My very last telescope - EVER

[Tropo-Bob]

I cannot imagine never having a telescope. Yet, when my late Father was in the Nursing Home, I saw his whole world shrink into one little room. Nevertheless, from his window (non-opening), I could see the Moon and brighter stellar objects. It gave rise to a rather unpalatable thought; how will I cope if/when that happens to me?

Owning a telescope has been part of my identity since the age of 10. To preserve my identity, I would need at least one small telescope to go in that small Nursing-Home Room! My Dad would still have been capable of using a small telescope when he went in the Home, but a few health problems later, he would have only be capable of looking at it, rather than through it.

My mind must have been ticking in this direction for some time, because when the Tele Vue Rangers were released a few decades ago, I thought this would be the perfect telescope for my old age. They were big enough to be useful, as well as being light. (I never did buy one though: I was too young + did not have the money!).

Hopefully, any move to a Nursing Home is still the better part of two decades away. However, I was wondering if anybody else had thoughts like these, and what telescope would they see as being the most feasible in these circumstances?

Personally, I was thinking that a small, quality, light refractor on a camera tripod, which could be adjusted for height would suit best. Nice to look at and still give a satisfactory image of the Moon and still see the phase of Venus, Jupiter's Moons and Saturn's rings. Seeing an open cluster or splitting a few bright, wide doubles may still be possible.

And yes, when I can observe no more, I will find the shape of a refractor more inspiring to gaze upon than other types of telescopes.

Furthermore, when I pass, they can place the telescope on top of my coffin as a symbol of my identity as a person who loved looking at Stars.

(Apologies in advance if anybody finds this to be either confronting or just too morbid.)

[astroron]

Positive thoughts there Bob, I am dreading the day when I have to give up the 16" dob:(
I have a 81mm binoscope which quite heavy left on a tripod are ok.
But I still miss aperture when I am using them,wanting to see more.
I would be weary of going smaller.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Tinderboxsky]

I had a period of about 30 months a couple of years ago to contemplate exactly the same scenario whilst spending time with my late father in law in his nursing home room.
He had a small sturdy desk in the room below his window that faced east with quite a good expanse of sky and few lights. I remember coming to the conclusion then that a 5" or 6" SCT or matsukof casegrain on a Vixen porta mount on a small tripod/stand suitable to plonk on the desktop would work well. One could simply sit at the desk and observe. Simple re-positioning of the whole set up on the desk top would allow you to scan the whole available sky. Nice and light and would not take up too much room.
I too have a soft spot for refractors and would probably retain my favourite one also. My Zeiss 85TFL spotting scope would probably be the one as it is relatively compact and has dual day time terrestrial and night time use.
As you say, Bob, hopefully it does not come to pass, as one's world shrinks down to those four walls in a nursing home. I am 65 and planning to live to a hundred, or die in the attempt and hopefully side stepping a nursing home!!

Cheers

Steve

[el_draco]

Cripes.... bunch of Crypt kickers here. I'm going the other way, they can bury me inside the OTA of my 22" :rofl::rofl:

[Satchmo]

Its simple - never go into a nursing home .

If you think you'll be using your telescope from your $3000 a month `extra services ' room that idea will probably last about 2 days .

I don't plan to . Plan to leave this world with some dignity intact ;)

[Bart]

WOW! Scared the hell out of me. Had not even thought about it like that! :eyepop:

My two hobbies are astronomy/astrophotography and outback motorcycle touring. The day I can not ride my bike are not too far away with a bad back complaint and my dream is to retire to some dark skies to have one last fling before I shuffle from this mortal coil.

Closer than I think? :question: They will probably need to pry my bike keys and my QHY9 from my cold dead grasp if they want them!! :fight:

[glend]

Mark is on the right track. There is no reason not to stay in your own home and use home care facilities. I will still have access to my observatory if a mobility scooter can get me out there. And there is always video astronomy, which is really leaping ahead with the new high frame rate cameras. If your system is automated you can lie in bed and watch the GRS transit, through your gear. It may not be exactly the same as staring into an EP but be aware by that time your vision is likely to be terrible, with age related macukar degeneration, lense yellowing or cataracts, etc.
:thumbsup:

[Atmos]

Being 27 this is still a long way off for me but I'd personally go down the path of a 6-8" dob. They're easy to move around and both can be used while sitting on a chair for comfort.
With a small refractor you could get a DM2 and a TV85.

