My telescope came today :)

Wonderful, congratulations! Looks like a lovely scope, nice and light to carry around and man, you'll have fun with the Goto slewing. As its an Alt-Az, you wont have to do any polar alignment, yay. For best tracking performance, make sure your mount is level with a spirit level. Also, get to know your bright stars as it helps when you do the star alignment.

I'll let others advise you about aluminium cases because I am a Backpacker and crams everything into it 😉 I get very shocked looks from everyone when I do that, as if I was stuffing little puppies into a cardboard box!

When you do find a way to transport it to your satisfaction, I hope you bring it to the Blackheath observing events, would be nice to see it. We have one tomorrow/Saturday and you'll find many willing to help you out if you get stuck with anything in setup 🙂

I would say enjoy the eyepieces and barlow that it comes with first. Eyepiece purchasing is a ridiculously broad choice and it will be down to your personal preferences and budget. Everyone has individual particular tastes around here. For example, I was looking through an Ethos (a midrange/high end eyepiece) and found it had a low eye relief for spectacle wearers like myself for instance. Best to have a look at other people eyepieces at the Flamsteed Blackheath observation events but as I said, enjoy the eyepieces you got. Because it comes with a barlow, you effectively got 4 different magnications, which is a great number to start with.

does any one know where I can get a case

I've tended to use Maplin in the past for most cases... but I'm not sure they have any in that particular size. The padded cases are just as good, in my opinion... Telescope House do one that fits your scope http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Orion_Padded_Telescope_Case_39in_x_9.5in_x_11in.html but they are a bit pricy in my opinion. However, it would certainly protect your scope nicely.

also what extra eye pieces would it be advisable to get

I agree with Tej... see what the eyepieces that come with the scope are like first. If you bring the scope to observing events (as I hope you will), ask to use a few people's eyepieces and see what you like.

I'm a Televue Ethos user, as Tej knows... but the cost of these eyepieces will be more than your scope! There are plenty of cheaper options, which can provide great views... so do some investigation first before parting with your cash.

The forecast for Friday is looking a bit rubbish at the moment, but Saturday evening is forecast clear!!!!

Heya guys

Thanks for the suggestions

I will be defiantly be bringing it down for the events  main reason for getting a case 🙂 as I have to bus it down currently so hopefully I will see you on Saturday i'll be there in any case though

The case will be here Friday yipppe 😛

Got to take my scope to the observing event last night 🙂 luckily a relative was around and he took me up by car as my Bag for it hasn't arrived yet comes Monday 🙂

initial view of the scope is it a goodun easy to setup (ahem thanks Mike 😉 ) its light but the mount is study enough no wobble during moving or tracking and the motor is quieter than I thought it would be as well had some great views of the moon though it as well with the eyepieces that came with I could get up to 100% magnification I think it was as not totally sure how to work it all out yet but I believe its something like telescope length is 500mm divided by 10mm ep = 50X + the 2X Barlow = 100X magnification? and the Moon looked great at this but the scope can go up to 200X so views similar to what I see though with others at that sort of magnification is in my grasp yippee 😀

Unfortunately I didn't get to any other objects this time round as I had to leave a bit early and to be honest still getting used to the SynScan system I should have spent more time in doors going though the menu items but hey 🙂

There is a slight CA around the edges but nothing that spoiled my views and to be honest after a little while I must have tuned it out as I really didn't notice it and I believe is normal for this range of scopes

but all in all I had a great time so pretty happy.

Is that not the best feeling the first time you look through your telescope and see a body so far away.

Is that not the best feeling the first time you look through your telescope and see a body so far away.

Absolutely, Brian! Just a few months ago I saw Venus as a thin crescent for the first time, using a small inexpensive scope that had spent most of its life in my loft. Amazing!

sure is Brian 🙂