Tips for moongazing?

[riflemannl]

Hey ppl,<br /><br />The moon is quiet bright and full these nights, so I wanted to take my telescope out last night.. BUT, I don't know which oculair to use etc and how to focus the darn thing.<br /><br />Anyone got tips?<br /><br />I've got the following things :<br /><br />- Telescope : 700m focal length, diameter = 60mm<br />- Oculairs : H12,5mm and SR4mm (can someone explain what those H and SR mean?? :O)<br />- 'Barow Lens 3x' (what's this??)<br />- 1 . 5x 'erecting eyepiece'<br /><br />Thanks <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[nevers]

Hi Rifle - <br /><br />Here's what I found:<br /><br />From Orion -<br /><font color="yellow">Huygenian: The two-element Huygenian eyepiece was invented by Christiaan Huygens (pronounced “HOY-kens”) in the 1600s. This design is inferior to more recent designs, so it is now obsolete, except that some Huygenian (“H”) eyepieces are still supplied with cheap imported telescopes. Eye relief is extremely short and the apparent field is small. The 18th-century Ramsden design is much better, but still not up to today’s standards (though it is used on some microscopes that have very high f-ratios).</font><br /><br />From SkyWatcher -<br /><br /><font color="yellow"><br />These fine low-cost performers offer well-corrected and sharp images for the price-conscious amateur. Perfect for beginners, these Huygenians and SR oculars are reliable and attractively priced eyepiece for all small telescopes.<br />Design: Huygenian, Achromatic Ramsden<br />Focal Lengths: H20mm, H12.5mm, H8mm, SR4mm<br />Eyepiece Barrels: 1.25"<br />Apparent Field of View: 30 degree</font><br /><br />With your 'scope you should get these magnifications with said eyepieces:<br /><br />12mm = 58x<br />5mm = 140x<br />4mm = 175x<br /><br />The Barlow lens will triple each power. The maximum useful magnification for your 'scope however is 125x.<br /><br />The 1.5 Erecting Eyepiece is a device that fits into the diagonal. Then, place an eyepiece in the open end and it will give you a correct image of the object you are looking at. Eyepieces are normally 1.25" in diameter.<br /><br />If your having trouble focusing, try cleaning the eyepieces first. But don't use windex! If you don't have something designed for optical equipment (or even eye glasses) just use warm water (preferably distilled) and mild dish washing soap.<br /><br />Let us know what you see tonight! I think I'm getting clouds - <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />. Yes, the Moon is pretty bright when it's full and is better viewed when in a l

 

[nevers]

Are you kidding me..."put the telescope away"...!?!?!?! If you got clear skies, heck, start looking! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[tony873004]

The ray system extending from the crater Tycho is best observed during a full moon.<br /><br />Other than that, like has already been said, phases other than full are better suited for the telescope.<br /><br />The full moon looks awesome rising and setting. But no telescope or binoculars necessary.

 

[nevers]

It looked like I'd have clouds...then...it started clearing up! I took my 5" Refractor outside and set it up. I got lucky and got about 24 frames of the moon before...it got cloudy again. Here's the result of such an ugly object that everybody is afraid to look at! (I'm just kidding...! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />)

 

[riflemannl]

great starts to rain.. it's getting dark in a hour or so, so hope it's dry then. Hopefully it's bright enough then for the moon.

 

[riflemannl]

yay clear night tonight... only i need a darn eye-laser operation.... oh well, 3 years waiting for me for that <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />. I just hate my eyes.. can't see that sharp with the small focus on my telescope.. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

 

[nevers]

Hi Rifle -<br /><br />I can understand your problem with focusing. Especially with the eyepieces you have: they have very small eye-relief. If your interested, Orion makes a great set of EP's called "Expanse". They have HUGE eyerelief, even on the 6mm. Here's the link: Orion Expanse Eye-Pieces . I would suggest the 20mm. Sometimes they come up for sale at the "clearance" section too.