[raymo]

I have bought my last scope/mount, which meets my requirements. It is a
new SW120mm f/5 on a used EQ3-2 with dual axis drives. The first requirement was that I could carry the complete rig including the 7AH battery
[15kg all up] for the next few years, and when that becomes too difficult,
[or impossible] carry the scope and battery separately, so the heaviest item
[the mount] will be 10kg.[less, if I remove the counterweight]. If I get to the stage where I can't carry 10kg, I'll have to use a simple alt/az mount. I can put up with the CA, especially as I live where decent viewing nights are infrequent. As an example, I have had this rig for 9 weeks, and have had two
short viewing sessions.
raymo

[Logieberra]

I'm thinking a nice set of 7x50 binos as I recline in my wheel chair, strapped around my neck, so that I don't misplace them! :)

[el_draco]

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[el_draco]

Sorry, gotta stay away from this thread... MORBIDO.
I'll leave with a final point... EVENTUALLY your atoms will get to travel through space again... something to look forward to fellas. for gawds sake get a grip and live for now. :screwy:

[Tropo-Bob]

Some great replies guys. The above gave me the best laugh though!

[Nath2099]

@mark, that's not a choice for a lot of people. Making the choice to die with dignity is against the law in this country.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Really? So, what are they going to do if I get caught, hang me? :sadeyes:

[AstroJunk]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[silv]

The IIS Astro Home -
I envision a multi generation home or village with several obs.
Each bedroom fitted with remote access to an assigned obs and video screens or projections onto the ceiling for the ones who prefer viewing while in bed.
Actual scope control is rostered.
Fitter or younger members of the community keep the gear working.
Nursing services costs can be split; maybe some younger members are of the medical persuasion, anyway.
Location: not South East Australia.

[julianh72]

This thread hits very hard for me, as my father is in exactly this circumstance. His physical condition means that he is unable to use a telescope of any size or type, as his mobility is so restricted that he cannot position himself at the eyepiece, or hold his head steady enough to view if we can manage to rig the telescope to bring the eyepiece to him. Even 7x50 binoculars are too much for him to manage now.

Another factor to consider is that old age can also bring issues of fatigue and susceptibility to cold; he needs to be able to sit in comfortable chair, well rugged up.

Video astronomy offers the best chance for him to participate in my observing sessions; he enjoys real-time spectroscopy in particular. I can set up on his patio, with Bluetooth telescope control and a USB cable to a laptop which I can bring in to him, just inside. He can choose a target star, and watch the spectrum being recorded and analysed in real-time. I can also swap over to my colour camera (without grating), and he can watch the frames being captured as they come through.

So here's my suggestion for those who want to plan for their "last telescope ever":
Set up a GoTo computerised telescope, with a computer to control the scope and camera located conveniently and comfortably inside.
Locate the telescope and computer so that you don't need to move it, as your mobility and strength may preclude setting up and removing the scope each night; even the simple task of removing and replacing the dust cover may be more than you can manage, but you should be able to get assistance with that.
In some situations, having your telescope on casters may make it possible to move it easily, but think about how you will bring the telescope and camera control back inside.
If you have the luxury of owning a full Observatory, think about whether you can convert it into a full remote Observatory, and then you can continue to enjoy it for as long as you are able to use a computer.

[Satchmo]

Sure -but obeying the law is hardly in peoples minds at the point where they may want to die on their own terms . I guess you mean in the sense of a legal system such as they have in a few advanced European countries where you can attend an end of life facility. I hope this will change in the next 10 or 20 years .


There are some good suggestions for how to do astronomy late in life in this thread !

