anyone here still use telescopes?

[hoolign]

I had one when I was kid and kinda lost interest in it. The woman bought me a Bushnell for my Birthday last year and I just started using it seriously. Tonight we had an awsomely clear night and started going through lenses checking out the moon and stars. Freakin cooooool!
I'm half corked so dont ask me the model or lens size ..but I wanna upgrade to something real powerfull for a "at home" dealio..any suggestions??

[Racey]

nice avatar Bubbles! :D Telescopes rock, the universe is a very fascinating thing.

[Ziggy]

I keep looking at them for my Havi house cuz its hard to beat a clear, dark desert night for viewing....but haven't found I like or want to spend the dough on yet.
A few years back we had the chance to look thru some that followed the object automatically...they were focused on Saturn and Mars....able to distinctly see the rings and the redness respectively. I do want to get one that will adjust for the earths rotation like those did when I do.
.
As a kid I had the Tasco jobbie and it was good enough for the moon but not much else.

[Titan7]

Yes as a matter of fact it's one of the great things to do out at the river after knocking a few back late at night.
I always get people asking "what the hell is that?" After seeing Saturn in this their jaw hits the ground. Size does matter :D
It's not easy to transport but it's worth it under dark skies.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/titan7/Ob1.jpg

[Rexone]

What the hell is that?

[NashvilleBound]

I had one when I was kid and kinda lost interest in it. The woman bought me a Bushnell for my Birthday last year and I just started using it seriously. Tonight we had an awsomely clear night and started going through lenses checking out the moon and stars. Freakin cooooool!
I'm half corked so dont ask me the model or lens size ..but I wanna upgrade to something real powerfull for a "at home" dealio..any suggestions??
I have a 5' telescope with a 12" mirror....it sees INTO moon craters.... its your for the taking. Its old, like 50 years, but is amazing.....

[Panic Button]

We have a 10" Dobsonian and a Supercharged Meade ETX-125, the kids love them!

[Chico&Zeus]

I've been using a telescope for years, mostly when I lived in an apartment complex...and back in Chicago in the high rises. Some of the best porn I ever seen was the neighbors daughter through that balcony window:D

[deltarat]

I have a 5' telescope with a 12" mirror....it sees INTO moon craters.... its your for the taking. Its old, like 50 years, but is amazing.....
Are you serious, if so the kids would love to have something like that.

[NashvilleBound]

Are you serious, if so the kids would love to have something like that.
As long as it goes to a good home Im cool with it. Its old.... like I said...maybe 40-50 years... but its amazing. Just needs a good cleaning. And shipping.... thats a tough one. Im headed to San Diego probably in Nov by truck.... other than that you would need to arrainge whatever....

[Sleeper CP]

I think he said it was "Hooligns' " for the taking:(
Two weeks ago the family had a private tour of the Palomar Mnt. observatory, built in the 1930's w/ a 200" mirror. Just 8 of us total with a guide for 1 1/2 hrs. The tour was scheduled back in November. 6-8 months out. If you come to So-Cal it is worth it. The tour doesn't cost anything, you just have to get on the list.
They keep upgrading the telescope so it is still one of the best in the world. There are a few that are bigger now, but really not that are better. The week before we took the tour they had used a new camera lens and took pictures from earth that are more clear than pictures taken from Hubble. I asked how is that; this new lens adjusts itself 200 times per sec to eliminate distortion from the atmosphere.
But, what an absolutely awesome piece of equipment. I'm just telling you all this to say: If you get the opportunity to do it call them or look them up on the Web and try to do the guided tour sometime. I was blown away. And now I have to go buy a telescope for my kids and nephews unless I can talk to NashvillBound, Hey I'm in San Diego.
Sleeper CP

[C-2]

I've been thinking about getting one so my little 5 year old girlie can take a looksy (me too).
You guys have any suggestions on an entry level model that can somehow dissipate all the So Cal smog and 951 stank?

