anyone in wisconsin?

[googoogirly]

Hi everyone... I'm new to space.com and livescience.com, but I've been pretty geeked up about astronomy for quite a few years. Last year I got a telescope for christmas, which of course, did not include any sort of instruction manual... so here's my predicament... I have a telescope, and enough enthusiasm for an entire high school astronomy class... but I don't know how to use this thing, nor do I know anyone who does. Anyone live near central wisconsin willing to help me out?!

 

[billslugg]

Your best bet is to get a hold of Calliarcalle. She lives in Minn/St. Paul and might be able to help you out. If a guy named MeteorWayne calls up and says: "Wanna see my meteor?" you need to run in the opposite direction. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

We can, of course, help you out on the forum here too. More than a few of us pretty experienced in telescopes and astronomy in general. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[Testing]

Describe your scope and you will get constructive advice telling you what you can expect to see with it. Parts of WI are plenty dark. I spent a bunch of time growing up visiting relatives place in Waterford along the Fox River. Tell us what ya got! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

If you look here, there is a list of Astronomy clubs in Wisconsin.<br /><br />If you contact the closest, I think you will find they would be happy to help you learn how use your scope. I know our club would be, but it's a rather long drive to NJ <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Of course, I could show you my meteor <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />But first, tell us what lind of scope you have.<br /><br />Also, if you tell us the nearest big city, and what time you can observe (evening only, or are you willing to get up in the morning?) we can look at your sky and give you some suggested targets. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Your best bet is to get a hold of Calliarcalle. She lives in Minn/St. Paul and might be able to help you out.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Bear in mind, Wisconsin is not a small place. If she lives in Milwaukee, it's a bit out of my range. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I can still help electronically, of course. I'll second what others said -- tell us a bit about your scope, and we can give you tips on how to use it! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[heyscottie]

And I'm occasionally in southwestern or northwestern Wisconsin...<br /><br />But, as others have said, your best bet is to post a description of your scope, your location, and what you hope to do, and we can give you a lot of pointers.<br /><br />What brand?<br />What model?<br />What aperture?<br />What focal length?<br />What accessories (eyepieces) do you have?<br />How dark are your skies?<br /><br />Answer any or all of these questions, and we'll get going...

 

[billslugg]

<font color="yellow">Bear in mind, Wisconsin is not a small place.</font><br />Back in 1977 I drove from Scranton to Anchorage. I had to be there to meet a boat. Just as I entered Alaska I looked at the map of Alaska in my atlas. It was the same size as Pennsylvania. No problem, I have plenty of time. I ended up driving through the night. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Alaska is huge. I've never driven through it, but I know it's the biggest state in the US, even though some map projections distort it to look smaller. (The problem with high-latitudes.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>