Are you astro jaded - lacking enthusiasm and a want to do all astro?

[h0ughy]

I don't know about you guys but of late it has been very difficult to keep the astro flame burning. With work commitments and family life it is getting increasingly difficult to undertake virtually anything astro related. The weather has been crap, the seeing about the same, it is even ho hum when brilliant imaged have been posted by other people. What is happening???

Well, maybe I need a dose of this (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/iisac.html)???????????:help:

[[1ponders]]

I don't think you are on your own Dave. It has been a quiet year, apart from Duckadang (which I haven't even finished processing yet....hang on I haven't even started!!!) but like any good pendulum it will swing back again. ;) :thumbsup:

Frankly I think you need to send some of your gear up here. That way you have a very good excuse to bring the family on holidays. :lol:

[GTB_an_Owl]

What's this h0ughy ! - doing a Ving :doh:

BRAZEN advertising !!!!!!!!!! :eyepop:

OUTLANDISH!!!!!!!! :D

come visit us at the pony club next week and we will cure what ails you Dave :whistle:


geoff

[[1ponders]]

Good onya Geoff. Get him out there and under it. Hog tie him and drag him behind the car if you have to0.

[iceman]

I'm hoping it's just what I need to rekindle my enthusiasm and motivation.

[Dennis]

Sometimes, a change is as good as a rest.

If you just cannot muster the enthusiasm to set up the rig and do some imaging, then;

Choose your best “grab and go” ‘scope and do 30 mins of visual stuff.
If you don’t have a “grab and go” ‘scope – buy one!:lol:
Or, cut out a Bahtinov Mask from A4 overhead transparency;:whistle:
Look at the Moon;:eyepop:
Review your cable routing set up;:screwy:
Download a new astro application for your PDA;:)
Re-design your red screen filter mask;:P
Learn something new about Photoshop;:D
Organise your image directories on your drive(s);:doh:

Etc, etc.

Cheers

Dennis

[erick]

Are you astro jaded? Nope :)

[Dave47tuc]

Dave,
This is a common problem. Especially if you have been in the hobby for a long time. I have been observing for a long time.
My observing now has dropped off a lot. The internet has changed things for a lot of people. You can get your quick fix of Astro stuff on line instead of observing or reading a good astro book.

But I tend to look at observing now like art or classical music or even poetry.
I try to savor the moments when they come. Life is so busy so I see observing a a real way of relaxation.

I also think other hobbies are good for you. I play cricket and love my fishing. Astronomy use to be above these things. Now I prefer to do other things first before Observing.

But when observing I find it best to do it with friends and really take in those views.

So your not alone there. Star party's are great but can be hard on the wallet as well.

[RB]

It hasn't been a good year in terms of the weather.
I find that I'm put off setting up knowing I'll be affected by cloud during the night.
If I had an observatory then that would make things a lot easier, until then I'll have to persevere.

Hang in there Davo ! :D

[Terry B]

This is why I've started doing photometry. I'm sick of just doing pretty pics and feel I can do worthwhile research as well as enjoy the night sky.

[snowyskiesau]

Being limited to observing from a Sydney suburban backyard and having no transport to
get to a better observing place all helps to dim the enthusiasm.
Add to that, looking for work and you just can't be bothered setting anything up, even the binoculars are gathering dust.

I been considering putting my C8s up for sale - just can't work up the enthusiasm for that either.

[Astrod00d]

Yep, it's easy to become jaded, I think it's the weather basically. Travel to a dark sky site can be an obstacle too.
My solution in times of cloud, haze or wind is to fine-tune my gear to make the the best use of the time I can spend under dark skies.

Here's one for you Dave. I know you own a 127mm APO...
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=36126
Shameless self-promotion I know... :lol:

Cheers,

Rob

[xstream]

The one thing I always look forward to, great times with great friends...... certainly makes it all worthwhile. :thumbsup:

[leon]

Yep, I was there Dave not to many weeks ago, :whistle: but it dose pass, and now I'm getting fired up for the Vic/South event, :cool: booked and ready to go, but it is still 38 Days away. :sadeyes:

Leon :thumbsup:

[RB]

Here, here, well said John ! :thumbsup:

[Wavytone]

You need to focus, focus on what you're doing, and why !

The "big wet" in Sydney 1990-91 killed astronomy off for me - we had 18 months where EVERY weekend - I kid you not - every weekend with at least 100% cloud cover if not actually raining. When I realised the scope had not been out once in 12 months I got rid of all my gear. In subsequent years I turned out to a couple of astrocamps but the interest was gone.

Gaining a very bright, curious and eager 11 year-old understudy has persuaded me it's time to get into it again but the focus is quite different - planning to work our way through the practical experiments in the "Workbook for Astronomy" by Gerry Waxman. I did that stuff in year 11 but there's no reason why it can't be attempted at an earlier age if they have a good grasp of maths up to quadratic equations and basic trig.

For those of you without solid astronomy training this book is a very useful exercise.

[spacezebra]

Astro jaded! You have got to be kidding me!

Border Stargaze 2008, Deep Sky Night on the 27th of this month, beautiful night tonight, IISAC at the end of October Wooooohooooo !!!

Who has time to get jaded!

Come on guys - cheer up!!!:D

Cheers Petra d.

