Any star gazers and amateur astronomers ?

From the Blue Ghost lander on the Moon:

 

I’ll chime in too. You really can find everything in TacomaWorld!
I didn’t know there was an astrophotography thread.
I get out as much as the PNW allows.
Here’s my IG page:

https://www.instagram.com/attackshipsonfire_?igsh=MTB3bWs4aXZ4b3cybQ==

 

Yup, TW is a full service truck forum

Mad skills seen on that IG page

Welcome

 

Looks good, though I don't do Instagram so I did not get far until it was blocked...

 

Damn, I just found this thread. I should get a telescope. I had a Meade DS-10a for many years but didn't use it much because it was so heavy.

 

If you want one, better to get it before tariffs kick in (ie;things that are still in stock). I noticed that astro-cameras are all out of stock. No putting one on back-order either.

 

Good point. Now to figure out what to get. That’s the hard part.

 

Welcome!

Give this a look. Unique in that it breaks it down by budget:
https://youtu.be/-3XeWccswfU?si=FBp006XgQo2u6cyJ

Beware of the lower cost scopes without a brand name, you’ll just get disappointment. Good luck and just post up questions here.

Good luck

 

If you wanted to shop at say Highpoint Scientific, they can offer help. Their sales people are non-commission which helps.
Also, Astronomics. There are other excellent sellers too.

 

Thanks! Grok is pushing me towards the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 or the Celestron NexStar 6se. I just want something easy to take on our Tacoma world outings. I’m not looking to do astrophotography.
The NexStar is more in line with my budget, I could the and sell my barely used Tele Vue 27 Panoptic to help finance this purchase as I doubt it would be as useful in these scopes.

 

Yeah, I’ve spent a fair bit of time on their site today when I should have been working.

 

The S50 or S30 would work for those trips. As it’s set it and forget it.

The benefit of astrophotography with the S50 is you’ll see what the telescope is pointing at since most objects are not bright enough for visual observation.

 

I’m just doing stargazing, not photography. I know, I’m weird.

btw, do you have any idea what a like-new TV 27 eyepiece would sell for?

 

A TeleVue 24 is about $400.

I know you said no photography but for the cost of that eyepiece, you can use an app and see some pretty cool stuff and spent half of the 6se budget. A lot of targets do very well using multiple exposures and you will be able to see more than visual observation.

In short, your experience will be better.

 

I'm an "Observer" also. Just visual. Have an Obsession 15" F/4.5 bought in 2001 with Argo Navis Digital SC's.
I have it Wifi'd up to Sky Safari 6 on my tablet.
Getting into Double stars and Carbon Stars again. Carbon Stars are amazing to see against a black background.
The Tucson AAA has noticed that there are about 66% imagers and 33% visualers now a days.
Folks like that high-tech imaging.

I pack up the 15" in the bed of the Tacoma and surround it with camping gear. About 1/3 scope and 2/3 cmpg gear.
Mainly use a TV 17mm. Gives me about 100X at 1/2 degree. TV 2.2x Barlow.
Get GREAT wide field views with a 30MM Pentax. A lot of glass in that Pentax.

 

BTW - If you're in the area check out the grand Canyon. For 14 years I've been a host at the Grand Canyon/Star Party hosted by/w the National Park Service. Its free of course open to the public. Very nice at 6800 above sea level AND you see the canyon ! This year its

Grand Canyon Star Party 2025, June 21 - 28
See below link

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm

Its a pretty neat public event. Check it out.

 

Happy Astronomy Day everyone!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomy_Day

 

The Great Globular cluster in Hercules (M13). Vespera Pro...

 

Those little scopes are nice. I have a Vaonis Vespera and Vespera Pro. Check out my AstroBin page to see what the can do...

https://app.astrobin.com/u/rayman54#gallery

 

14% Crescent Moon with Vespera Pro.