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souls33k3r
(@souls33k3r)
Posts: 52
Trusted Member
Topic starter
 

Good day to all you fine astro-geeks ... let me make a confession to begin with. I love astronomy but I'm pretty bad at remembering all the nebula names etc. Every time there is something on regarding astronomy, I am fixated. The technical details what interests me how far the galaxy is and what's inside of them. The whole thing about how big the universe is and what it holds is just overwhelming. Always wanted to buy a telescope and join an astronomy club but because none of these clubs were close-by to where I live (East London), I never ended up buying a scope.

Which nicely brings me to my next point.

A couple of days ago I specifically woke up at 1:10am to witness the beginning of the lunar eclipse. Stayed on for an hour and then went back to bed. Woke up at 3:05am and then enjoyed the event for an hour. Used my DSLR with a kit lens to photograph this rare event too. The pictures frustrated me so I was >.< close on buying a 70-300mm lens. Then I thought, why not buy a telescope and view the heavens the proper way.

Now I would like to come along to some first few events, get the feel of such clubs and if all goes well I'd be most interested in joining as a full time member. My interest is to mingle with you fine folks and see what scopes you all have and then you know share and get information.

I've noticed that you guys are having the next event at Blackheath, do I have to be a full time member to come to this event or can I just turn up?

Please let me know, would appreciate your assistance.

Thank you

 

 
Posted : 05/10/2015 6:26 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

Hi,

Welcome to the Flamsteed forum!

Very pleased that you managed to see the lunar eclipse last week. Hopefully you've seen a few images which Flamsteed members took from the report on this website.

You'd be very welcome to come to our next Blackheath event. These events are open to all, not just Flamsteed members. I'm sure that you will find people who can give you good advice.

Note that we have scheduled the next Blackheath event for this Saturday. However, if the weather prospects look better for Friday evening, then we will bring it forward by a day. In any case, check the website for the "no/go-go" message at about 5pm.

I look forward to seeing you at a future Flamsteed event.

Mike.

 
Posted : 05/10/2015 8:05 pm
souls33k3r
(@souls33k3r)
Posts: 52
Trusted Member
Topic starter
 

Hi Mike,

This is awesome, I mean seriously I feel welcomed already.

Can not wait to come along, meet you fine people and look up in the heavens and appreciate the beauty with my own eyes through the scope eye piece 🙂

You mentioned about the possibility of the date being brought forward and to check by 5pm on Friday on the website. Any particular place on this website? Also I'm now following you guys on Twitter as well. Will it be announced there too?

Thanks

 
Posted : 06/10/2015 1:52 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

It'll be on the front page of the website on the right hand side where the upcoming events are listed.

It's also on the event webpage here http://flamsteed.info/event/blackheath-observing-saturday-10-october/

Yes, if you are following us on Twitter, then this will also give you any go/no-go messages or changes to plan.

 
Posted : 06/10/2015 5:59 pm
souls33k3r
(@souls33k3r)
Posts: 52
Trusted Member
Topic starter
 

Cheers Mike, can't wait ... hopefully there will be plenty of scopes to look at and see exactly what they are capable of because right now I have so many questions and a confused mind as to which scope to buy lol I would be lying if I said I don't dream being in a shop buying a scope 😀

 
Posted : 07/10/2015 1:36 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

Please note that we've brought forward the date of the next Blackheath event by 24 hours.

It will now take place TOMORROW evening (Friday 9 October).

All other details remain the same.

http://flamsteed.info/event/blackheath-observing-friday-9-october/

 
Posted : 08/10/2015 7:11 pm
Les
 Les
(@les)
Posts: 14
Active Member
 

Please note that we’ve brought forward the date of the next Blackheath event by 24 hours. It will now take place TOMORROW evening (Friday 9 October). All other details remain the same. http://flamsteed.info/event/blackheath-observing-friday-9-october/

I'm going to attempt to come along also. Ive looked on Google maps. Is parking available in that car park in Talbot Place? (Its locked in the image - but apart from there - or on the grass, I cant see anywhere else to park.

 
Posted : 08/10/2015 9:30 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

Is parking available in that car park in Talbot Place? (Its locked in the image – but apart from there – or on the grass, I cant see anywhere else to park.

We don't use the car park, as it's normally locked. You can just park on the road, on Talbot Place. It's free parking after 6.30pm. Just leave enough room for cars to get by and don't park in front of the car park entrance or the entrance to the house.

