Re: I feel I have wasted $1000 dollars :(
From: John Solver (xz_at_xzcv.net)
Date: 01/27/05
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Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 16:18:42 GMT
"Johnny Lightning" <hotrod@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95EAE6411683Ahotrodyahoocom@68.1.17.6...
> Help!
>
> I purchased a Meade ETX-125EC. I also purchase a few eyepieces and
> now have the following: Super Plossl 26mm LP, PL 5 mm, Super Plossl
> 12.4 mm, Super Plossl 9.7 mm, WA 18 mm, and a 2X telenegative Barlow.
>
> What am I doing wrong? I look at Saturn and it is no more than 1/4"
in
> size, not at all what was described to me. I think I could have spent $100
> on a scope and seen this much. Do I have the wrong eyepieces? What do I
> need to buy to see a planet fill up my field of view? And what do I need
> to see a constellation in its entirety in my field of view? Please help
> me..I have a 6 year old who is dying to see the solar system up close.
How much research did you do before choosing and buying your scope? It
appears you were unprepared for what you would see.
One of the drawbacks of having all the pretty pictures Hubble and indeed
many amateur astronomers have taken is that, 99.9% of the time, what you
will see in the eyepiece will NOT look anything like those pictures. People
rush out and buy a telescope thinking they're going to see what all the
photographs show, only to be disappointed and sell or return the telescope
after a short time.
As a result, I highly recommend reading intoductory material first. If you
don't like the thought of spending $30-40 on an into text, then just pick up
an astro magazine or two at the local newsstand or, better yet, go to your
local library to read both the intro books and magazines. One of the astro
magazines (either Sky & Telescope or Astronomy) used to have amateur
drawings of what people REALLY saw at the eyepiece given a certain telescope
size. These weren't time exposed like photographs and were the closest to
what you would actually see and that was the big advantage. After spending
time going through several years of the mags and viewing these drawings, I
then decided on a beginners 6" reflector when I started. The drawings are
invaluable to helping one decide on a scope, IMO. You won't see a galaxy as
a brilliant object with long reaching spiral arms... instead you will see a
faint "smudge" and the challenge will be if you can make out just a spiral
arm or two. This might sound boring or disappointing, but after you start
reading about the challenges of observing (how much you can see observe
under ideal conditions), you may then find the hobby fascinating and want to
go further.
I'm not sure, but I think there is a sketchbook on the market full of
planetary and astro drawings of what is really seen at given apertures.
Perhaps someone here knows the title.
Anyway, don't let the pictures influence you... spend some time researching
first and then go back to the eyepiece knowing full well what to expect.
You will be much less disappointed if you do this and may actually become a
full fledged amateur.
Good luck,
John
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