Anyone got a telescope handy?

[Dover]

All I have is a pair of binoculars. They're pretty good 10x42, but not long range enough to make out the HUGE planet in the Eastern sky right now about 45 degrees above the horizon (here in Tx).
Besides wanting to identify it, I'm curious about what I'm seeing. Through my binoculars it
looks like two little (by comparison) pinhole size lights/stars on either side and I'd love to hear more about what I'm seeing.

Thanks!

[scubadude]

1. Plug in your lat an lon into this link and with a bit of luck you'll identify your star or planet.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

45 degrees above what horizon, east, north, south, west, need more info. I've got a great pair of high power binocs for quick stuff like this.

Scuba

[Dover]

2. 45 degrees above the Eastern horizon. Can't miss it...it's the largest, brightest thing in the sky.

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

To the poster who mentioned Jupiter and its moons. I didn't realize the moons were visible without a good telescope.

[pokerfan]

21. The four Galilean moons are easily seen in binoculars

The others, not so much... :)

[Dover]

24. Okay, well then it probably IS Jupiter. I had no idea the moons were that visible...n/t

[pokerfan]

26. It's Jupiter

Saturn is in the west after sunset right now. Jupiter's in the east.

Sky map for July: http://www.skymaps.com/skymaps/tesmn0907.pdf

[Dover]

28. Okay, that settles it. Thanks!...n/t

[deadmessengers]

3. It's probably Jupiter.

Jupiter's in the NE for me here in Atlanta, about 45 degrees up. The "pinholes" are probably two of the four Galilean moons.

[Dover]

5. Well, I used scubadude's link and the horizon profile shows Saturn.

Am I seeing it's rings?

I think it may be time to invest in a telescope. Can anyone recommend a relatively
good, small reasonably priced one that would at least double what my binoculars show?

[Dover]

6. Wow wow wow! It's Saturn's rings!!!

There are two pinhole size dots on either side in perfect linear alignment with each other
which makes sense due to their placement within the rings. I'm so excited! I've never seen the ring/moons before!

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Pretty cool, isn't it? After hearing all abut the planets and...

seeing the pictures-- there it in is real life! Imagine how Galileo felt.

But, wait till you see a nebula...

Anyway, you sound like you're ready to be hooked into amateur stargazing, and that's a good thing. First thing to do is see if there are any groups in your area and hook up with them.

Then dig into your wallet for a few hundred bucks for a 4"-6" Newtonian or Dobsonian reflecting telescope-- those are the ones that give you the most viewing for the money. Celestron, Orion, and Meade are all good quality and value. Exactly how they will magnify the planets is a little tricky-- it depends not only on the size of the mirror, but how it's ground and the eyepieces used. But, generally, bigger means more light, so you can use a magnifying eyepiece if you need one.

Here's one of many reliable places to buy a starter scope, and and gives idea what one should cost:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/3390/Telescope_Optical_Tube_Assemblies_Reflector_Newtonian_Dobsonian_.html

[Dover]

16. Thanks! Sounds like you have some experience with all of this. What do you think of

the telescope that 'deadmessengers' linked to?

Also, have you ever used the online-accessible planetarium/telescope websites?
Curious how good they are.

[TreasonousBastard]

17. It's a good one, but while refracters have some advantages,,,

you get some more bang for the buck with reflectors. You wouldn't go wrong either way for a first scope.

I've rarely used the online planetariums and observatories, partly because I'm on dialup now, but I spend some time in this place within walking distance from me:

www.custerobservatory.org

(We're working on our own online telescope, but it will be a while. )

[Dover]

20. Thanks again. So IS that Saturn or Jupiter I'm looking at? ..n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

39. Mos' definitely Jupiter it it was in the east, and even better...

that little dot you saw at the 10 o'clock position MIGHT have been Neptune.

But, it could have been a moon, or another star, depending on exactly where you were and when you looked, though.

[deadmessengers]

9. I own this scope, and it's fantastic

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=refractors/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=24688

Note: anything you can buy in a big-box mart is a total waste of money, and will likely show even *less* than your binoculars.

[CoffeeCat]

12. That's the scope that you recommend?

I have a big box one--and I commented to my husband that it was like looking through
binoculars.