 
Posted : 08/10/2015 11:10 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

Blackheath is confirmed on.

http://flamsteed.info/event/blackheath-observing-friday-9-october/

 
Posted : 09/10/2015 3:58 pm
souls33k3r
(@souls33k3r)
Posts: 52
Trusted Member
Topic starter
 

Excellent mate, cheer. I'll be there for 19:15 ... best to be early than late. Will be coming straight from work.

By the way, where will we guys be doing the observing session? right at that place where it says on the map or are we doing somewhere else in the park?

 
Posted : 09/10/2015 5:58 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

We will be about 50 yards to the north of the road (Talbot Place). You should be able to see us quite easily.

 
Posted : 09/10/2015 6:32 pm
Tej
 Tej
(@tej)
Posts: 636
Honorable Member
 

Hi souls33k3r, was a pleasure to meet you at the Observing event yesterday.  You certainly were a man on a mission with lots of good questions about telescopes!  Hoped you got a clearer feel for what you going for.  Seemed like you did at the end 🙂

 
Posted : 10/10/2015 9:34 am
souls33k3r
(@souls33k3r)
Posts: 52
Trusted Member
Topic starter
 

Hi souls33k3r, was a pleasure to meet you at the Observing event yesterday. You certainly were a man on a mission with lots of good questions about telescopes! Hoped you got a clearer feel for what you going for. Seemed like you did at the end :)

<span style="line-height: 1.5;">Tej, or as I've been calling you Ted for most part of the night (lol),  it was an absolute pleasure joining you friendly bunch yesterday. I was one of the first ones there and the very last one to leave. Seriously I didn't want to leave but it really got cold after after everyone left. Did you manage to do some astrophotography of the Uranus then? What time did you leave? I guess it was around 11:45 when I left so if you left later then my friend my hats off to you. You never know we can be 8SE buddies and spend nights Observing the heavens hahahaha. </span>

I came to the session with a clear understanding of what I needed and left with so much more, thanks to Mike,  Rupert and yourself. You lot were awesome. I never knew the power of a refractor but I guess Rupert stole the show with the beast he brought with him,  such a nice guy and willing to share his knowledge and scope for us to view. Also he taught be my first star hopping.

The whole experience and seeing the nebulae and star clusters and double stars and galaxy and Uranus experience was so surreal that I couldn't sleep till late. Am still buzzing.

 
Posted : 10/10/2015 12:55 pm
souls33k3r
(@souls33k3r)
Posts: 52
Trusted Member
Topic starter
 

Right so I've been quite for the last few days but I've been doing my home work in the mean time. When I met with you guys last week Friday, I spent a lot of time with Tej and he mentioned that Nikons are not much supported in terms of Softwares. So took it upon myself to find out a bit more on that. That was true until the boys who brought us BackyardEOS have now developed the BackyardNikon (hold off on them fireworks) but the unfortunate thing is that my model of DSLR isn't supported because Nikon for some reason has decided not to release an SDK for it. DigicamControl is another one, ControlmyNikon is another but same story. But in the end I guess DigicamControl does help with the Nikon D3100 connection but lacks the Live View ... so maybe I might live with that or maybe I just buy a Canon body to do astrophotography and mod the camera ... that remains to be seen.

Any who, when I left the observing session, I knew exactly what scope I wanted to buy (not dissing your brilliant APM refractor Mike 🙂 ) which was the Celestron Nexstar 8SE but then I also wanted to do Visual and Astrophotography so thought I might as well spend a little bit more and get something better optics and a sturdy mount. So in the end I pinned them down to two choices "Celestron Advanced VX 8” SCT" & "Celestron Advanced VX 8” EdgeHD" (leaning more towards the EdgeHD) ... both have Stainless Steel mount. I know I know it's not an CGEM but still it's better than the Alt-az mount don't you think?

So what are your thoughts on the choice that I'm trying to make? 🙂 (Sorry Tej, I know I said we could be the 8SE buddies but I guess i'll take the pinch of salt and move up a level if I could afford it)

 
Posted : 16/10/2015 1:57 pm
Mike Meynell
(@mikem)
Posts: 875
Prominent Member
 

If you can afford the extra for the Edge-HD, go for it. It's an excellent scope. Good solid mount as well.

You might want to think about getting the .7x focal reducer if you are going to use it for astrophotography.

Oh, and make sure you get a dew-shield!

 
Posted : 16/10/2015 2:13 pm
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