[yopengo]

I think he said it was "Hooligns' " for the taking:(
Two weeks ago the family had a private tour of the Palomar Mnt. observatory, built in the 1930's w/ a 200" mirror. Just 8 of us total with a guide for 1 1/2 hrs. The tour was scheduled back in November. 6-8 months out. If you come to So-Cal it is worth it. The tour doesn't cost anything, you just have to get on the list.
They keep upgrading the telescope so it is still one of the best in the world. There are a few that are bigger now, but really not that are better. The week before we took the tour they had used a new camera lens and took pictures from earth that are more clear than pictures taken from Hubble. I asked how is that; this new lens adjusts itself 200 times per sec to eliminate distortion from the atmosphere.
But, what an absolutely awesome piece of equipment. I'm just telling you all this to say: If you get the opportunity to do it call them or look them up on the Web and try to do the guided tour sometime. I was blown away. And now I have to go buy a telescope for my kids and nephews unless I can talk to NashvillBound, Hey I'm in San Diego.
Sleeper CP
Palomar is great. We did the tour with the kids a few years back. Great day trip with the family. :D

[NashvilleBound]

Hooligan piped up first..... so Im going to take some pics. If he passes I will let you guys know.

[Sleeper CP]

My son, 8, wants a telescope, but I don't have a clue what to get him. He'll use it for sure, little egghead.
You can start with : www.thesharperimage.com or the nature store .com and maybe even toys "R" us. Good for starters and not to costly.
sleeper CP

[deltarat]

As long as it goes to a good home Im cool with it. Its old.... like I said...maybe 40-50 years... but its amazing. Just needs a good cleaning. And shipping.... thats a tough one. Im headed to San Diego probably in Nov by truck.... other than that you would need to arrainge whatever....
I have a job site in San Diego and I have trucks going between here and there almost weekly. You sir are the MAN!

[Mrs.Racer277]

I had one when I was kid and kinda lost interest in it. The woman bought me a Bushnell for my Birthday last year and I just started using it seriously. Tonight we had an awsomely clear night and started going through lenses checking out the moon and stars. Freakin cooooool!
I'm half corked so dont ask me the model or lens size ..but I wanna upgrade to something real powerfull for a "at home" dealio..any suggestions??
I knew someone was watching me. :rolleyes: ;) :D
Hey you what's up???

[RitcheyRch]

Always thought about getting one but wouldnt even know where to begin looking. Wouldnt want to spend a fortune on one since not sure how long would be interested in it.

[Titan7]

It's a telescope, made by Obsession Telescopes. It's technically a newtonian reflector, also called a dob, or dobsonian. It's an 18" scope referring to the diameter of the primary mirror. It's almost 7 feet tall and weighes about 100 lbs. My wife always gets a kick out of telling folks our telescope is 5" larger than the scope at Griffith Park as well as most universities. :D
It has about 40 times the light gathering ability of a 3" refractor and 5 times the light gathering ability of a 8" telescope
Also, anybody wanting info on scopes for the kids pm me so you don't waste your money, lot's of bad choices out there.
This type of instrument allows you to see most of the pretty objects you are thinking of.

[77charger]

I had one when i was a kid i remember the day my grandpa brought it over to me it use to be his and everytimei was over there i was always looking.so he gave it to me later.
NOw the only scopes i see thru are the 3-9 weaver on my 300win mag and the spotting scope to make sure i shot almost a sub 1"group.NO probelem with the ar15 though

[Kindsvater Flat]

we did a little gazing last weekend.
http://www.schoutenranch.com/cabin/DSCF3989.jpg

[Titan7]

I used to have one of those until I got the 18".

[spectras only]

Hooli, Meade used to make good products in the ol' USA , but most of their low ends are made in China , and their QC sucks . Try the Celestron spotting scopes , they're more versatile than the astro models .Here are a few >
http://www.celestron.com/c2/category.php?CatID=30

[Sleeper CP]

That thing is bad ass. I'll have to look up some info on the net. I bet Saturn looks great through that thing.
Sleeper CP

[ColeTR2]

This is a great Observatory to go too. Lots of history. and they let you look through the 24" scope very COOL!
Link to About Lowell Observatory (http://www.cerritos.edu/ladkins/Observatory/lowell/lowell_observatory.htm)

[Titan7]

Sleeper,
The first thing people say when look at Saturn in this scope at about 600x, is Holy Sh-t :sqeyes: Seeing M51 and other deep sky objects get about the same reaction. Attached n m51, you will not see the color in the scope as our eyes are not sensitive enought, but you can see alot of the structure but less fine detail, ok more than less, as this was taken with a HUGE Scope. I also attached a photo of about what Saturn looks like, this was a photo my friend took with a 16" scope.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/titan7/m51.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/titan7/Sat.jpg

[C-2]

That is freakin amazing, thanks for sharing. More please?
And what about some good entry level models?

