How many of you have left astronomy and come back?

taxman (Matt) · #1 23-01-2011, 04:23 PM

Last night was the first clear night with no social engagements since well into last year.

I forced myself to plan what I would image in the afternoon, begrudgingly topped up my battery and then lingered over dinner, making my kids miss the first half hour of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (still paying for that today!!). I trudged outside, started to setup and about 10 minutes into it, thought 'meh' before packing everything up and guiltily returning inside.

I really think I may have lost interest, and reviewing my motivations am beginning to think that collecting equipment became more important than the pastime itself. It seems to be manifesting as getting unnecessarily crabby on IIS over trivialities as well...

Today I found myself mentally adding up the expected value of items if had a fire sale (EM11 2K, Borg 77ED & flattener 1K, SXV M8c with guide head 1.5K, C8 w/- motofocus .5K, etc) and immediately felt sort of sad.

Maybe if I go back to when it was fun with a DSLR, unguided mount and 60mm scope it wil come back, but I don't know. Anyone else ever felt like this? How long before you got back into it? Did you hang on to your gear or start over?

renormalised (Carl) · #2 23-01-2011, 04:50 PM

Best thing to do is take a break. Then when you get back into the swing of things build yourself a permanent setup, so you don't have to go dragging everything around.

If you sell all your stuff now, you're going to regret it in 6 month or so when you come to want to use it again. Plus, if you're feeling guilty about anything, like you said, you're going to feel cheesed off with the family and yourself when you come to get back into the swing of things and you can't because you sold everything. Then you'll resent everyone for making you feel that way.

It sounds like what you need is a long holiday and a break from everything.

asimov (John) · #3 23-01-2011, 04:57 PM

Yes, I've given it away several times since I started back in 72'. I'm also thinking of doing it again right now. I live in Bundaberg QLD so I guess the reason would be obvious.

I kept all my gear in the previous couple of 'down tools!' scenerios.

snowyskiesau · #4 23-01-2011, 05:09 PM

I'm in the process of doing this now.
I haven't used the equipment in over 12 months and I'm not likely to for some time. Part of this is packing to move but mostly it's just a lack of interest.

At the moment, it makes more sense for me to get rid of everything rather than hang onto in the hope that I find an interest again.

.

asimov (John) · #5 23-01-2011, 05:15 PM

That's a pity Geoff, however it does happen.

Good luck with everything mate.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 23-01-2011, 05:28 PM

Aye, I can relate totally.
I have a clear night tonight and have no intention of setting up.

leon · #7 23-01-2011, 05:36 PM

Yes Geoff, been there myself at one stage and thought about all that expensive Tak stuff sitting in the Observatory idle.

I did get out of it for a while and once I sorted myself out personally, (we wont go into that) i did get back into it but in a different way.

Kept at it and enjoyed it, but then i took another turn in my life's direction and sold the lot, bought a 5th Wheeler and truck to pull it, and I could not be happier.

Astronomy can and dose become an addiction of sorts

and we, well at least me, accumulate so much gear at great expense and the rest is history, as you have noted.

My wife and I now travel around this country of ours,

we both have some nice camera stuff, and a few nice lenses,

and love ever minute of it.

I still love Astronomy,but there are other things in life equally as pleasing.

Leon

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #8 23-01-2011, 06:22 PM

Hi Matt.
I know where you are at.
It all does become a bit ho-hum at times.
But my cure each time has been to change the method of astronomy I do.

I started, as usual, doing visual. I used a small 114mm Reflector I assembled myself and plonked in on a mount I made out of plumbing pipes.

That set-up kept me happy for many years until it was all pretty ordinary and getting to a stage of 'I can't be bothered', so I lashed out and bought a 12" Dob.

Boy that 12" certainly made it all interesting again. It opened up the whole sky to me. For a few years.
Then it too become a bit mundane. Not hated, or boring, just 'the same old same old', so I wanted to dabble in astrophotography to try that.

Fortunately Bert (avandonk) was giving away a modified Toucam webcam, so I was able to get it so my sons and I could learn how to image objects.

Wow! That added life to the hobby again.

Then a few more years and I got Canon 350d and it got exciting again in a new way.
Then, it was starting to get all too much. Guiding, loooong hours of imaging, then darks, then the stacking, then processing etc etc.
All fun, but getting to be very tedious.
Again I was starting to think 'do I really want to set up tonight?'.

I usually did, but often not enjoying it as much as I used to.

Through all these stages of imaging I still periodically did visual on club nights which was good fun and a change.

But last year I was getting very discouraged with DSLR imaging, so I tried video astronomy and WOW!, I am glad I did.

Not only have I moved on to another method of astronomy but I consider it to be the most exciting and fun-filled method I have ever done.
'Live' video astronomy is fantastic, and easy!!!

No doubt I will get bored with it in a few years, but I will probably move to another method.

Maybe I'll fly up there and look close up with my eyes

But changing methods has kept the hobby fresh and fun for me.
But that is me.

