Rekindling the Enthusiasm for Astronomy

[iceman]

I've blogged about something which I've noticed and has concerned me over recent months..

Here's an excerpt:

Read the rest at:
Redkindling the Passion and Enthusiasm for Astronomy (http://www.mikesalway.com.au/2008/11/12/rekindling-the-passion-and-enthusiasm-for-astronomy)

I'm keen to hear about your thoughts and experiences.. it may not have been about astronomy when it happened to you.. what did you do to get through it? Did you get through it?

[[1ponders]]

Yep it does happen Mike, and your right the prolonged, less than ideal weather conditions certainly don't help. That's one of the reasons for the observatory, so I can make the most of those brief interludes of clear skies without having to spend half an hour setting up and another half pulling down when the clouds move in after just finishing the polar alignment. :sad:

Having other hobbies helps to me keep enthusiastic about my astronomy. My main one of bush regen helps keep me outside and in touch with the environment anyway. It also helps to keep my mind active and engaged so that when the conditions are right I don't have to get over that initial mental inertial. The enthusiasm is there ready to go.......usually. :lol:

Plus I have too many astronomy books to read to give up the hobby just yet anyway. I find just researching astronomy projects in anticipation of future clear skies keep me engaged as well. Mind you I now have enough projects lined up to keep me well and truely engaged for the next 3 life times. :lol:

Planetary imaging? What's that? I can't remember the last planetary or lunar image I've taken. The odd comet is about it. There are too many other things going on.

But the one thing above all else that helps to keep me right on up there is the fantastic astronomy community I'm apart of. Not just IIS which is an enormous part, but my friends in the local area that I'm associated with through the Mapleton Observatory (conducting classes and outreach nights does wonders to keep the enthusiasm up). Plus there is the monthly social/viewing get togethers at Ron's where people come from up to 2 hours drive away just for the get together.

When I first started on this hobby, I was all alone but the initial passion was enough, despite the disappointment. Now the friends, community and project planning keeps me well and truely engaged.

Maybe we need to have a 12 step program to help keep us enthused when times are getting tough. :lol:

[mick pinner]

l think it has to be a balance, when you start a new hobby you go flat out, you want to get out every night, you get dissapointed when it's cloudy and when those little hardware or software problems occur and spoil a great evening. To some l am sure the novelty will wear off and it will become just an opportunity to get out when the skies are clear and others will give up altogether.
l loose the passion every now and again, but to me it is only a hobby and certainly not a priority.
Family comes first and l do spend a lot of time at work so l do not have time for the very late night sessions, l fit astronomy into the time l have left.
Because of this though l find l enjoy my time under the stars more when the opportunity does arise.

[Omaroo]

I've been thinking about this too. My interest has waned a little over the past year or so and I do put it down to the weather. Most of my imaging (or even straight observation) is done in the presence of our club members at either of our two dark sky sites - one darker than the other. Of course, the darker one is twice the disctance away....

The main problem is in lining up organised sessions with the weather. There seem to be plenty of nights when I'm home that I look outside and think "wow - what a gorgeous evening - I hope it'll be OK on Saturday". If I had an observatory at home (which I'm resigned to now) I know I'd be able to just pop out for a quick fix while the weather was behaving and be happy. As Paul says, it's the repetitive setting up/aligning/clouding up/pulling down dissappointment cycle that is the killer. I can't remember a good night with my club mates where everything just went "right" - it must be months ago. Adding to the frustration is the ritual that starts with charging batteries the night before, piling everything into the car, organising dinner snacks and coffee, driving out there, setting up.... etc, etc - you know how it goes.

I've just convinced Jenny that a slab and permanent pier are required to save my sanity - to which she has agreed. At least I can trundle the G11 equatorial head outside and set up with verry little drifting required. This alone will save my bacon I reckon.

