That's a cracking image. Amazing stuff.

After professing an interest to a family friend they recently turned up at my door with a telescope they had safely packed away in their loft many moons ago.

So, does any one have any very, very basic advice on the best way to use one/what I should expect as a newbie to telescopes?

I'm fairly new myself, but what I've learned is to know the basics of your rig. Once you've got the hang of using your telescope to find anything in the night sky, I've found that approaching a session with it requires a little planning. In so much as it's a good idea to have a plan for the evening for what you want to see rather than randomly pointing the scope. Don't get disheartened if you can't find what you want when you want. Patience is key. Always opt for a nice wide angle for finding stuff before swapping-out your lenses for more detailed stuff.

Concentrate on things like the planets to start with, as they are very rewarding, especially the likes of Saturn and Jupiter. Seeing Saturns rings and moons in real time is always a thrill.

I'm sure there will be others with better advice that I can't think of...

My general advice to people before they get a new telescope, or maybe even after getting a new telescope - find the contact details for your nearest local amateur astronomical society - they usually meet monthly, especially in winter - and just go along, with or without telescope. You will probably learn more in a couple of hours than going on a course.

My general advice to anyone buying a telescope "blind", as it were, is "don't". The big problem is we are all inundated with beautiful multicolour HD images of nebulas and galaxies and through your backyard telescope it just isn't remotely like that. Once you understand the limitations, and learn what is possible and what isn't, and are competent to find targets, it is a fantastic experience with the right telescope in the right conditions and very rewarding. Where most fall down is having completely wrong expectations and therefore being irrationally disappointed.

What is the spec. of the telescope, and I'll gladly make some suggestions or post some links.

In the meantime, fresh back from Pluto, the latest HD images

9 December onwards - make a note that (clear skies permitting) there are some very good views of the ISS (International Space Station) sailing serenely across the sky to be had in the current period. Tomorrow (10 dec) there is a Decent pass between 18:24 and 18:26, but after rising from the WSW, and reaching a height of around 39 degrees, the ISS will 'disappear' as it passes into the Earth's shadow (at 18:26:27 if you want to synchronize your watch and impress someone by clicking your fingers and 'making it disappear!). 11 Dec the best view is 17:30 - 17:36 when it will cross most of the southern sky before disappearing Saturday 18:15 - 18:18 is a good one, it will be very bright, and disappear as it reaches due south. Monday will do very similar, but even higher and even brighter. 18:05 - 18:09:10 The best finder is an iPhone app called GoISSWatch. Just be aware the map is the "wrong way round" if you hold it up to the sky - the ISS will always approach from your right, low in the west, never from your left. Live stream (when transmitting), map locator, and 10 day predictions available on www.n2yo.com/space-station/

9 December onwards - make a note that (clear skies permitting) there are some very good views of the ISS (International Space Station) sailing serenely across the sky to be had in the current period. Tomorrow (10 dec) there is a Decent pass between 18:24 and 18:26, but after rising from the WSW, and reaching a height of around 39 degrees, the ISS will 'disappear' as it passes into the Earth's shadow (at 18:26:27 if you want to synchronize your watch and impress someone by clicking your fingers and 'making it disappear!). 11 Dec the best view is 17:30 - 17:36 when it will cross most of the southern sky before disappearing Saturday 18:15 - 18:18 is a good one, it will be very bright, and disappear as it reaches due south. Monday will do very similar, but even higher and even brighter. 18:05 - 18:09:10 The best finder is an iPhone app called GoISSWatch. Just be aware the map is the "wrong way round" if you hold it up to the sky - the ISS will always approach from your right, low in the west, never from your left. Live stream (when transmitting), map locator, and 10 day predictions available on www.n2yo.com/space-station/

Tonight’s the night for the Geminid meteor shower to peak. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35051710 But once again due to the dire weather it looks like another no-show . If anyone gets the chance of a clear sky just look up for a couple of minutes & you may see a “Shooting Star” if you’re lucky, don’t forget to make a wish .

Tonight’s the night for the Geminid meteor shower to peak. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35051710 But once again due to the dire weather it looks like another no-show . If anyone gets the chance of a clear sky just look up for a couple of minutes & you may see a “Shooting Star” if you’re lucky, don’t forget to make a wish .

In about 15 mins from this post the Soyuz rocket carrying UK's Major Tim peake blasts off for rendezvous with the ISS Live feed here (11.00 take-off) livestream.com/accounts/362/events/4574403 Docking due 17:24 GMT hopefully on the live feed. Also live program on BBC2 7pm-8pm tonight (Tuesday)

In about 15 mins from this post the Soyuz rocket carrying UK's Major Tim peake blasts off for rendezvous with the ISS Live feed here (11.00 take-off) livestream.com/accounts/362/events/4574403 Docking due 17:24 GMT hopefully on the live feed. Also live program on BBC2 7pm-8pm tonight (Tuesday)

Incredible stuff - I can only imagine the difficulty of manually docking with the ISS; although after many thousands of hours playing Elite on my BBC Microcomputer, I'm reasonably sure I could have pulled it off.

Heheh well then here's a Crimbo present to put on yer list

I've been aware of that game for some while now - unfortunately, after some World of Warcraft related marital discord , I've banned myself from online games...

Thought i'd post this in the appropriate thread. Its very sad actually you lot have already decided and dismissed that NASA do no wrong so any amount of evidence against will ever make you change your mind. And that is, in fact, the very opposite of an open mind.

Some random nutter on an internet message board saying something is true and backing it up by linking to Youtube videos created by fellow biased nutters, doesn't really count as evidence.

You're wrong again. The youtubers are actually getting off their backsides and researching the fallacies of the globe. Why are they nutters for that ?.There's some very good clever compelling footage out there which supports Geocentrism .In reality the globe is just a theory just like that magic dust called gravity.

The most unfortunate thing is that we have to revert to alternative media due to the conspiracy of Jesuit Freemasonic Illuminatists controlling all mainstream media outlets who obviously can't let their heliocentric sun worshipping baby slip, just imagine what would happen if the masses turned to Geocentrism, there'd be a massive outcry of injustice and anarchy, the overwhelming complications that the masses would cause to these governments royals presidents scientists whom had historically lied about almost everything it'd be complete pandemonium , Science, and schooling would all have to be re-written it would be utter chaos so they're doing their utmost to conceal their conspiracy hence Global everything, its rammed down your throat in all walks of life. Nasa is their saviour by brainwashing the masses, without NASA fakery there's no evidence to support heliocentrism.

The word is getting out, alternative and social media is bouncing with this subject with cranial name calling which in itself is propaganda, against the Geocentrists so go on, join the rest of the sheeple with the brain insults it only proves this movement is starting to gather pace. How can you call people nutters for researching a subject that you actually know nothing about.but you'll consume and digest the fisheye CGI and cartoonist imagery as fact all because a mainstream news-reading conformist tells you so.

Hows this for Fakery. rlTIM PEAKSrl Look at the HARNESS under his T-Shirt.

So some fat nerd in his mums basement with a web cam knows more than some of the most decorated scientists in the world.

Thanks for clearing that up., I wont send my daughter through the education system, I will just give her a laptop with youtube saved in favourites.

Regards

King James