AdrianF (Adrian) · #9 23-01-2011, 06:37 PM

I feel like giving up as well. Forced myself into getting the dob out this afternoon and checking the collimation ready for tonight. But 15 mins into getting the tools out to do the job I gave up. The dob is still sitting on the verandah waiting.

Adrian

asimov (John) · #10 23-01-2011, 06:40 PM

Ken, I guess what you're saying is the WOW factor has to be there to keep one interested. I'm trying to achieve that right now, by buying a 16" DOB to 'light the visual spark' again. I haven't looked through an EP for 8 years..

Anyway, it's not working - No one has a 16" DOB in stock until at least march/april

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 23-01-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Ken, I guess what you're saying is the WOW factor has to be there to keep one interested. I'm trying to achieve that right now, by buying a 16" DOB to 'light the visual spark' again. I haven't looked through an EP for 8 years..

Yep John, same with any hobby really.
Gotta keep it fresh and interesting somehow.

Wow, you looking in a EP

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #12 23-01-2011, 07:07 PM

Reading back through this thread I wonder if the lack of interest lately is due to very quiet skies (when we have skies at all).

In previous years we have had some pretty exciting things to spark us up and get the juices flowing: Comets, Supernovae, major changes to Jupiter, etc.

Lately, the skies haven't given up anything new or of major public interest.
The Lunar Eclipse maybe, but most couldn't see it.

Think back over the years to when big things have happened in the skies, and how popular telescopes were each time. Sales soared, TV News and Newspapers gave tantalising images and stories, and we all ran outside each night with our scopes and cameras and flooded the forums with images and stories.

Can anyone think of anything lately that has caused a mighty excitement in this hobby?

I may be wrong, but that is my thoughts on why interest may be waning for so many.

Robh (Rob) · #13 23-01-2011, 07:11 PM

It helps if you meet up with a group of people (say once a month) at a designated site. It's not only social but more interesting as you compare and share observations and insights with each other.

Regards, Rob.

asimov (John) · #14 23-01-2011, 07:14 PM

In my case, it's all about being in QLD & it's weather. I was forced to move here due to circumstances beyond my control.

Looking back on it, I had miles more fun down in SA. The seeing was total rubbish but at least I was out there 75% of the year.

adman (Adam) · #15 23-01-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Aye, I can relate totally.
I have a clear night tonight and have no intention of setting up.

Nooo...not you jjj. Don't give in, stay away from the light, don't go into the light...aaarrrrgggghhhh.....

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #16 23-01-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robh

It helps if you meet up with a group of people (say once a month) at a designated site. It's not only social but more interesting as you compare and share observations and insights with each other.

Regards, Rob.

Excellent point Rob!

I certainly enjoy astronomy more when I do it with other people.
That's why I enjoy camp so much

It can be a lonely hobby. Even in your own back yard.

GrampianStars (Rob) · #17 23-01-2011, 07:27 PM

maybe you should all get 2gether and have a regular "Star Party"
"Grumpy,Disillusioned, Disappointed" astronomers only
Oh what Fun

I sometimes roll the roof off boot up and just sit and watch the stars turn.
The Obs is a refuge from day 2 day crap.

asimov (John) · #18 23-01-2011, 07:31 PM

Yeah, in QLD we'd spend more time talking at this 'star party' complaining about the weather...It's easier & cheaper to do that online

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 23-01-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrampianStars

maybe you should all get 2gether and have a regular "Star Party"
"Grumpy,Disillusioned, Disappointed" astronomers only
Oh what Fun

Rodstar (Rod) · #20 23-01-2011, 10:22 PM

I would concur with the advice of others to hold onto your gear, but give it a break for a while. Absence can often make the heart grow fonder.

After 5 years of being very fervent about our Noble Interest, I lost some enthusiasm in the course of 2010. It was partly a run of poor weather, and partly that I found some other things that were capturing my interest, and you can only keep up that initial enthusiasm for so long.

But having had a break for about 6 months, I feel freshly motivated all of a sudden, a few weeks ago I observed three nights in succession, like old times! I even cleaned my eyepieces, the mirror in the Mary Rose, and have been gazing longingly in astronomy atlases.

I agree that meeting with others can help with the motivation, as can setting new goals, trying to do things a different way, or setting yourself a special project (like becoming an expert in a type of astronomical object, or in a particular constellation, etc). This year I am heading off to the northern hemisphere for a holiday, and I am trying to line up a visit to an observatory so that I can see some stuff from the far northern hemisphere. That has gotten me very excited!

This morning, I even found myself giving an imaginery astronomy lecture whilst in the shower. I was trying to explain the immensity of the cosmos to a fictitious audience. I realised the fundamental of why astronomy appeals to me...it is the wonder of it all. Tapping back into the wonder has helped me a huge amount. When it is all about getting the next bit of kit, or keeping with the Jones'/having to the have the latest EP, then one can lose the raison d'etre. Maybe think about what got you into it in the first place, and focus on that when you have taken leave of absence for a while.

Good luck!