The one you have looks so cool!

Can you see Saturn tonight?

[deadmessengers]

18. yep!

I own that same scope (with a slightly different tripod - the tube and optics are identical though), and have used it for at least 6 years. I can't say enough good things about doing business with Orion, too - when one of the tripod leg adjusters broke a year or two ago, well out of warranty, they sent me the replacement parts for nothing, no questions asked.

Seeing Saturn has never been a problem with this scope, although it's exceptionally humid (downright swampy, in fact) out here in Atlanta tonight, making it tough to see much of anything at the moment.

If you're interested, there's a terrific telescope beginner's buyer's guide on the Orion site that explains a LOT about scopes.

[Dover]

13. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll 'scope' it out as soon as I can

tear myself away from planet-gazing. A quick glance tells me the price is right.

[eqfan592]

29. If you haven't made up your mind yet...

...may I recommend a Galileoscope? They are very inexpensive, have high quality optics, and will help you understand the inner workings of scopes in general. It'll make a great starter scope for you. :)

https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/

I was actually coming over here to make a post about it, as I just got mine in the mail today! This also means I can't personally attest to it, but I've yet to read a bad thing about it, and it has all the right endorsements. :)

Anyway, whatever way you go, welcome to the club!

[Dover]

36. That deserves it's own post! What a wonderful way to make the stars accessible to everyone for $15!

As soon as you've had some time to use it, I hope you'll report back and recommend it if it's
a decent scope for beginners. I wonder how much more I might see through it than through my binoculars (which are Nikon 10x42)?

On edit: Just saw that this ALREADY has it's own post/thread started. But still would be curious
to know what your experience is with it.

[Greyskye]

43. When did you order yours?

I ordered ours in mid march. The website says we should have it by the end of July, but that only leaves another week and a half...

[Greyskye]

44. Just came in the mail yesterday!

Quite easy to assemble, although there are more detailed instructions available on the web site. https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/sites/galileoscope.org.gs/files/Galileoscope-Instructions-20090710rtf.pdf

Have to get a new tripod though - I didn't realize that the one we own has a funky custom mount that the Galileoscope won't fit on.

[jayfish]

30. Another Recommendation.

http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/dobsonian-telescopes/zhumellz8deluxedobsonianreflectortelescope.cfm

This is, IMO, the best deal going for a starter scope. It's a little more money than the Orion recommended by
deadmessengers but it'll be money well spent. The objects and detail you'll be able to see with this cannon will astound you

Jay

[Dover]

35. Thank you guys.. All of the recommended models look excellent.

I'll study these websites and make a decision.

[Mz Pip]

4. Probably Jupiter

You can see the red spot earlier in the morning if you have the right kind of telescope.


http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance

[Dover]

Well, now I'm really confused. Your site says it's Jupiter

and that Saturn can be seen in the west just after dusk.

Can anyone with experience in these matters tell me what I'm looking at?

[Dover]

19. dupe post...n/t

[Speck Tater]

7. It's the mother ship from Alpha Centauri Five headed this way. nt

[CoffeeCat]

8. I have a telescope!

I'm going to go look! You have me very intrigued...

My telescope isn't very powerful...but I'll see what I can find.

BRB...

[CoffeeCat]

10. I saw it when I walked out...

I could see a planet directly east. Then it went under a cloud. We've got a very cloudy
sky tonight and I don't think I'll be able to see it. Darn!

I'll try again in a few mins.

[Dover]

14. Where are you CoffeeCat? I don't think there's a cloud in the whole state of Tx. right now..lol.

I hope you get to see it....!

[CoffeeCat]

15. I'm in central Iowa...

it's a beautiful night--we just have some high clouds tonight!

[Dover]

22. dupe post..n/t

[Birthmark]

23. My guess would be you're looking at Jupiter

The little pinpoints are the Galilean Moons...if I'm right.

[jayfish]

25. I Just Came In From A Nice Tune-up / Observing Session.

It's Jupiter and the little points are some of it's moons. Keep those binocs handy because throughout the summer you'll be able to catch it earlier in the evening as it makes it's way across the ecliptic.

Jay

[Dover]

27. Thanks for the confirmation. Saw four moons with just binocs so I'm psyched!

Will definitely be watching its progress across the sky.

