Star Gazing for beginners

[yottie]

Have suddenly got interested in staring at the heavens.
Is it possible to do this through a window (from inside), I was thinking of standing the gear on an extended window-sill? I would like a 100mm ota. Any advice most welcome on best one for the job.

 

[Brigadier]

Have suddenly got interested in staring at the heavens.
Is it possible to do this through a window (from inside), I was thinking of standing the gear on an extended window-sill? I would like a 100mm ota. Any advice most welcome on best one for the job.

What's an ota?

As for looking through a window, the refraction will ruin the image, imho.

Better to put the stuff outside , wrap up warm, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness.

 

[Old Salt]

And let the neighbours know what you’re doing .......

 

[StephenStephen]

It helps to let the lens cool down so you don't get condensation on it when you take the caps off, so it would likely mean letting the room drop to outside temp...

 

[JP_]

Have suddenly got interested in staring at the heavens.
Is it possible to do this through a window (from inside), I was thinking of standing the gear on an extended window-sill? I would like a 100mm ota. Any advice most welcome on best one for the job.

You need to get outdoors, and somewhere ideally with no lights in sight. Once your eyes really accustom to the dark you can see so much more.
Wrap up warm! Once lockdown eases look for a local astronomy meet - there's bound to be one that meets once a month or so in a park.

Bigger the lens the more deep space stuff you see.

 

[yottie]

Thanks to all (ota + orthereabout!).
OK. if I go for "outside" does this always involve "setting up" (ie. can it just be taken out and used like a telescope.)
Advice is for a refractor?
Advice on best buy appreciated (up to £500 ?)
many thanks.

 

[Brigadier]

Thanks to all (ota + orthereabout!).

Oh!

"c.100mm" would be more commonly understood.

OK. if I go for "outside" does this always involve "setting up" (ie. can it just be taken out and used like a telescope.)

Depends how seriously you want to take it.
If I decide to pop outside and have a squizz, I just bung the telescope down, make sure the mount and tripod is sturdily-set, then go.

Advice is for a refractor?

Personally, if all you want to do is a bit of spotting, why restrict yourself solely to a refractor?

I have one of these: compact, easily-stored, easy to set-up, and optically very good for a gazer.

 

[durhamplumber]

Thanks to all (ota + orthereabout!).
OK. if I go for "outside" does this always involve "setting up" (ie. can it just be taken out and used like a telescope.)
Advice is for a refractor?
Advice on best buy appreciated (up to £500 ?)
many thanks.

Look at some astronomic binoculars.

 

[teaboyjim]

I wonder where the best place in the world is to go and do some night time star gazing are? Camping out in a desert perhaps?

 

[JP_]

Hawaii very good. My old astronomy partner is in the Swiss mountains now, says it's amazing. Biggest problems in the uk is cloud and light pollution.

 

[teaboyjim]

I would like to do some amateur star gazing - is there anywhere that's closer to home that is well known for being a good spot?

 

[Munroast]

It helps to let the lens cool down so you don't get condensation on it when you take the caps off, so it would likely mean letting the room drop to outside temp...

have you not got that the wrong way round, you need to let things warm up if you bring them in from the cold.

 

[Munroast]

I would like to do some amateur star gazing - is there anywhere that's closer to home that is well known for being a good spot? So your friend says the Swiss mountains are good? I'll have a look on google maps/google and see if I can find anything out about it

Cheviots is quite good, could well be the best place in England. I'm lucky to be just on the edge of them, it can be quite spectacular on clear moonless nights.

A good way to judge your own sky for light pollution is to count how many stars you can see either inside the 4 stars that make up Pegasus or within the four main stars of Orion. (I think we are too late to see Pegasus now its an autum thing in our skies

 

[JP_]

I would like to do some amateur star gazing - is there anywhere that's closer to home that is well known for being a good spot? So your friend says the Swiss mountains are good? I'll have a look on google maps/google and see if I can find anything out about it

just get as far from any lights as you can, with a clear view of the sky. Street lights, houses, towns etc. in sight will all reduce what you can see.

 

[teaboyjim]

Is it anywhere that there's a lack of light

just get as far from any lights as you can, with a clear view of the sky. Street lights, houses, towns etc. in sight will all reduce what you can see.

Would villages that are maybe 20 miles away from any town still suffer from light pollution - I've got a feeling that you have to get further away even - perhaps somewhere like the Sahara