Astro Tech Voyager Mount (New Toy)

After my haircut today for heng heng Chinese New Year,
I called up Tim from Mc Gill and picked up the Modified Astro Tech voyager Mount.
The new name is call Mc Gill Marvel Mount but its basically the same as the Astro Tech version.


It came with a Half Pier and eyepiece tray.
These are the pictures after assembly.

I have also gotten this Celestron Vibration suppression Pads as well.

Eunos Sidewalk Astronomy

Last night, 21st Jan 2011 at Eunos, Singastro's Remus organized a sidewalk astronomy sessions with the experienced guys for an observation session.
After getting off work at 730pm, i went home took a bath and rode down to eunos to meet them.
Upon reaching the venue, i could see a few telescopes being set up by the field already.
Among them were Celestron, Takahashi, William optics and a few more just to name.
The starblast that i sold made it to the meet up around 1030pm. But he have missed most of the show already.

Immediately upon reaching, we caught a glimpse of Jupiter with Ganymede and IO. Withe the distinctive cloud bands in the planet, one should be glad we are not living in Jupiter.
After the Jupiter went down behind the trees lol our next object is the 7 sisters and orion nebula.

Pleaides M45 7 sisters

Orion Nebula M42

Jupiter

Another set up on my considering list

After thinking much through, i thought to myself, spending 5k on a telescope set up not including cameras and stuff is somehow abit painful for me.
Where else if i conside getting this >>>

I can match it with this>>>

A Vixen GP Deluxe 2 with Starbook S.
This will set me back around 3.5k......

Vixen GPD2-VC200L.SBS

Now, here's my next step for my interest, Astrophotography.

This set up from Vixen (Japan) is a 8 inch aperture catadioptric type Cassegrain telescope.

Last checked with the main distributor for Vixen in SG.
They do not have the prices on hand so they will get back to me thru my mobile tomorrow.
This set up will at least rip 5k off my cash...
But every single cent spent is definately worth.
After this is acquired, it will be the webcam and a decent dual-core netbook for photography use.
Maybe i should get a dell laptop instead. As the one i use in my company has super long battery life,
And that laptop looks like a 3 or 4 year old model. but its super lasting and further to that, it does not hang so often like the one in my home, quad core, Nvidia 460... Pui! sometimes fail on me somemore.

Televue Barlow 2X

Today i met up with a forum member from Singastro and got this

Its as good as new! Can't wait for the skies to clear up so that i can put this to test lol

Rainy day

Today is a boring rainy day again. Kills all interest for stargazing...

Getting some accessories for my scope

Phew, astronomy is not an expensive hobby, stargazing IS!
I just barely got a scope which is my Orion Starblast 4.5,
and after trying it out for the first time, i found out there are a few more things i need to purchase to enhance the "experience".
As my starblast came with a 20mm Meade eyepiece and a 6mm "Palia" no brand cheap EP, my next objective to get a decent 32mm EP most likely from Televue, a 6mm or 7mm Televue Plossl and a TV barlow 2X.

Tomorrow i'm going to meet a guy from the forum and get the Barlow from him. It cost me $130 after some serious negotiations hahaha
Overall i saved about $50 as compare to getting a new one.

So now all i need to do is wait for my next pay and get the 2 eyepiece from Televue and i should be ready to put my eyes to the skies again.