Attention all space cadets

[Cliphead]

Got a crappy 6" reflector but fun in the winter as an alternative to a BBQ. Gluhwein and nibbles and lots of oohs and ahs at the Moon, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings etc.

Ever seen a satellite in daylight? Google Iridium flares.

[wurzel]

So it's a bit like dogging then?

Haven't you ever been up White Sheet Hill?

[Moscow Mule]

Unless you live in an area with little or no light pollution, you are better off joining a club which has access to such a spot, and the gear to go with it. Part of the fun is learning from others who have been doing it for years.

So it's a bit like dogging then?

[wurzel]

Good stuff on scope buying

Good link. Cheers.

[RichardCranium]

Depends if the club has any decent totty to liven things up - is 'Astronomy' likely to be a pastime for the female gender?

A friend of mine found his now wife on a solar eclipse trip overseas a few years ago.

So it does happen.

[Troll]

Unless you live in an area with little or no light pollution, you are better off joining a club which has access to such a spot, and the gear to go with it. Part of the fun is learning from others who have been doing it for years.

Depends if the club has any decent totty to liven things up - is 'Astronomy' likely to be a pastime for the female gender?

If not the clubs may be full of cardigan clad anoraks and best avoided for solitude in a shed at the bottom of the garden with your pot noodle & curtain for company

Good stuff on scope buying

[Sysman]

Unless you live in an area with little or no light pollution, you are better off joining a club which has access to such a spot, and the gear to go with it. Part of the fun is learning from others who have been doing it for years.

[wurzel]

The advice I had was don't bother, join a club that has a big flip off one already.

That's not bad advice actually. I've got a mate whose folks live in Selsey Bill & Patrick Moore is a neighbour of theirs. He has a huge f off one in his garden.

I guess I want to see things fairly clearly, not just some blurred spheroid shape which if you look at hard enough you can kid yourself you can see the rings around it.

[gingerjedi]

Never bought one but I've toyed with the idea a few times.

The advice I had was don't bother, join a club that has a big feck off one already.

If you must have your own get the biggest motorised reflector you can afford, I could only just make out Saturns rings my mates six incher that cost about £400.

[wurzel]

Anyone recommend a decent telescope? I have an urge to do a bit of amateur stargazing. Just wondering what you get for you money. I mean supposing I want to see the rings around Saturn (I was tempted...) are we talking about a couple of hundred quid, a few grand or the entire budget of NASA? Have tried googling this but it's all very technical for somebody who know very little about the subject.