I have taken up another hobby (apart from the ubiquitous photography) which I was into decades ago - radio controlled flying. At least I can build and tinker on those nights the weather isn't playing ball - only to be faced with Saturday or Sunday winds and rain - "flying is off for the day"! Grrrr Another weather-dependant hobby!!!! You'd think I'd have learned by now...... :(

[Phil]

Hi Mike i have been into astronomy for over 20 years. I have a dome with everything setup in my backyard. But i to have the same feelings as you to. I see it this way. The stars are not going anywhere so it does not hurt to feel this way. It is good have a brake sometimes. I no with me the bug does return. It may take some time but it will return. Hope this helps.
Phil

[acropolite]

I think it's important to only go out when you are really going to enjoy the conditions.

I only venture outside when I'm well rested, family commitments are satisfied and the conditions are right.

I have to agree that other hobbies (you can never have too many) to compliment Astronomy are a good idea. I'm sure everyone would agree that photography is a good compliment to Astronomy.

Work pressures certainly don't help, I find that having to travel any significant distance to work is tiring, in my case some of my work necessitates up to seven hours of driving to perform a few hours of work; early starts and late finishes.
If I do a couple of stints like that through the week, I usually find I end up very fatigued at the weekend.

HRH's work commitments also curtail my activities, I couldn't attend either Qld Astrofest or Lostock because of Liz's work commitments.

In your case Mike, as you suggest, yoir job change and subsequent train rides to & from work may be a factor, you probably settle in and become quite relaxed on the way home, once home it's hard to break that relaxed state and get motivated.

[asterisk]

Thanks fellas. I have been having similar feelings of late, and, as with Chris and Paul, I have put it down to the packing, travelling, setting up, alignment, packing up, driving, unpacking, drying, putting away.

Alignment problems have not helped and, lately, the weather has reduced the rewards from going through the process.

I wonder if Chris would like to build a bigger observatory?

[Kal]

Mike, I'm the sort of person that by nature has short attention spans in hobbies. This concerned me of course with astronomy since it is not exactly a cheap hobby. But over the last decade I've realised and accepted one thing. My interest may wane every now and then, but it is a hobby that I will always come back to - it is a life long hobby, which I know I will still be interested in when I am 60, and if my interest wanes for months (or even a year or more) it doesn't concern me anymore, since I know my interest will be rekindled again naturally in the future. Because of this acceptance I have no problem stepping back from astronomy every now and then to persue other interests.

[Lismore Bloke]

My interest in astronomy was rekindled when I bought the GSO 12'' dob.
The old 10'' on the GEM mount was awkward to use and a literal pain in the neck. I can carry the 12 out easily and set it up and be observing very easily.

I can well imagine that complicated setups, especially involving imaging gear, can simply be too much to use if you are tired after a long day at work. Other family commitments can also intrude. Keeping it simple has worked for me.

[Omaroo]

I guess that's half the problem for me... I have very little (if at all) interest in visual observing. Seen one blob with averted vision, seen them all. I have a very strong interest in photographing it all however....

Maybe my 12" binos will change that - who knows. They're a fair way off from being finished yet....

[Octane]

There was a time where I would drift off at work thinking about my next imaging session; what the weather would be like, what I would image, how much time I would spend on the object, how the equipment was going to cooperate, etc. Then there's the post-imaging high when you go through the ridiculous rigmorale of having to pre- and post-process all your data (the slower your PC, the worse it is) and watching the data slowly accumulate as you go through your stacking routine.

I used to (and, still do) think that astronomy (and/or astrophotography) is one of the only hobbies I know which manifests itself as an obsession. :)

Once I got busy with work, that all went out the window.

It's only been the last few months that the thirst for photon collecting has returned.

I am back with a vengeance.

Regards,
Humayun

[RB]

I agree with Phil, I only setup when I'm rested, the conditions are right and work won't get in the way.
There's a lot of equipment to setup each time, since I don't have an observatory yet, so I really only setup if I know I'll have a good chance of obtaining decent data.
Also I concentrate on one or two objects per session, trying to maximize how much data I get on each.

