[AZ-Observing] Re: Celestron SkyScout

  • From: "Jimmy Ray" <jimmy_ray@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 19:24:38 -0700

I was doing well following this thread until this "newbee" had to go look up
"Uranometria". Thanks Rick I just learned a new word (but, I think I'll just
stick with "star chart"). I though about getting on of the "Sky Scouts" as a
fun (but a little pricey) toy. Then I realized that, that software is
already "built into" Nexstar. So next time you hear me spouting off some
obscure fact about a given object while sitting at my scope you'll know I'm
probably reading it off my hand controller. :-) (though I did learn some
things sitting in my collage astronomy course, like the Earth is flat and at
the center of the universe)

Jimmy Ray

 BTW - I don't feel too bad now as Microsoft spell check didn't even know
what a "Uranometria" was :-)

-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Rick Tejera
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 6:57 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Celestron SkyScout


Try this to help. Set your planetarium software to show a horizon to zenith
Field of view and set the magnitude limit to 6.5 (a good value for a dark
sky)< maybe less depending on your vision. (BTW By Less I mean more, a
higher mag to show less stars). Toggle the constellation lines on and off.
Look at it with them on and try to remember the patterns, then after
switching the lines off see how many of the patterns you can pick out.

Also in the filed you don't really need to be a walking Uranometria. If you
learn a few of the bright constellations, you can easily use stars within
them to point you to others. The best know use of this technique is "Arc to
Arcturus, Spike to Spica" There are others as well. I'd be glad to show a
few of them to you at Cherry II in a few weeks.


Rick Tejera
President
Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx
www.saguaroastro.org


-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stars
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 5:47 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Celestron SkyScout

I agree completely that learning the night sky is the thing to do.  I just
am no good at relating Sky charts to the real thing, and when you are alone
most of the time with no-one to tell you which star is which, it is not easy
for an old fart like me to learn the sky.  I am now trying to go out into my
yard each night and use this gismo to learn the stars.  When you get out of
the city lights, into the really dark skys, there are so many stars that it
is overwhelming to me.

Thomas Hilton



-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick Tejera
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 4:11 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Celestron SkyScout

Tom,

While no doubt, your new scope will make set up that much easier, I still
recommend that you take the time to learn the sky. Not counting the whole
"What do you do when the batteries fail?" scenario, there nothing like
looking up and seeing more than  points of light. Kind of like flying under
a hood. You get where your going, but miss the view.

Clear Skies
Rick Tejera
President
Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx
www.saguaroastro.org


-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stars
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 11:12 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Celestron SkyScout

I finally received my Celestron SkyScout that I ordered back in December 05
today.  This thing is amazing.  No longer will I have to pester you guys to
help me identify stars so that I can align my telescope. This is the perfect
thing to help the novice, id the stars.  Yea I know, more toys, but I
purchased this one 8 months ago, so hopefully it won't effect the weather.

If anyone is interested, I will bring it to Friday's meeting.

Thomas Hilton


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