I had the chance to sit down and have a chat with Marcel from Astro Dog, who was willing to share an abundance of technical tips for visual astronomy. We also explore why visual astronomy can be so rewarding and what we might be losing out on.
Thanks again to Marcel, who has kindly offered the discount code "OllieAstro" for $10 off, minimum item value of $50. See links below.
LINKS
Website : https://www.astrodog.com.au/
YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@TelescopeShop
SkyTools 4 : https://www.skyhound.com/
Referenced in video:
Baader Zoom IV ($448.95) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/baader-hyperion-8-24mm-mk-iv-zoom-eyepiece-68-view/
Good Dielectric Mirror Diagonal (179.95) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/kson-2-mirror-diagonal-99-reflectivity/
Baader 2” Prism Diagonal (Special Order $799 contact Astro Dog) - https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/baader-2inch-bbhs-prism-star-diagonal-prism-with-2inch-clicklock-clamp.html
Kson Olympus ED/APO ($1395) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/kson-olympus-as102-ed-apo-102mm-1200mm-f-12-refractor-fpl51-lanthanum-doublet/
TS-Optics ED ($1395) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/ts-optics-102-mm-f-11-ed-refractor-with-2-5-rap-focuser/
Masuyama 2” 32mm ($599.95) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/32mm-masuyama-ohi-factory-japan-ultra-premium-85-fov-eyepiece/
Orthoscopic Eyepieces ($139@) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/?s=Kson+Ortho+II+1.25%22
Meade Complete Set ($349) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/meade-series-4000-super-plossl-set/
Basic EQ4 type Mount ($649.95) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/kson-eq4-manual-mount-with-steel-tripod/
Basic AZ4 style Mount ($699) - https://www.astrodog.com.au/product/stellalyra-dual-alt-az-mount-with-counterweights-like-the-sky-tee-2/
00:00 Intro
02:03 How did you start
05:10 Types of Eyepieces
12:31 Books
14:12 Visual Software
15:52 Choosing A Scope
16:42 Building Eyepiece Set
19:02 Zoom Eyepiece
20:16 Widefield & Orthoscopic
23:15 Televue
24:18 Your Eyes
30:58 Eye Relief
32:12 Bino Viewers
34:02 Glasses
36:16 How to see more
40:13 Favourite Eyepiece
43:16 Slow Down and Enjoy
48:03 Visual Astronomy Future
50:55 Diagonal
53:00 Other Scopes
55:50 Final Thoughts