I'm kind of happy that my other hobby is photography, so I can switch to that if the weather isn't up to astrophotography.
I enjoy just taking time out with my camera now and then on a trip, just to unwind after a hectic schedule.

This helps keep my interest in both hobbies fresh.

One of my other hobbies is electronics, so I really enjoy building/designing circuits too.
And I like dabbling in computers and building systems myself.
My wife says I have too many hobbies. :doh:

[xelasnave]

Mike with the greatest of respect and with sincere concern I know the condition.

We live fast difficult and complex lives.

I think of myself I have it laid back and cruisie but when I look at everything I do in a week or month I find the level of activity far past anything I could have managed as a young man... so what happens..we take more and more on... such that we dont notice the shear load of activity we engage on each day and we take for granted that we will stand up each day and continue with the many routines we have made standard in our day.

So it could be that.

Being a perfectionist could contribute.
Whats the point of doing something unless it is perfect we ask ourselves...and that is when we have to say ..you bet..this is supposed to be fun...

I think the lack of consistent weather contributes when I think about it.

You may know gravity preoccupies me and I gauge my happiness levels by my approach to that subject..if I find it boring and of no importance I know I am down...when I think it is important and can sit and think happily about matters relating to it ..I know it is a good day... unfortunately the good day is probably tilted to the dellussional side of reality but thats ok... taking astro photos is sortta dellussional in so far as Hubble can get them why do we need to...again the answert is fun...fun can be elusive..if yoou question too long you find it has left the room.

Also I have a condition where once I have done
something I look for a new chalenge and so astronomy (and gravity) holds less chalenge so it becomes a little different.

It may be the old...."whats the meaning of life thing also"

I feel exposure to astronomy and the statistics can leave one feeling less than important when ones smallness hits home...but the fact is we are each so important...not to the world but to ourselves... and one needs to take time to appreciate oneself... feel ones existence as it were..

I am sorry for a short unconsidered answer I will think about this today.

alex

[xelasnave]

Above all setting new goals is probably the most important thing... when we have a program that leads to achievement we tend to question less the relevance of what we are doing.. the job fits the plan so it happily gets done.

Written goals I great... place them where you are reminded constantly...

Working out why we do things is neat...
It is hard to be honest but if you can scrape away to the raw base need you seek to fulfill it is great...

I wanted a eq6...desparately..why?...I was surprised when I honestly answered myself...so I can do go images and show them off on iceinspace ... it was a look at me thing that was going on deep down... knowing that my emotions were not positive and bowing to a base desire I put the purchase off until I determined I would post fewer images and do it for me not to show off....so I got the mount and try not to show off...the reason I dont get serious about my iages is a recognition that showing off is part of me and it is not nice... anyways it takes peace and quiet to understand what is driving oneself...we work out what we want to do and then invent stories to justify our choice....
My Son wants to take his daughter ..when five years old...on a surfing holiday to show her the NSW coast...how nice of him...how considerate...taking his time to show his daughter the coast.... dam it..he wants the holiday and uses as justification that he is really being a good Dad...we all do this sort of thing...and although his desire is apparent when we observe he would deny any accusation suggesting that he was doing the trip not for his daughter but for himself... we do that all the time...and so our motivations can be hidden to us and confussing to others...

Mike I think you had better make an appointment we need to revieve your diet and sleep pattens as well...

Good luck ... I will end with ..please know we have ups and downs and one of the secrets (well its not a secret now that I post it) is to simply know such is so...

alex

alex

[Ric]

Hi Mike, during my 40 years of amateur astronomy I find that I have waxed and waned like the moon in enthusiasm on more than a few times.

I usually find that something will happen that will spark up the enthusiasm again be it attending a meeting of the Astro Society or something spectacular happening. Comet McNaught was a great jump starter for a lot of people no doubt.

I've have found myself a bit flat as well over the last couple on months but going through the 2009 Yearbook has kickstarted the drive again.