[Ranger305]

My 3 1/2yo daughter loves to look through our 8" Zhumell dob at Saturn and Jupiter. You can look at hi-res pictures all you want, but there's something about seeing them hanging in front of your eye for real.
I found M51 a couple weeks ago and started cursing the glow from the car plant a couple miles away it washed the image out so bad.... Light pollution stinks.
For tons great images, check the imaging and sketching sections done by amateurs over at www.cloudynights.com forums.

[Sleeper CP]

I have seen Saturn from two high powered scopes. Looks like the person put a toy on the lens. One was so clear you could see the gap (space) between the rings. Fantastic.
Do you know the estimate for how far across that galaxy is in light years ?
Sleeper CP

[talkinghead]

80mm APO Refractor
8 Inch Dob with DSC
25 x 100 Binos
M51 can be a tough target - that's a nice shot..

[coolchange]

I went to Astro camp with my kid last semmester. Saw m51 and a nebula (collapsing star?) on a computer linked scope. It was in Idylwild. Had a great time, except rangling the 80 5th graders. Mt. Pinos in frazier park has get togethers and everyone sets up little cubicle things with thier scopes inside. Just turn your lights off before you get there. When I was a kid a neighbor built a scope out of a card board tube about 14" in dia. yYou had to climb up a ladder to look into it. I remember going down there and he let me look at the moon and I saw craters on the surface! Blew me away. I still have dreams of that sight almost 40 years later. He later went on to discover a new planet or whatever they call it past pluto. Laird Thompson was his name.

[talkinghead]

This is what I love about astronomy -
I get out in the desert with my camper under dark skies.
Setup my scopes, put on some good music, open a cold one
and start searching for the faint fuzzies.
And this is what trips me out - the night sky I observe out in the desert is the same one Native Americans were looking at 5000 or more years ago. Basically nothing has changed at all in the Milky Way or beyond...

[Titan7]

I have seen Saturn from two high powered scopes. Looks like the person put a toy on the lens. One was so clear you could see the gap (space) between the rings. Fantastic.
Do you know the estimate for how far across that galaxy is in light years ?
Sleeper CP
Sleeper, I looked at a couple of my charts,
M51 is about 100,000 LY in diameter and it about 37million LY from earth.
Saturn is very close to earth @ 800 million + miles :D
Take a look at the photo of Saturn, see the dark gap in the ring system, it called the Cassini divide, its 3000 miles in diameter. Really make things on earth seem small

[hoolign]

Yes as a matter of fact it's one of the great things to do out at the river after knocking a few back late at night.
I always get people asking "what the hell is that?" After seeing Saturn in this their jaw hits the ground. Size does matter :D
It's not easy to transport but it's worth it under dark skies.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/titan7/Ob1.jpg
Looks cool too!

[hoolign]

Like I said I'm just learning about this stuff. We had real shitty ones when we were kids and never really took interest in looking at a distorted white ball in the sky. :D This bushnell is so damn touchy It takes me forever to get locked onto something and then by the time i fined the right lens to zoom in, I have to spend another 5 minutes getting it in sight again, the few times I did get it right..Saw the moon like I never have other than in pictures.

[hoolign]

Wow! I just checked out Obsession telescopes site and those things are freakin unreal! http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/
20 K for the 30" :eek: I think I'm gonna gradually move up :D

[Sleeper CP]

Sleeper, I looked at a couple of my charts,
M51 is about 100,000 LY in diameter and it about 37million LY from earth.
Saturn is very close to earth @ 800 million + miles :D
Take a look at the photo of Saturn, see the dark gap in the ring system, it called the Cassini divide, its 3000 miles in diameter. Really make things on earth seem small
And there are people that think that "WE ARE IT"
Sleeper CP

[hoolign]

And there are people that think that "WE ARE IT"
Sleeper CP
Shit.. there's gotta be something else out there.

[Sleeper CP]

And there are people that think that "WE ARE IT"
Sleeper CP
Something to compare to:
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa150/Sleepercp/Sunvsouterspace.jpg?t=1185647102
Just something to think about.
Sleeper CP

[Sleeper CP]

Just to compare size: Sorry they are in the wrong order. You should look at the one of our solar system first. Then compare our sun to what's out there in the first one that got posted.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa150/Sleepercp/Solarsystem.jpg?t=1185647755
Just something to think about.
Sleeper CP

[hoolign]

Absolutley incredible when you think about just how we compare to the rest of what's out there! :eek:

[DaddyMack]

Stellarvue 102EDT hand made triplet... :)
and a few different mounts... that cost as much as the scope... oh and photo stuff as well... :idea:
When i was married I was more into it... to get away..lol.. :D
I have a few photo's somewhere.... hmmm