Re: Got a Telescope, Now What?

As for which objects to look at with your telescope: download RTGUI, the
free Windows real-time astronomy program ( http://www.rtgui.com ). Enter
your location, and also the size of scope you have. It will recommend
the "best" objects for you to look at, based on that info, and the time.
It won't waste your time trying to find objects that you won't be able
to see.

And definitely join up with your local astronomy club. It's definitely
the best way to come up to speed quickly.

Robert

Lauren the Ravishing wrote:

Hi, I'm just getting started in astronomy. I recently received a
Celestron PowerSeeker 127 EQ as a gift, I'm taking an intro to
astronomy class in college, and my textbook came with SkyGazer
software.

What I'm missing is a practical guide to using the telescope. The local
bookstore doesn't have much. On-line searches have given me some
basics, like how the lenses work, but not much else. The Celestron
manual was only for assembly instructions.

- What are recommended books, websites, or software for finding things
in the sky - things that I can acually see with my level of telescope?
- What lenses should I buy first, if any. What about filters?
- Should I buy the lens attachment that corrects the up/down,
left/right orientation?
- Should I replace the existing finder scope with something better?
- What other accessories are helpful?
- Is it even worth it to buy accessories for my level of scope?

I haven't had much of a chance to use the thing since I got it
(weather, and busy evenings), but I'd like to get started and avoid
wasting my time by being unprepared.

~ L


.

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