Now if only those clouds will keep away.

[rogerg]

I had about 4 months this year where I didn't do much astronomy at all. I could've in theory still taken my Project NGC (http://www.rogergroom.com/astronomy/project_ngc) images with only about 15 mins of my time every day, but I just couldn't be bothered.

I ended up coming to terms with the fact I wasn't interested and just left the observatory closed up for much of that time. I ended up enjoying the break, spending more time with my now fiance, with family, and relaxing more so than doing other hobbies.

I often find that with a change of season my interest in astronomy changes and this has happened now. I'm back in to it, drawn in by the memories of great clear summer nights of comfortable viewing and BBQ's with friends before astronomy. I bought my first telescope at Christmas in 1998 so approaching Christmas always makes me feel like getting back in to it.

I had a surprise visit from an astro friend on Saturday night, ended up setting up his 1970's 8" SCT on my Losmandy and had a great time doing casual viewing of stuff, chatting, eating. While the LX was wirring away on NGC objects. Re-inforced my enjoyment of summer astronomy.

Enjoy the break I say! :thumbsup:

(PS, please don't lose so much interest that you give up on the websites, we need you! :))

[xelasnave]

I think we can forget astronomy is hard work really.. we dont notice the physical and mental strain... I think we need a comittee to look into this..they can buy the beer.

alex

[ving]

I dont envy any person whose only interest in life is astronomy...

yup, i used to be one of the biggest posters here on this forum but my interest in space has wanned somewhat. I still break the telescope out from time to time and i find the hardest part is movitaving myself to set up.
*drag out the heq5
*drag out the counterweighs
*drage out the OTA
*drag out the laptop
*drag out the EP case
*drag out the power supply (oops, havent used it for a while is it charged?)
*drag out all associated cables and cords
*drag out small table and chair
... thats alot of dragging and it takes a hell of alot of motivation to do just that.
then there is setting up!

I find once i am out i really enjoy myself still though, and still chase those binaries. I have fun comparing cartes to what i see and jotting down notes to be put in my doubles blog.

the turn offs.
*bad weather
*all that damn dragging of gear
*setting up
*aligning
*setting up the goto and making it work with cartes (sometimes they dont work well together for some reason)
*generally laziness
*cold (i hate the cold)

lucky for me i can do photography, spend quaility time with cheryl who also like photography. go for walks. take in some art. go for drives exploring areas i havent been. go mountain biking. play games online. bush walk.... you get the idea. both the telescope and the sky arent going anywhere so i can use them any time.

[Hagar]

Hi Mike, wanning interest in any hobbie is a natural thing. I have suffered for the past few years with a wanning interest in my prime hobbie of fly fishing. I have for the past 20 years travelled the country and the world chasing trout in streams and lakes and have found my level of satisfaction lagging some what. Astronomy like Fly fishing is a very individual and often a very lonely persuit not requiring a lot of interaction. I find that from time to time I need some form of interaction with others, and I don't mean the likes of this or other forums to keep the interest at a level which does the hobbie justice. You being a young man with a young familly must suffer the usual problem of time management to fit everything you love to do into a very limited time slot. I don't have the family commitments you have and still have some problems fitting it all in a working week.
I think the real or imagined lacking interest is really based on a lack of time and too many commitments. Step back relax, smell the roses and do what you are comfortable with. It is after all just a hobbie, keep it just a hobbie, don't get involved in the politics of it and make the best of the time you have doing what feels right at the time.

[Starkler]

Thats something i was thinking of picking up again after not bothering the last 5 years. Hows the Ovens doing these days up your way?

[h0ughy]

for me it can and is a long time between photons. Setting up kills me and thats why i am going to do some thing about it - build an observatory. so that i can go out and set up really quickly and shut up shop just as quick. Photography is a interest, as too the family, work just gets in the way. I love star parties - you get everything rekindled again and a fresh look on life. You will never stop until you are not breathing, its just the intensity that varies!