[Nath2099]

It might be on the minds of anyone who helps you as they spend their last days in prison.

[tonybarry]

I'll second that. Excellent response.

Regards,
Tony Barry
WSAAG

[Sol-Skysailor]

A couple of years ago I experienced some 3-D goggles 360-deg-view-available self-driving through the solar system. I’d want those with several space programs, and underwater and through natural terrains (I want them now!)

Having studied the original post and other good ideas, I’m thinking eyesight and exit pupils may dictate. As to taking things to the grave I personally would rather give them to others to use. As to imagining being confined to a room, I disregarded the common advice and remarks against viewing through glass from indoors so whenever I wanted I had used my binoculars and sometimes my ‘scope to learn heaps and enjoy what I could when I was not outside including when I wondered at 3 am what showed up there. (In the past tense because there's been only clouds, for many long months.)

Annette, what a great idea! There’s no reason why we can’t start one now. Or are there some already? (I don’t get it why you’d say not SE Australia, or any particular place -just the weather?). The multi-generation and multi-etc setup (in fact do not divide people into subclasses that would require the multi- prefix) would be great and I’d wish that this is the general common practice! With telescopes, that could become an astronomy village.

Julianh72, Woww…. I wish to join force with you, especially with real-time spectroscopy and "how we could tell what stars and planets and comets are made of", and talk us into going to all sorts of hospitals and such places, children’s too. Maybe best if we start with astronomy groups and societies!? Then there will be more of us to join force.

Regards
Sol

[Stardrifter_WA]

I already have it sorted. My eyesight probably won't be good enough for deep sky anyway, so I am going solar instead. I think our closest star will be bright enough to see.:P

I have an SV70T and a Porta II mount with JMI Track-N-Train. I also have the Quark solar eyepieces (have Chromosphere and Prominence models and am ordering the D Line soon). I will probably be too tired by that stage, but observing the Sun will occupy the boring days. The Porta II is a light tripod and is good for use if I am in a wheel chair, which I probably will be by that stage of my life.

That is my setup for the retirement home, which I hope I make it to.

My grandson gets my WO110FLT whilst my larger scopes go to my son. All sorted, but I still have a few years to do deep sky yet.

[Tropo-Bob]

I only meant it as a symbol on top of the coffin during the funeral service. I would want it removed afterwards.

In my Will, I have specified that my Astronomy equipment is to be offered to my extended family first (I am single and have no kids) and anything not wanted (and there currently is a lot of equipment) is then to be offered to the local University.

[Sol-Skysailor]

Oh, yes, Bob. I got it, about the symbolisation. Thanks.

Another thought, from previously attempting to show views to people in wheelchairs, some optical fibres setup would be great. Maybe something could be fashioned to suit our amateur environment and outreach situations. Hopeful.

Regards

[ZeroID]

Nah, give you a life sentence .... :D

[cometcatcher]

I can see the advantage of Raymo's setup. Small refractors are a pleasure to use, so light and quick to setup. Even an ED80 on a tripod would be worthwhile.

[multiweb]

If you keep strong mentally, have no major health hicups apart from getting old and have all your marbles then it doesn't take much effort to look up on a clear night and chill out. Keep a positive attitude and take it as it comes.

[Tropo-Bob]

Yes, sometimes the best part of taking telescopes bush is to relax in a chair while gazing up in the sky with just the naked eye.

[SimmoW]

I work in an aged care home, I assure you, only move to one when you absolutely have to. But plenty of folk make their rooms a little oasis.

Being in the industry I've already thought about such things. I would use remote scopes or process Hubble data images until the day I die. Just hope by then all the homes will have blazing fast wifi!

[Satchmo]

It was probably 'Titans' of Space (http://titansofspacevr.com/) which you can get to work with an Android phone and a Google Cardboard VR style viewer ( Officeworks / Ebay ) There are more sophisticated versions available for Samsung GearVR and Oculus Rift .

I've been playing around a little with VR app development and I've often thought how VR could be used to enrich lives of the elderly.

[glend]

And a glass of Port in hand.;)