Don’t you wish you could use a large telescope? The VLT UT3 Melipal telescope at the European Southern Observatory built in 2000 with an M1 F# of 1.75 (you can see it at http://www.eso.org/) would fit the bill.
But, don’t think you can’t get some good views or get good views of stars or even asteroids with a good home telescope.
Thelma Wallace of Aurora, Colorado got a Meade LightBridge Truss Tube Dobsonian, 8″ with her allowance. She found that it was easy to set up. With theoptional motor drive it could follow a star.
However, she found out that she had trouble keeping track of what she was looking at.
Probably the quickest way to get up to speed using your Meade LightBridge Truss Tube Dobsonian, 8″ is to join an astronomy club. There are many astronomy clubs in most countries of the world and in most states of the USA. Here are a few in the US: Shoals Astronomical Society, Inc. in Florence, AL; Riverside Astronomical Society in Riverside, CA; Phillips Exeter Academy Astronomy Club; Bridger Valley Astronomical Society in Lyman, WY; Western Montana Astronomical Association in Missoula, Mt; Athens Astronomical Assn. in Athens, GA; Merced Society for Telescope & Astronomy Recreation (M-STAR) in Merced, CA.
In fact, it would be a better idea to start attending an astronomy club before you go out and buy a telescope. They will not only show you their telescopes but can point you toward some beginning projects. To get a feel for what is involved in planet watching attend a few star gazing parties. A good way to start would be to buy a pair of 10×50 binoculars. Take them with you to the star gazing party. They will let you see anything from the craters on the moon to the closer planets.
When you go to your first planet viewing party, you will be surprised at how eager people are to let you share their equipment with you. However, there are a few thinsg to consider. Their equipment is expensive, so be careful. If you have children with you, make sure that they are careful as well. A small child running around will make people nervous very quickly. You may need a flashlight to make sure you don’t trip over things. But, you will want to put a red filter over the end. Red light lets your eyes adjust to the dark the quickest. Be sure to dress warmly. Sitting still at night can be chilly – even in the summer.
Free information on Astronomy is yours at http://astronomy.endlessfreeplr.com now.
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