[sheeny]

A bit over 20 years ago I took up astronomy, and then I was under a lot of pressure to back off on it from my ex-wife (not ex then;))... it seems I was spending too much time outside at night, not inside with her and the kids... So, trying to appease, I did less and less astronomy until I decided to sell the scope since it wasn't being used.

Other hobbies and interests filled the gaps, including search and rescue.

After pulling out of search and rescue I had a heap of time on my hands and got back into astronomy a few years ago:thumbsup:. And like everyone else, my interest has ebbed and flowed.

IMO there is no doubt, that:

bad weather has an adverse effect. Too much gets you out of the "habit" of setting up and doing it - you learn to fill in your time with other things.
Too much good weather and enthusiasm can result in burn out... nothing a bit of a break and a few good nights sleep can't fix though usually:)...
little changes can have a big affect (adverse or positive). I have done fairly little astro work since moving to the new place because the gear is out in a separate shed and not well organised and accessible. I also have to carry it further to set up than I used to have to to put it in the truck and drive to my dark sky site:rolleyes:.
If you master something to the point that it is no longer a challenge, interest can wane (not that I've got there yet:P)... so always look for different or new things to try and do. My brother is a classic for this... he starts a hobby and its his passion until he masters it, and then he doesn't do it any more.
If the challenges you face overwhelm you, you can lose interest as well so keeping your goals and challenges in that sweet zone it important.So for a while I deliberated about going to the dark side and getting a big DOB, which would be great, but I figured that once I have my gear in an obs I can make use of it for short periods and frequently if that's all that's available. So I am hanging out for the Skyshed POD... and I'm quite confident that when it arrives I'll be back into it;). I figure the obs will make it easy for me to use the gear I have more often with minimal setup time, where a big dob will always have a significant cool down time so I may not use it as much... as much as I'd love a big scope!

Al.

[Hagar]

Hi Geoff The ovens is fishing well but a lot of very small fish. The Kiewa and Mitta Rivers are fishing a lot better with much larger fish. In fact the Mitta River is the pick of the bunch with daily flows of 350ML/day.

[Jen]

Not having enough spare cash in the bank to buy new toys makes it hard for me to take my hobby to the next level :D
Hey does anyone know what time the armour guard truck turns up next :evil2:
:whistle:

[erick]

There are more things listed in my Argo Navis catalogues than I can possibly see in what's left of my lifetime. I think I'll be right for many years to come!

Love the peace and quiet and the solitude.


Mind you, I miss the bit of snorkling I used to do - also peace and quiet and solitude! Just don't get to Queensland any more.

[matt]

Yeah. I know what you are saying, Mike.

As many have said, it's good to have other hobbies or preoccupations, other than just astronomy.

The conditions certainly haven't been encouraging, especially for we planetary imagers. Not for a long time.

I think a nice stretch of really good seeing and some fabulous data would see the enthusiasm levels pick up again.;)

But it's also natural for things like astronomy to take a back seat with the ebb and flow of life.

I also think it's hard to keep your interest up when you've achieved many of the goals you have set yourself, and perhaps haven't sat down to consider which direction you'd like to move in next?

I go through periods of intense activity and interest, and then find other interests jostling for my attention. It's perfectly normal, and healthy...I think.

Not to worry. You'll get fully back into it. Or you won't.

No drama. It is, after all, just a hobby. A fabulous one, but still just a hobby:thumbsup:

[iceman]

Hi All

It's great to read all your feedback and see that many of you have gone through similar feelings and not just in astronomy - it happens for every hobby.

When I take up a hobby, I get immersed in it. Most of my hobbies become passions. I don't do things by halves. Astronomy was no different. I guess it was a bit of burn out combined with the bad weather, and the increasing interest in my other hobbies.

Just not enough time in the day or days in the week to do what I want to do.

Moderation and Balance.. I guess that's the key.