[pokerfan]

31. Sky and Tel has a Java app for the moons

So that you can identify them:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/javascript/3307071.html

I used to have something similar for my Palm Pilot back when I had a Palm Pilot.

[jayfish]

32. Try This.

http://www.stellarium.org/

I find it indispensable for making my nightly target lists. Just enter your location then zoom in on Jupiter to get a close-up of what you saw.

Jay

[pokerfan]

33. I keep forgetting I have that

[Dover]

34. Yes! That's what I saw. Thank you both for that link...n/t

[pokerfan]

37. Another interesting summer/fall object

is M31, the the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy">Andromeda Galaxy.

Start from the Square of Pegasus and work your way from star to star until you come to it. It's naked eye from dark skies and it's a terrific binocular object. It's also one of the farthest objects one can see with their naked eye ~2.5M ly.

[Dover]

38. Thanks! I'll look for it tonight.

I was thinking it might be kind of fun to have someone point things like this out
to us fledgling astronomers each week. Kind of a weekly or nightly visual search and discussion.
Taking one constellation per week, or some such thing.
I'm not online or at DU enough to be more than an ocassional participant, so I'm not
really the one to spearhead such a group sky venture. Just a passing thought.

Thanks again for the info.

[pokerfan]

40. The Street Astronomer's Guide to Summer Binocular Objects

www.nearsys.com/easy/bino.pdf

Melotte 111 (AKA The Coma Star Cluster) is a small but nearby open cluster in our galaxy, containing about 40 stars visible in binoculars.

Mizar and Alcor are a double star in the handle of the Big Dipper. It's a naked eye double but binoculars really bring it out.

You've already discovered the Gallilean Satellites. You will note that they will change from day to day as the moons orbit Jupiter at a pretty fast clip. The orbital periods (in days) are:
Callisto (16.7)
Ganymede (7.2)
Europa (3.6)
Io (1.8)

M7 is an open cluster in Scorpius that contains about 100 stars at a distance of about 1000 ly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_22">M22 is a beautiful globular cluster in Sagittarius. Very bright and very close (for a globular) at 10,000 ly.

[TheMadMonk]

41. How I identify the planets.

First rule: None of the planets twinkle like stars.

Venus: Bright, bright white. Only at dawn or dusk. Even with your binocs, you should be able to see phases (roughly from 1/3 to 2/3 of full) and a noticable change in size as it moves from the near to the far side of the sun.

Mars: On the red side of traffic light amber and redder. Varies in brightness from month to month. Anteres, the red star in the tail of Scorpio looks a lot like Mars (the name means rival of Mars). Once you can recognise Antares, identifying Mars is easy. Viewed through binocs or a telescope Mars will appear more tan in colour and a polar cap might be visible.

Jupiter: Incandescent bulb white. One of the brightest objects in the sky. Moves noticably against the stars over the weeks. A visible disk and four little friends when viewed through binocs.

Saturn: a yellowish 40 watt bulb to Jupiter's 75. Most of the time "ears" like a VW with it's doors open when viewed through a decent set of binocs or even a chainstore refractor. One easily visible (in a scope/binocs) companion, Titan.

Mercury: I have to honestly admit to never seeing and recognising it.

[pokerfan]

42. Mercury is somewhat elusive

You have to know when it's visible and where to look because it's never above the horizon when it's truly dark. Like Venus, it's an inferior planet and is always a morning or evening object. I've seen it a couple of times just to say I have.

[jakeXT]

45. I have never seen it directly, I used the projection method to see it on a cardboard or the floor.

But those transits are pretty rare.

[pokerfan]

46. Next chance to see Mercury

The New Moon occurs on Thursday, August 20th. This will make the
weekend of August 22-23 as the best weekend for dark sky viewing this
month.



The planet Mercury is visible in the evening this month and reaches its
Greatest Eastern Elongation on August 24th. Mercury’s Greatest Eastern
Elongation provides the best evening view for its current orbit. At this
point, Mercury is 27°21’55” from the Sun, making it visible for almost
2 hours after sunset.

http://astroplanet.org/next.php

[Nihil]

47. Thanks for posting that! (n/t)

:toast: