Radar 654 Report post Posted June 13, 2007 G'day Peter, Welcome to the site mate. Are you getting any clear nights there at the moment? What equipment do you image with? Cheers Ray :thumbsupmate: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpius 176 Report post Posted June 13, 2007 Blast Bor a good ole Norfolk man he say.. G'Day from an ex Norfolk bloke. Welcome to the group, hope you enjoy being member of the group. Regards Dave ex Norwich etc came here in 68. :Chessy_Smile: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wakaleo 10 Report post Posted June 14, 2007 Hi, I'm Peter and live and work in Norflok. UK. Only really got into Astronomy about 2 years ago and enjoy Imaging and Comet watching. I work in the Satellite Coms Industry designing and building coms equipment. Other hoddies include our Small Holding here in darkest Norfolk. Saw the site in The Sky at Night Mag. Regards, Peter Welcome to the site Peter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Impakt 10 Report post Posted July 6, 2007 G'day Ray dragged me here kicking and screaming from 'cloudy nights' so I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is impakt/storm/paul - take your pick I am 32 and live about 40 kms outside of Albany WA. I used to help out at WARO (the AGWA site) before I moved down here and I've been interested in astronomy and cosmology since I started primary school but I have become disillusioned with mainstream astronomy over the years. I currently own an 80mm refractor but am in the process of getting a 14" LX200R along with a bunch of other goodies. I'll be doing a lot of imaging with a baader mod canon 350D DSLR and Mead DSI pro II. Other interests include model rocketry and I am the webmaster for the Perth Advanced rocket club and Australian rocketry Forum (currently on long service leave from the rocketry forum). Nice to be here and thanks for the invite Ray. cheers! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radar 654 Report post Posted July 7, 2007 G'day Paul, 14inch LX200? Very nice mate, you'll be loving that. You must have some nice dark skies where you are as well. Looking forward to seeing your first images through the 14. Are you already using the Meade DSI? Ray Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Impakt 10 Report post Posted July 7, 2007 Hi Ray, I have great dark skies and a good outlook in all directions from my location. I dont have the DSI yet - I'll get it along with the main scope and 80mm mead 5000 apo guidescope plus various other junk - that way I pay shipping once. I'll mostly use the DSI as an autoguider but will image with it from time to time. The 350D will do most of the work. I'll post first light images once I'm all set up. Still need to build the observatory. Paul Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radar 654 Report post Posted July 7, 2007 Hi Paul, What kind of observatory are you going to build? Dome or Roll Off Roof? I wish I had your skies. Ray Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenix 10 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 G'day Paul. Welcome to the site.:thumbsupmate: Cheers Jason :pipethinker: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Draig 10 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 Hi Paul Welcome to the site. Cheers Colin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whmacs 10 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 New Member Hi Guys, Another new member here. My name is Stephen and I'm from Newcastle NSW. I've been out of astronomy for a while now, but have developed a renewed interest since I picked up a Canon 400D digital camera. Up until now I've been using a ST-237a. All I need now is some fine weather to give it a try! Anyway I just wanted to say hello. The link in my sig contains a bit more inform about what I've been up to. P.S. Ray, I sent you a PM, but it says your inbox is full an won't accept any more PM's. Regards, Stephen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Impakt 10 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 What kind of observatory are you going to build? Dome or Roll Off Roof? It will be 'domeish' the building will be a 3m x 3m suare with an octagonal shaped cylindrical roof. If that makes any sense... Cheers Jason Tantaris Jason? Or another Jason? And thanks to all others for the welcome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radar 654 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 Hi Guys, Another new member here. My name is Stephen and I'm from Newcastle NSW. I've been out of astronomy for a while now, but have developed a renewed interest since I picked up a Canon 400D digital camera. Up until now I've been using a ST-237a. All I need now is some fine weather to give it a try! Anyway I just wanted to say hello. The link in my sig contains a bit more inform about what I've been up to. P.S. Ray, I sent you a PM, but it says your inbox is full and won't accept any more PM's. Regards, Stephen G'day Steve, welcome to the site. Yeah I noticed my inbox was full this morning. I've emptied it now. How long have you had the St237a for? How would you rate it? Ray It will be 'domeish' the building will be a 3m x 3m suare with an octagonal shaped cylindrical roof. If that makes any sense... Look forward to seeing pics of it Paul. I will hopefully have some kind of observatory by the end of the year as well. Can you get broadband from where you are? It was Tantaris Jason. You should be able to access the thread now if you want. Regards Ray Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AstroTasmania 10 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 New Member Hi Stephen, Welcome to the group, you guys have been having a tough time up there with the weather, maybe you get a break and do some astronomy. Best Wishes, Clear skies... Shevill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenix 10 Report post Posted July 8, 2007 Hey Stephen Welcome to this great site:thumbsupmate: Cheers Jason :pipethinker: Tantaris Jason? Or another Jason? And thanks to all others for the welcome. Another Jason :pipethinker: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orion 10 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Hi All..... I better do something about introducing myself. Some of you know me from the DIY section of the forum. I also live in Newcastle NSW and am a committee member of the Newcastle Astronomical Societyhttp://www.nas.org.au/ hence my avatar. I have always been interested in astronomy but in years past with other commitments astronomy was put on the back burner. I remember that years later I was walking past a Pawn Brokers shop front window and there was a refractor for $200 and I said to myself if only one day! Well here I am now, half way through the construction of my third telescope and reminding myself of that refractor at the window that at the time I could never have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astro Dave 10 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Hi All..... I remember that years later I was walking past a Porn Br-ockers shop front window and there was a refractor for $200 and I said to myself if only one day! Heh heh,... had to chuckle. I hope you meant 'pawn' broker there Ed old chap? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orion 10 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Thanks for the heads up Dave..lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Impakt 10 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Can you get broadband from where you are? Yes and no...I can get sat, but there's no way I am paying what they want for a sub quality service. Why do you ask? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radar 654 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Yes and no...I can get sat' date=' but there's no way I am paying what they want for a sub quality service. Why do you ask?[/quote'] Hi Paul, I ask because living forty clicks out of Albany must be awesome for Astronomy, and if we ever move house again, I want it to be a place with dark skies (somewhere like you are), but I know once you get a certain distance from a telephone exchange broadband becomes unavailable. I am a broadband freak. I watch so much video streaming via broadband, if and when we ever move out to an area like where you are, I hope I can keep my broadband. Can't see myself using Satellite with the prices either. Ray Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whmacs 10 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Hi Ray, Thanks for the warm welcome! I've had the St-237a for about 5 years. It's been a good camera and I've mainly being using it in Hyperstar mode. It's been a great introduction to imaging, now with the purchase of the Canon 400D and an 80ED, I'm hoping to get back into it. I've just also purchased a QHY CCD camera that I will be using for guiding the N11GPS (it has USB and an ST4 guide port) with the 80ED mounted on top for imaging. I'm hoping this will replace the ST-237a. cheers, Stephen G'day Steve, welcome to the site. Yeah I noticed my inbox was full this morning. I've emptied it now. How long have you had the St237a for? How would you rate it? Ra Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whmacs 10 Report post Posted July 9, 2007 Thanks Shevill, It's the old story, buy some new astro gear and you don't see stars for month Regards, Stephen Hi Stephen, Welcome to the group, you guys have been having a tough time up there with the weather, maybe you get a break and do some astronomy. Best Wishes, Clear skies... Shevill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xunil 10 Report post Posted July 10, 2007 Hiya Everyone! I'm called Terry (Tel) & I'm from the UK, down in Devon for any of you that know it. I'm fairly freshly into Astronomy, but in my 4 months or so I've grabbed myself a cheap pair of bins and joined the local astronomical society. Seeing has been pretty dreadful, although I've been out on every night I can see a few stars, trying to learn the sky a little before I buy myself a scope. I'm still looking into that last, trying to get a good scope but without spending too much, something good for a beginner that i'll be able to have a good look at saturn and jupiter with, as well as seeing some deeper sky objects. I'm thinking of leaving the goto thing alone for now, and opting for better optics and an equatorial mount, so that in the future I can try my hand at photography. Anyway, It's cool to find some forums based around Astronomy! It seems such a lonely hobby when I'm out there under the stars. Pleased to meet you all! Tel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radar 654 Report post Posted July 10, 2007 G'day Tel, Welcome to the site. With the scope purchase, dobsonians are pretty good value for money. They yield good views of things like Saturn and Deep Space Objects. The only downside is that they are not equatorially mounted. Also a newtonian mounted on an equatorial mount is always a versatile investment. With a setup like this, visual + photography can be done. It's good that you want to leave the goto ability alone for now, this will only increase your knowledge and appreciation of the night sky. You obviously prefer Linux systems? Ray Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xunil 10 Report post Posted July 10, 2007 G'day Tel, Welcome to the site. With the scope purchase, dobsonians are pretty good value for money. They yield good views of things like Saturn and Deep Space Objects. The only downside is that they are not equatorially mounted. Also a newtonian mounted on an equatorial mount is always a versatile investment. With a setup like this, visual + photography can be done. It's good that you want to leave the goto ability alone for now, this will only increase your knowledge and appreciation of the night sky. You obviously prefer Linux systems? Ray Thanks for the welcome Ray! I think that I would opt for a Dobsonian if it weren't for the size, I have a two bedroom house at the moment, sharing it with the Wife and two kids, so it would be selfish to get anything that will take up bags of room. As it is, any scope worth getting is going to be a sizeable lump. I'm currently interested in the Europa 150 f/5 DeLuxe, which comes out well in various group tests - notably getting 93% in the Jan 07 issue of Sky at Night magazine. At £459 it's at the top end of my price range for a first scope, and comes with an overkill Vixen GPE Polaris mount so if I want a larger tube at a later date I can upgrade. The only thing i'm unsure about is the lack of a motor drive to counteract the earth's rotation - will this be a problem before I take up photography? Can a motor be added somehow later? Yes, I'm a lunix nut, although i'll happily use anything that is good for the job, so I use XP based PC's and Macs too. Linux is good for tasks which need to work the same, day in day out without any messing about - servers and suchlike, although desktop distro's are getting better. EDIT: Actually, i'll repost this over in the right spot, I dont want to hi-jack the thread - thanks for the welcome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenix 10 Report post Posted July 10, 2007 Hey Tel Welcome to the site mate :thumbsupmate: Cheers Jason :pipethinker: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