And a few said it - astronomy will always be here. It's not like a physical hobby that you just can't do well when you get older. The galaxies will still be in the same spot. The stars will still rise in the east and set in the west. It will still be clear on full moon and cloudy on new moon. It will still rain when someone buys near gear :)

Just getting my thoughts down on paper has helped - and I do need to decide what my goals are going to be and start planning how to achieve them.

Thanks guys

[xelasnave]

Start working on the Theory of Everything all you need is a comfy chair..
alex

[ving]

i believe in that setting astronomical goal will ruin your astronomical future...

set goals and you will feel you have to go out to complete them regardless of weather you feel like digging the gear out or not.... i recon this course will make a person tire of it really quick.
Play it by ear. go out when you feel like it and not when your goals dictate it :)

[wraithe]

ROFL, sounds like your suffering the same issue as nearly everyone i know that has a hobby...

I try not to dwell on a hobby too much if I have lost interest in it...
My hobbies are strange, one is technology(computer side of things), model trains, shooting(rifles), horses, farming, oh the stars(still havent had real scope, and havent owned one for 15 years) and quilting...

The model trains are more in the scenery side and my son enjoys driving them, so having an interest in playing with electronics allows me to do all the wiring and installing digital control...

Rifles, well I grew up on a farm and Mum was a brilliant shot(her eye sight is stuffed now, she shoots round corners), and the fact we used them for both livestock disposal and vermin control, you kind of get wrapped up in them easy...

Horses, its in the blood, cant find the key to shut them down so cant just store them, they are a life thing, like kids(they are my life, but i want the off button for them too)..And included in this is farming, I just love new cut hay or the smell of grain when its harvested...Being outdoors and being able to crank the music up without someone complaining(yeehhhhh)..

As for computers, well after all my years of being a Operating system junky, I have just one OS on my laptop, the TV(yes a computer) hasnt been on for about 3 months now...And I am totally bored with using the coputer for anything other than what is required... I use to have 3 or 4 computers running at once and a fixer for someone else, now I just chuck this one on to check forums and emails then shut it down and go do something else...
Its not the first time, about 17 years ago I put my pc into a box and put it in the shed, it was nearly 10 years before i took it back out, trouble was, it may have worked great but was a dinosaur by then..
Now I am getting to the same stage but the pc's are usable with other interests..

I have never given up on a hobby or sold everything because I have had enough..I just put it to the side and find that in time I wander back to it.. People wonder why I have model trains on the shelf, or why I have a gun cabinet...but honestly, if you have a passion and you need a break, then its just like working, you do need holidays and sometimes its good to just take that holiday and come back when your rested...

Now I must go feed a horse and maybe finish that damm quilt I started last year...:screwy:

[Satchmo]

Mike wrote: "I found myself hoping it would be cloudy when I stepped outside. I found excuse after excuse not to setup my gear. I found myself being pickier and pickier with the conditions and wouldn’t bother to image Jupiter unless the seeing was well above average (which this year, has been very rare indeed)."

Mike sounds like you need to take a breather from the self- imposed goal orientated and time intensive direction you've taken. I would knock up a dob mount for the 12" , put it on wheels. Then you can roll it out before dinner, and if it clouds over or you can't be bothered just roll it in. :)

A bit of aimless hassle-free contemplation of the heavens would probably recharge your batteries for the more labour intensive stuff. I made it through Winter with just the ocassional 5 minute scan of the heavens with hand held binoculars, which kept my imagination sated.

Now I'm looking with enthusiasm at 3 different projects: a paralleogram bino mount for my 25 X 100's, , a Dobsonian mount on a tall tripod for my 6" F8 Refractor and a new lighter weight mount for my 14" Dob. :thumbsup:

[matt]

Taking a 'relaxed'....'aimless' approach to astronomoy is, I would have thought, a 'goal' in itself? And certainly a good one:thumbsup::D

[iceman]

Absolutely, and that could certainly be an outcome for me.

