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[gettr]

Hello All,

New to the forum and new to astronomy. I live in Sheridan IL. For any of you not familiar with my area, it is due west (from Chicago) on I-80 to Ottawa then north about 10 miles. Pop. 1100 or so...lol. I have a B&L spotting scope on a camera tripod to get me thru until my (back-ordered) Meade LXD75 AR-6 arrives. Current estimates for the ETA is in December sometime. I found a SN-10 OTA to go on this mount also, and it is patiently waiting too.(Yeah....Right..lol)
I work at a nuclear accelerator out in the 'burbs and have always had an interest in the sky. I finally have started to pursue astronomy, a hobby I can share with my son. He's one and will soon be showing me things ...lol. It's good to have found a local forum and I look forward to learning.

Dennis

[Al Degutis]

Welcome Dennis,

I was eyeballing the LXD75 this passed sprint/summer as an upgrade path from my 4.5" reflector. I ended up getting a good deal on an 8" LX200 Classic (i.e. non-GPS) from a guy how failed to sell it on eBay. I'm glad because I think the wait for the LXD75 would have killed me. I read horror stories about the delays on the LXD55 when it first came out. Hopefully that's not the case for you.

Sheridan. I remember that area. We looked at a house there and it was a front runner for a while. I don't remember the address but it was outside of town... unincorporated maybe. I'm glad I didn't end up at that house. I was a 2.5 acre lot that's 90% wooded. I'd never see the sky. Well, I could if I didn't mind looking at bare branches in winter. ;D

Hopefully your LXD75 will come in before Christmas as an early present.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dennis,

Thank you for your first post here and a warm welcome to the Chicago Astronomers.

Your upcoming scope should be a great one planetary study. The scope you are referring to is a refractor, if I'm not mistaken. If so, then you will be viewing sharp images and good contrast. When you get it, please do inform us and even a picture or two would be nice.

We are a friendly bunch and enjoying sharing our passion with others. Tell us how you found the Chicago Astronomer and of your interest in astronomy.

Thanks and talk soon.

[gettr]

Hi All,

Thanks for the welcome. Unincorporated Sheridan? That's me! And my parents are even further from the light pollution.... other side of Sheridan. I cannot wait for my scope. I've waited 5 weeks as of Monday... and it looks like the wait is gonna go on for awhile. Probably wouldn't be so bad if I had a scope already...

My interest in astronomy....hmmm... It seems to be growing. Years ago, I received one of those famous (infamous) 60mm scopes. Never found anything. And lost interest. But, I've always found meteor showers, northern lights, constellations ...etc. interesting. A few months ago I found an astronomy sky weather link and got to looking around.... I've been looking for a good hobby to share with my son.(besides motorcycles......My one year old son already has 3.... don't ask how many are in my garage...lol) Using my spotting scope I started to poke around the sky. Objects found so far: M31, M57(finally!), Orion Nebula, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, the double's in Lyra, Pleiades, and my first attempt at some photography, the lunar eclipse. And looking forward to more. I found the website with a search on Google for Chicago Astronomy.

Dennis

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dennis,

M57(finally!),

I can relate, as I posted just this discovery in a thread here: astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Observations&action=display&thread=1092560075

In mucky Chicago skies, quite easy just to gloss over it, but with a trained eye, it's a usual stop now in Lyrae.

Although the 60mm is not a "serious" scope, I find them adequate for beginning astronomy. As a 60mm that was my first, it showed me many great wonders...and I saw my first glimpse at Saturn thru one. You can toss it around, leave it in a trunk, have gather dust, and just brush it off and start a session.

Send me your astropics, and I'll post them here.

I anticipate along with you, your delivery on your new telescope.

Hope to see you often here.

[jglover]

And if you want a really serious 60mm scope, look at the new Televue. A 60mm scope, but one capable of 140 power. that's make one heck of a finder!!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

John,

Thanks for your first post and participation.

Funny you mention a finder scope.

I have had this plan to attach one of my many 60mm scopes piggyback to the 4.5" as a lower powered-widefield finderscope/spotter. This was I can get two magnified views of a target without changing eyepieces.

I shall work on that during the cold winter months.

[jglover]

Hi Joe,

First off, thanks for the welcome here.

With regard to the finder scope issue, I've always found a finder to be a better choice in this area than a unit power device such as a Telrad or Rigel. I've got both the Orion EZ Finder and a Rigel, but always end up relying on my stock 8x50mm. with the bright skies I have in my back yard, there really are not enough stars visible to effectively use my Rigel.

Mounting the 60mm scope on your reflector OTA should be a nice improvement.