase: a pair of Nikon 10x50 binoculars. I'll start with these (who knew you could see SO much with binocs?) and keep asking about scopes. For now, I'm looking at either an 8-10" Dobsonian or I'll wait and save the pennies for an 8" SCT (Schmidt-Cassegrain) with go-to computer control. I may eventually need a small grab-and-go refractor, but the binocs should do fine for now. Hooked, hooked, hooked.