By setting a goal I didn't necessarily mean getting further entrenched or starting something which sucks the fun out of it.

[matt]

And neither did I, Mike....neither did I;) I know what you/I meant:lol:

[xelasnave]

I have been just laying in bed with the 80 binos looking along the Milky Way with no particular place to go and just taking in the beauty and grandness and the fact I look to the center of out galaxy .... fall asleep and dream
Still I have been thinking it would be good to see if one could replicate a Hubble Deep Field with modest gear....

alex
alex

[Satchmo]

Mike , that went straight over my head :lol:

Do you mean the pressure of improving on your Jupiter shots which became a chore was not something you had intended?

[Satchmo]

May be a 'goal' in itself but its an easy one to achieve..Chill out and don't beat yourself up that you aren't `achieving' anything, at least not with easily measurable results ( which comes at what cost ? ) . :thumbsup:

[matt]

I am chilled, maaaaaaaaannnnn. Fully chilled!!!!!!...and there's no self-assault going on here:P:lol:

[Satchmo]

Coooooool....:D

[jjjnettie]

I've been doing this hobby on the very strictest of budgets too Jen.
And I think that this is what is keeping me keen.
There is still so much more for me to learn. So much more equipment that I would love to have, but can't afford, just yet.
Also I guess I've only been seriously interested in Astronomy for about 5 years, so I'm yet to get bored with the same old constellations, the same old nebulas, season after season.

I bet another Comet Holmes or McNaught would perk all the jaded Astronomers up, get 'em up off their duffs and outside with theirs scopes.:thumbsup::lol:

[garin]

I've found the easiest way to re-enthuse myself is to get down with newbies and help them out, whether it be helping them setup their gear or finding those first elsive objects.
The enthusiasium and excitement of new astronomers is infectious and reminds you what you thought when you saw that object for the 1st time being it Orion, Jupiter or 47 Tuc.

Just my thoughts

[norm]

Hi Mike,

I don't think it would be normal for anyone to maintain a constant enthusium for anything over a period of time and not eventually 'hit the wall'. I enjoy DIY stuff around the house and remember I went full bore for the 1st few yrs and managed to achieve a lot with much satisfaction. Health issues and other aspects outside my control suddenly dampened my enthusiam and drive.
I still do DIY stuff around the house, but do it gradually with breaks in between to fit committments with family and friends. Like you I don't do things 1/2 baked and can get obsessive about it.
At the end of the day I guess what I'm saying is tackle things in moderation, don't take it too seriously (it is afterall a hobby) and don't feel guilty not bringing out the gear even when the conditions are right. The stars, galaxies etc aren't going to disappear anytime soon:D.

My scope hasn't even arrived yet for me to start doing visual observing and sometimes I think what have I done.:rolleyes: However when it arrives I know I'll enjoy it, but more importantly I'm not going to commit myself in getting it out every 2nd night and spending hrs at a time. Instead, I'll just do it gradually.

Maybe consider ocassionally going to really dark skies and spending a couple of relaxing nights with the family may rekindle your spirits again:).
Bring the scope, but maybe try to keep it simple.;)
Sometimes when you haven't done something for awhile and then get back into it, the fun begins again.

Good Luck,
Norm

[spacezebra]

Hi guys

How can one ever tire of this hobby. For me if its cloudly, I am reading books and listening to astronomy related topics. The History Channel has the lastest in the series of "Universe", which is brilliant IMO.

I also love the public outreach activities and astro society commitments that I am involed in. It keeps me driven and passionate. Remember that there is still a great many people out there that have never looked through a telescope. I think sharing your passion for astronomy with someone else is the greatest buzz!

On other nights we are getting ready for and organising Border Stargaze, which poses its own challenges. It gives me the chance to chat to and form networks with a different people from all walks of life and differing levels of expertise in astronomy. I have formed some good friendships with astronomers from Parkes, Coona and the US and would never have met these amazing poeple if did not have this interest.