[h0ughy]

I have been patiently waiting mate

and I did consider that when I was there, whether I leave the gear with you and return. not a stupid idea that one, that way all i have to do is fly up and hire a car to get out there:D

I have done the next best think Geoff - i have paid for the wife and kids to go to halifax holiday park for the first dark week of the holidays:whistle: without me:)

:scared: might be good for the back and stretch it out?:P

yes mate I really wished I was going:sadeyes:

yes Dennis - I will be making a mask:thumbsup:

glad to see a normal person:whistle:

well not as hard on the wallet as they used to be:whistle: - I am just not allowed out now:sadeyes:

come on RB yu were going to invite me to your new observatory for the unveiling of the guidescope:rofl:

that does sound ok, might have to have a look at how one does that:thumbsup:

yep no one wanted my C8 so I decided to hoard it:lol: rather than give it up for next to nothing

i filled mine with stuff - already have a few ed80 cases:whistle:

oh very true , that's why I love Qld astrofest, i did like SPSP, until I couldn't get enough power to keep me running with imaging, and as for IISAC - it is laid back, casual and relaxed - get to meet normal people like myself;) gosh I miss it:sadeyes:

well nothing like a happy camper

I like the tools of the trade, the finding of stuff and imaging what I have seen (and not seen ) visually

You brazen lady of the night:help:;), you made me get a Lightbridge:thumbsup: thanks

[RB]

You'll be the first Houghy, for the unveiling/rolling off ceremony.
That guidescope better cut the mustard.

:lol:

[h0ughy]

Ahhhh yes from such a little seed something huge may develop............. thus the rumour continues to live on.......... RB has a tasco scope......:whistle:

[Ric]

I think I'm the opposite, the enthusiasm is there but I just cant seem to find the time with work, farm and everything else.

Hopefully it will all settle down over the next couple of weeks.

Cheers

[sheeny]

:lol:

Just to join the discussion, I don't know whether I'm jaded or not...:shrug:... I definitely haven't had the scope out as much since we moved, but I think there's two reasons for it.

Moving to a new farm with lots to do... therefore more tired at night... therefore less likely to make the effort to set up...:rolleyes:
Even though we are closer to my old dark sky site, we're not as protected from the wind as in the quarry.So I'm looking forward to getting the obs set up.:thumbsup: That's my main astro focus at the moment...:)

Al.

[CoombellKid]

I get that from time to time.... usually it from long periods of cloudy
weather. But usually for me I'll get one of those night where it clears up
beautifully and you'll nab ab object and realise what beauty is out there.

Also an upgrading of aperture can help there too!!

regards,CS

[Jen]

Awwwwww its ok David you will get your mojo back in no time :thumbsup:
Dont give up now :D:P

[Omaroo]

Yeah - jaded a bit here too.

Too much cloud this year.

Hoiking a ton of gear into a vehicle, driving to a dark sky location, setting up the G11 and drift aligning it, getting all the camera and computer hardware going, focusing, settling in and WHAM! - more bloody cloud, and then packing it all up and driving home at 9:00pm is not fun.

Unless I get an observatory soon in the back yard it's probably over for me too. I have a pretty severe bulging L5 disc in my back with sciatic nerve damage to boot, so lifting all of this stuff in and out of the car all the time is painful at the time, and causes on-going back pain for several days after.

I really love this sport, but only an obs will save it for me I think. Leaving it permanently set up would be bliss.

[acropolite]

Ditto, a bit jaded, it's been a damn cold, smokey, cloudy winter and spring here in Tassie, I was looking forward to Astrofest this year but HRH's employers inflexibility put an end to that.

There's nothing like a few days with your (astro) gear hanging out waiting and nothing to do but stroll up and start observing once it's dark. The like minded company and pleasant surroundings is an added bonus and putting names to faces makes the IIS experience that much more personal.

[[1ponders]]

Yep you missed a cracker week Phil. ;) :lol: :poke:

[h0ughy]

Yep - I blew two laptops - repaired one to half strength with open heart surgery, did a power supply and blew a astro dew heater and strap, the 350D failed, and because one of the laptops failed I lost all camera control i had, had a slight marital crisis, and to really top it off I did not capture a single astroshot that was usable.......................:whist le:but the company was brilliant:D

[Rodstar]

I see life as having seasons, and our appetite to pursue any interest, such as our Noble Hobby, will wax and wane. I am aware of a number of life-long amateur astronomers who have had breaks from it, only to come back refreshed and full of new interest.

These days I often feel "full up" after a star party. Whilst I could set up in the backyard the next night, for example, it would be like having too much candy. Some self-discipline NOT to observe can be just as helpful, and serve to preserve one's interest, than pushing oneself to observe all of the time.

I can remember a time when I would get up every morning at 3am in the hope that the sky was clear, and I could get a few hours in with the Mary Rose before sunrise. It did not last long - how could it? Now once or twice per week leaves my thirst well quenched, and allows for a little more balance in life.

My love of astronomy has settled down to a constant thing now....some highs, some quiet times. The deep abiding joy is still there. Sometimes, it is the thought of a late night observing, as much as an actual late night of observing, which brings a sparkle to my eyes.

I hope, Dave, you can find the passion again. Maybe a break would do you good?

[jjjnettie]

I badly need a good Astro fix.
I'm really really looking forward to Barambah this weekend. Even if the clouds roll in, at least we can still talk shop.

[acropolite]

Stop it you're makin me all moisty eyed....:sadeyes:

[[1ponders]]

:lol:


It wasn't a pretty week for him Phil. But he wasn't going to throw in the towel and head back south just cos of a few little technical difficulties.