Learning the Scope and Sky, Please Help

[Cassini12]

<p>HI all, My name is Jason and I live in Billerica, MA 01821. </p><p>&nbsp;I started about one month ago with a cheap 60mm meade telescope, just to see if I was going to like this hobby. Well it turns out I love it. So I purchased a used DS-2114ATS-LNT unit with "autostar:. The reason I bought this was due to the autostar feature, as I am new and I want/need all the help I can get with identifying the night sky and objects I am looking at. </p><p>&nbsp; So just to give you a little about what I have done, My first job was obliviosly to see the moon as it is most easily located. Then my next job was to find saturn, which on the day of the "lunar eclipse" i did, and it is by far my favorite thus far. I can "find" objects that are visisble to the naked eye much easier with my 60mm manual scope for some reason, but when I do I then go to my DS-2114 scope which is supposed to be much better. The reason I dont use the "autostar" option yet is because it is "off" in its aligment and unfortunetly I live in New England were at night it is bitter cold and I dont have the time to align it correctly, so I figure, I will just wait till It gets warmer and I can do it properly (if i even have a clue what I am doing). So I guess my question for now is, Why does Saturn seem to be the same "size" when viewed thru my cheap 60mm scope, as compared to when I use my DS-2114 Scope.&nbsp; I have changed from 25mm to 9.7,, to 9mm. But It seems to always be almost the same size? Is this possible to make "bigger" for better veiwing or is this how Saturn is always going to look to me with either of these scopes? </p><p>&nbsp;Also, Can I even see "nebulas" and cool looking spiral galaxies with my new ds-2114? is it even powerful enough to show me any of them? Also whats a cheap (under $75) way to be able to take pictueres of what I see? </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp; Sorry for all the ?. I do have more lol. Thank you all, I look very forward to seeing the responses. Thanks in advance..</p><p>PS: I am very new to all this, I have yet to even see Mars,Jupite, etc... I dont even know were to begin to see them, is Mars even going to look like anything other than a bright distant circle? Also, Saturday Night; March 29, 2008 I beleive in the "east" sky. I seen something I dont recall ever seeing before, It was a Very bright star, and from naked eye you could see the star next too it also (very close to each other from naked eye), i was able to get a closer look with my 60mm and they seemed further apart but one looked like it was a "circle" more planet like than the star near it. Any ideas on what that was?</p><p>-Jason</p>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p>Hmmm, good qustions. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the scope you bought. Who is the manufacturer?</p><p>The size difference can be somewhat subtle with different scopes and eyepieces. Is there a nearby astronomy club?</p><p>Most are more than happy to help you learn to use your scope (not all).</p><p>I'll look up a link for local clubs. That's what I recommend. Unfortunately my club in NJ, is a bit far away for you, but I know some folks up in MA.</p><p>The nice thing is the people there will have experince with many different sizes and types and scopes, so should be able to help you get the most out of what you have.</p><p>There's plenty to see in any scope, it's just a matter of learning the sky and some experience.</p><p>Did the scope you bought come with instructions on how to align it? USually, you must find the north star, and one or two others. Do you know where the north star is?</p><p>Wayne</p> <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>

 

[Cassini12]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hmmm, good qustions. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the scope you bought. Who is the manufacturer?The size difference can be somewhat subtle with different scopes and eyepieces. Is there a nearby astronomy club?Most are more than happy to help you learn to use your scope (not all).I'll look up a link for local clubs. That's what I recommend. Unfortunately my club in NJ, is a bit far away for you, but I know some folks up in MA.The nice thing is the people there will have experince with many different sizes and types and scopes, so should be able to help you get the most out of what you have.There's plenty to see in any scope, it's just a matter of learning the sky and some experience.Did the scope you bought come with instructions on how to align it? USually, you must find the north star, and one or two others. Do you know where the north star is?Wayne <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp; Thank you for your reply. The scope is a "meade". Both scopes are meade actually. </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; No I do not know were the north star is, thats probaby shows how new i am. I have tried the "auto align" with 2 stars but either I dont see anything near the position it is telling me to "center" or i just dont know what is what, usually it ask for "sirius" and i think "arcatrus" or something like that.</p><p><br /><br />&nbsp;</p>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you for your reply. The scope is a "meade". Both scopes are meade actually. &nbsp;&nbsp; No I do not know were the north star is, thats probaby shows how new i am. I have tried the "auto align" with 2 stars but either I dont see anything near the position it is telling me to "center" or i just dont know what is what, usually it ask for "sirius" and i think "arcatrus" or something like that.&nbsp; <br />Posted by Cassini12</DIV></p><p>Hi Jason, don't worry, we all started where you are now...<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /></p><p>OK, then we need to teach you a little about the sky, or you have no chance.</p><p>I assume you don't know where Sirius and Arcturus are?</p><p>&nbsp;Let's start simple. What do you know about the sky? Do you know any constellations at all?</p><p>The Big Dipper? Orion?</p> <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>

