mattmac
Senior Cook
So...who loves astronomy? I do!
Tell us your astronomy stories, show your astronomy gear, ask questions about astronomy if you're curious or interested in getting your own astronomy gear!
I have a relatively cheap setup - an Orion Apex 102 (4") Maksutov-Cassegrain mounted on an Orion Paragon-Plus XHD. It's a lightweight (15 pounds MAX) setup that only take a minute to prepare for an observing session - whether it's 5 minutes or 5 hours. The only problem with this type of telescope is that it takes about 1 hour to acclimate to the ambient temperature. Until it does, the views will not be as sharp. I have a full-aperture white-light solar filter for observing the Sun. This telescope is mainly used for solar, lunar, planetary viewing, as well as "splitting" double stars.
I've only used it twice - both times for observing the Sun. I was able to see two small sunspots, but the Sun is at it's minimum currently of the 11-year solar cycle. It will be on the way towards maximum over the next few years, and during that time more and more sunspots will be visible.
That's good enough for now, I suppose! Who's next?
Tell us your astronomy stories, show your astronomy gear, ask questions about astronomy if you're curious or interested in getting your own astronomy gear!
I have a relatively cheap setup - an Orion Apex 102 (4") Maksutov-Cassegrain mounted on an Orion Paragon-Plus XHD. It's a lightweight (15 pounds MAX) setup that only take a minute to prepare for an observing session - whether it's 5 minutes or 5 hours. The only problem with this type of telescope is that it takes about 1 hour to acclimate to the ambient temperature. Until it does, the views will not be as sharp. I have a full-aperture white-light solar filter for observing the Sun. This telescope is mainly used for solar, lunar, planetary viewing, as well as "splitting" double stars.
I've only used it twice - both times for observing the Sun. I was able to see two small sunspots, but the Sun is at it's minimum currently of the 11-year solar cycle. It will be on the way towards maximum over the next few years, and during that time more and more sunspots will be visible.
That's good enough for now, I suppose! Who's next?