Thanks guys!
That's cool about your dad, Kate - I get what you mean though. If you really want to get back into things, I'd be more than happy help! I found my telescope on a forum dirt cheap because the guy wanted to fund a bigger one - he even threw in a few eyepieces for free and taught me how to use it - so far I get the sense that a lot of people in the hobby are like that.
I'm definitely a beginner, but I think that being an enthusiastic amateur is one of the best places to be.
And nice shot Tess! There are filters out there that will let you see sunspots - you absolutely want to use them, since at magnification you'll get your optics/eyeballs cooked:
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I've always wanted to get one, but haven't had the chance yet. I'm in New England too - not the best place for clear skies. But sure, there's tons of cool stuff! One of the neatest things to look at is the Cigar Galaxy:
- Cigar Galaxy
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You don't see the reds, but the whole thing was kind of ice-blue when I saw it. You could see veins running all the way through like an eyeball - truly amazing stuff. The Swan Nebula is really cool too, and the Orion Nebula is awesome, plus really easy to find (just look at Orion's sword belt).
You're right though, that most of the images don't appear that way to the naked eye. I think it's a mix of artificial coloring along with composite images that look at the object in a few different kinds of light (infrared vs visible).
I just ordered a new eyepiece, and will hopefully get some new shots soon!