 

[Cassini12]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi Jason, don't worry, we all started where you are now...OK, then we need to teach you a little about the sky, or you have no chance.I assume you don't know where Sirius and Arcturus are?&nbsp;Let's start simple. What do you know about the sky? Do you know any constellations at all?The Big Dipper? Orion? <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Big Dipper, Yes I beleive.. Thats the one that looks like a "cooking pot"?</p>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;Big Dipper, Yes I beleive.. Thats the one that looks like a "cooking pot"? <br />Posted by Cassini12</DIV></p><p>Yes, OK, that's a start.</p><p>That does two things for you.</p><p>First, the last two stars in the bown of the dipper point to the North Star. Every other star in the sky moves around, but the North STar is at the same place all the time. Every season, day and night. So once you learn that, you can orient yourself.</p><p>Second, if you follow the curve of the handle away from the bowl, the bright star that curve intersects is Arcturus. See, we've made some progress already!<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Let me see if I can find a diagram that shows both of these things; then you can start to learn your way around. Of course, you won't get to see anything tonight, since it will be cloudy....</p><p>I think Wenesday night is supposed to be clear for both of us, we can teach you some more then.</p><p>Keep checking back, I'll add some useful diagrams a bit later or tomorrow.</p><p>And you did see Saturn, so that is right now in the Constellation Leo, so we can teach you that one as soon as the skies clear up.</p><p>Wayne in NJ</p> <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>

 

[Cassini12]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Yes, OK, that's a start.That does two things for you.First, the last two stars in the bown of the dipper point to the North Star. Every other star in the sky moves around, but the North STar is at the same place all the time. Every season, day and night. So once you learn that, you can orient yourself.Second, if you follow the curve of the handle away from the bowl, the bright star that curve intersects is Arcturus. See, we've made some progress already!&nbsp;Let me see if I can find a diagram that shows both of these things; then you can start to learn your way around. Of course, you won't get to see anything tonight, since it will be cloudy....I think Wenesday night is supposed to be clear for both of us, we can teach you some more then.Keep checking back, I'll add some useful diagrams a bit later or tomorrow.And you did see Saturn, so that is right now in the Constellation Leo, so we can teach you that one as soon as the skies clear up.Wayne in NJ <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Awsome, Now I'm getting excited. Thank you very much..</p>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;&nbsp; Awsome, Now I'm getting excited. Thank you very much.. <br />Posted by Cassini12</DIV></p><p>Glad to be of assistance!</p> <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>

 

[tfwthom]

You can align an autostar to north with a compass. It will not be as good as aligning it to the north star but it will still work. We do it all the time at public star parties when we are setting up before the sun goes down. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[crazyeddie]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><span style="border-collapse:collapse" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:x-small" class="Apple-style-span">So I guess my question for now is, Why does Saturn seem to be the same "size" when viewed thru my cheap 60mm scope, as compared to when I use my DS-2114 Scope.&nbsp; I have changed from 25mm to 9.7,, to 9mm. But It seems to always be almost the same size? Is this possible to make "bigger" for better veiwing or is this how Saturn is always going to look to me with either of these scopes?<br /></span></span><span style="border-collapse:collapse" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:x-small" class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;Also, Can I even see "nebulas" and cool looking spiral galaxies with my new ds-2114? is it even powerful enough to show me any of them? Also whats a cheap (under $75) way to be able to take pictueres of what I see?</span></span></DIV></p><p><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span">The reason Saturn doesn't look much larger in your new scope is because even though it has a greater aperture, 114mm vs 60mm, the focal length in both scopes is about the same (it's slightly longer in the DS-2114). &nbsp;The focal length of the optical system is what determines magnification.....the longer the focal length, the higher the magnification with any given eyepiece. &nbsp;So in essence, your new scope has more light-gathering ability, but only slightly more magnifying power. &nbsp;Images of Saturn will be brighter, but not much bigger. &nbsp;Buying a more powerful eyepiece will help a little, but I would not recommend anything shorter than a 6mm, or you will be exceeding the recommended maximum useful magnification, which for this scope will be around 160x. &nbsp;And in a scope this small, all but the brightest nebula will appear only as faint, greenish-blue smudges, and there will be no hints of spiral structure in galaxies. &nbsp;That requires a much, much larger instrument. &nbsp;And the only photography you could hope to do with this scope is snapshots of the moon, by holding up your digital camera to the eyepiece....that's about it. &nbsp;More sophisticated astrophotography requires a huge investment in time, money, and equipment.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>