HOME | ASTRONOMY |
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This is a collection of bits and pieces to help me when I forget stuff. Link to my Moon page Link to my summary of The Life of Stars My Meade 2080 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope |
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The mount is a Sky-Watcher EQ5 Deluxe Heavy-Duty Equatorial Mount. Motor drives. Sky-Watcher Dual-Axis Motor Drive for EQ5. Provides multi-speed (1x/2x/8x) motor tracking of the R.A. & DEC. axes. Battery-powered. Eyepieces and magnification. |
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Skywatcher update I found it difficult to use for anything but 'low-flying' stars as the eyepiece was too low down for comfort. Followed advice and fitted an Extension column which raises the height of the telescope by 16 inches. Problem solved. I also fitted a telrad viewfinder which makes finding objects easier by providing a red illuminated 'target' . Centre the star in the target and there it is. |
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My 'astronomy' binoculars. Canon 15x50 with optical stabilisation. These are magnificent, holding everything completely steady at this high magnification. See Review | ||
Some useful links |
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Widescreen Astronomy supplies Excellent; I bought my telescope from them. Very helpful when setting it up. | |
Southampton Astronomical Society Very friendly group with many helpful experts | |
Southampton Amateur Astronomers Run an observatory at Toothill North of Southampton | |
Southampton Astronomy in University of Southampton | |
Stargazers Lounge Discussion forum | |
Constellation maps on Wikipedia (can be saved and printed) | |
Sky maps Monthly printable sky maps | |
Sky-Map Extensive information on everything in the sky | |
Sky & Telescope Comprehensive guide to astronomy Includes weekly things to look out for | |
UK Space centre site | |
BBC Sky at night magazine | |
NASA | |
Hubble telescope | |
Where is the Webb telescope now (a NASA site) | |
The Planets Excellent simple factual guide | |
Clear sky prediction | |
Astronomy books that I have found useful | |
Collins (Gem) Stars. Very small guide; 88 constellation charts with notes on objects of interest. Ridpath and Tirion | |
Collins Stars and Planets Complete guide. Ridpath and Tirion | |
Collins 2021 Guide to the night sky. Month by month guide. Dunlop and Tirion. | |
The Messier Album; an observer's handbook. Summary of each object with b/w photo. By Mallas and Kreimer 1978 | |
The backyeard astronomer's guide. 3rd Edition by Dickinson and dyer. Firefly books 2018. A magnificent summary of everything. From star types to setting up telescopes. Full of sane advice. | |
SkyAtlas 2000 by W. Tirion. Details atlas of all constellations in 28 maps. Down to 10 magnitude (Too detailed for me to use) | |