However, soon as new moon hits, and weather is good Im out at our Dark Sky site with a simple Dob, crusin the heavens as there is still alot I have not seen and would love to learn about.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers Petra d.

[kinetic]

I agree!

I pity anyone that goes through life with no hobbies at all.

My advice would be to re-iterate what Doug said,
Don't take it too seriously, the sky will always be there.

I've got young kids and so they have to come first before my selfish
quality hobby time, but I never feel like they are cheating me of
what I enjoy.
Most nights when I open up the dome there are cobwebs on things,
it's been so long between visits.

But I try to enjoy my nights out.
If I wasn't still enjoying the ups (and downs) I would have given it away
25 years ago.

Steve

[mcross]

That sounds like my wife! Every time we pass one she says "Look, there's an armourguard van..." with a little glint in her eye... it worries me! I don't think you two should get together!:lol:



I must admit, I like the simplicity of my dob on wheels. Sometimes I'll get home late and think "Gee, it's clear tonight" and wheel her out and just start looking. Can see a lot in 20 minutes (if I can find things, that is:))!

Mark

[Alchemy]

hobbies come and go, i did one particular sport for years and burned out... despite performing at the top level i ditched it and now dont care a jot about it.

i think hobbies should be done because they drive a passion within you, ive done many things over the years ,
Rockclimbing... still got a full lead rack but too old for cranking off two fingers, i dont think the heart could take it either
Canoeing... smashed the canoe and that was that
Bowhunting.... hunted just about every different pest species around, bit more of a pacifist nature lover these days.
Four wheel driving.... after 3 4wd vehicles i found it like driving with the crowd ( no matter where you go so does everyone else)
Landscape Photography... the change to digital killed it, still got the medium format camera but who does cibachrome prints these days.
Bushwalking.....Still like it but finding time is hard
Fishing... as above

point being do what pleases you not what you feel an obligation to do (particularly as you have the website), life allows us to explore different things and experience the joy of doing new things. This probably is a bit different from most responses, but you dont HAVE to do astronomy or any particular thing , put it down for a while and the interest may be rekindled... maybee not , does it really matter in the big picture.

i wouldnt mind getting a couple of sea kayaks and doing that one day....

cheers clive.

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: tell her to call me :thumbsup:
:wink2::wink2::wink2:
:evil::evil:

:evil2:

[gaa_ian]

A couple of things have helped keep me interested:
* I realized early on that sharing the skies with others is what motivates me
* So I take the opportunities that allow me to do this
* I have branched out into other Astronomy related areas (Eg: My Science Show
* I have other social outlets such as sailing that refresh and inspire me (social events too)
* Above all I have sought to keep it simple when I am observing
* Simple = Satifying
* Complex = Lots of potential for frustration

[beren]

Its been a lean time for me so far this year with opportunities to get the gear out, the weather has really conspired against me to both enjoy general observing and make some adequate progress with imaging :P But with the festive season coming up, annual break time and the summer constellations returning to the early evening I always get re-energised {doubling so if the surfboard gets used during the days :D}

[TrevorW]

Lost the desire, no never, waned yes but never lost. Ever since I was a young lad I've always wished I could fly amongst the stars to coin a phrase "to journey were no other man has been".

Hobbies galore over the years, if I had saved what I'd spent on these I could have had that 14"RC and Paramount mount by now.

Rekindle that desire, easy just go to a dark spot on a clear night and look at the stars above.

My journey will come one day if there is life after this, one can only hope.

[xelasnave]

Well having rested for a week now away from the stupid stupid world I can say this... take a break relax do little recharge regroup and stuff like that... one can get caught up in stuff and it all gets too much... at least thats what I feel looking back on the events of the last month..even 3 months... too much on my plate... and Mike you strike me as maybe having a fair bit on your plate so maybe take some time simply to relax with the most important person in your life...

The Sun is out here and it was clear last night..man that makes things seems better...I mean its always good but nice weather is cool.

alex