How often do you use your telescope?

[mr bruess]

How often do you use your telescope?
And which telescope gets used the most?(if you have more than one)
And where do you observe?
Do you use it in your backyard or do you drive to a dark sky site?

I find that I hardly use my Telescopes much.
What about others on this forum?:astron::astron::astron:

[supernova1965]

1) As often as the Weather permits and depending on if I can walk on the clear nights.

2) My Intes Micro M500 on Celestron Nexstar 5se Mount gets used the most as I can more easily use it despite my spinal problems. My 10" Dob comes out usually when I have help.

3) My backyard mostly but we have a quick to access darkish site and one where we need to setup tents to get the most out of it.

[jenchris]

I'd like to use it about three to four times a week, but I haven't actually had a night where I can use it since the Lunar Eclipse - well there was one and I'd just got a bit done and the batteries decided to go flat.
I hadn't got power to my obsy at the time so it was finit for
the night!

[casstony]

In a run of good weather last week I was out four nights in a row in the backyard, but sometimes go for a couple of months without using the scopes - probably average once a fortnight. It can be hard fitting in observing with family needs and personal health issues, but I never see myself being without a scope.

I find mosquitos a deterrent in Summer - I'd rather be freezing than figthing insects.

Having enough aperture to appreciate the brighter DSO's really helps to maintain my enthusiasm - I especially like the eta carinae region where I can see wispy nebulosity extending over large areas with the C11 - looking forward to getting the chance to observe through Erg's 16" next school holidays.

[Matt Wastell]

I use my solar scope as often as I can - average one day a week?

My Lunt 60 has been the scope I have used more than any other (solar).

I usually observe in my front courtyard.

[willpower]

I am currently waiting on my first scope to be delivered next week (can't wait). But my binoculars get a thorough workout at least twice a week, No doubt a refractor will see me outside every night I can spare!

[Saturn%5]

Since moving to Tasmania not much at all, :windy: capital of Australia :rofl:

[pgc hunter]

Well, it's all up to the weather.... like Tassie, Melbourne is the pffffft capital of Australia :lol:

[norm]

Not as much as I would like. If weather is good, as least once a week,usually a Friday or Saturday night, depending on the moon phases. Normally I just settle for the backyard, however if it's a Pony club outting, I'll try to get to that.
I do need to confess, my motivation has waned lately for awhile and I need something to kick start it again.
Things don't look good when you see a few cobwebs forming on the base of the scope!
I find the astrocamps a good motivator. They make you realize what your missing out on.


Norm

[mozzie]

as often as the weather permits,it's setup in my pod....my solar scope is used quite a bit but during the summer my bold head gets terribly burn't....and i take my little dobbie on astro camps or camping weekends!!!!!!!!

[Ric]

Just about every weekend, it's all dependent on the weather though.

[FlashDrive]

When the weather is favourable and the ' mozzies ' :mad2: are somewhere else.

Flash :astron:

[asimov]

I retired early so I could do this more. So I use my scope each & every night weather permitting. I sleep during the day as well.

I image planets only. Scope is setup in the obs & all I have to do is roll the roof off, fire up the mount & laptop & I'm away imaging.

[Kevnool]

I just pick a night randomly mosly its cloudless.
Most nights I just look up without the scope.

Cheers

[barx1963]

Any chance I get. Colac doesn't have the greatest weather but we get a reasonable run of clear nights each month. On average probably 4/5 times per month I would guess.
Most sessions are from an hour after sunset up to 12-30, allowing half an hour to pack up get me in bed by 1am.
Have been up to Snake Valley the past 2 new moons to get better skies, plus the 2 Camps per year. Managed Border Stargaze last year as well.

When the Solar Scope arrives (Monday I hope) will get in some daytime observing.

I find having a plan is the best way to get motivated. I think many just drift along waiting for a clear night and when it arrives they look the setup involved and cannot be bothered. I try to have an idea of what target I will go for at my next session or a project in mind. Makes it easier to face setting up and tearing down on cold winters nights!

[Rodstar]

Over the 7 years that I have owned scopes, I have varied a great deal, from 3-4 times per week during periods of high motivation, down to not at all for several months.....

Recently I have settled down to a nice pattern of about once per week, perhaps twice per week if the skies are particularly clear.

More I often that not I get out to a darker sky site at New Moon, assuming the weather is cooperating.

I am someone who has their fill after a while. I need my sleep, and I can only stay motivated for so long. Like chocolate, if I have too much of it, it loses its specialness. Fine slices of sky, in moderation, that's my recommendation.

[OICURMT]

1) Not often enough
2) Ultima 2000
3) Backyard, occasional trip to dark skies.

[glenc]

Every night if it is clear and there is no moon, 3 times last week.

[Nico13]

Like a lot of others the weather is a problem :mad2: and even more so is afternoon shift :mad2: two out of four weeks a month but the back yard is my site and in a smallish country town light pollution isn't too bad.
Snake Valley last two club nights was good :thumbsup: so I joined the club. ;)
So weekly is good if I can get it with the NEQ6 Pro and 8" Meade SCT.
Getting into imaging is where I'm at and loving it.

Ken

[seeker372011]

when its clear on a friday or saturday night but over the last several months have rather got to expect cloud and plan other stuff,to be caught by surprise if it does turn out fine :)

[hotspur]

Not very often,last year rolled the roof of the observatory about five or six times,usually have to get the chainsaw saw out to trim the shrubs back,as the grow over the rails-so infrequent the roof rolls back.

Best advice for a new astronomer is to buy second hand everything,scopes etc spend more time gathering dust than anything else.

[mill]

Every clear night, work or no work, moon or no moon (HA is your friend).
In my backyard with the RC8 CF on a pier now :)
Obs is coming.

[asimov]

Last night was the first night I've missed out on for awhile. Clouds. Ah well, was good to sleep at a normal time for a change!

[Benno18]

I am in tears reading this!!!!!!

I seriously can not remember the last time i got my scope out. And knowing me i got it out ready for a great evening turn night, and it would have fallen very short of that!!!!!!!

Aaaahhhhhhh so sad!!!!!!!

[asimov]

Sorry to hear that Benno! Went to WA many years ago & it was clear every day & night.

[2stroke]

1. Every Friday / Saturday night unless pulling a sicky :) and as long as the weather is fair.

2. I would say the 6" newt because its light to move about

3. Backyard most of the time

4. If its not the backyard its out at MPAS

[pgc hunter]

1. Most clear nights, my shift patterns atm permit both evening and morning viewing

2. Use the 8" dob most, lightweight and takes 2 seconds to set up.

3. Backyard. Very bad location, house and trees covers half the sky :(

[Benno18]

I know!!!!
Talking my self into tonight!!!
Come on Benno!!!!!!!! Come on Benno!!!!!!!!

[Lester]

At present I have the wide field astrograph set up on the mount, so I am out whenever clear and Moon free. When the 14" SCT is on the mount I can image any clear night, planetary nebula, planets and the Moon.

I think it helps to be flexible with work, as I am. Although there was a time when I hardly used the telescopes for a number of years and they just sat in the observatory, as the family was growing up and work was more full on.

I just have to walk out the front door 40 metres to the observatory and have relatively dark skies. I couldn't manage this hobby if I had to set up and travel each time.

The individual has to find what works for them. All the best.

[Erg]

I use it so often and have had so much fun since I started in May last year that im selling all my gear.

8SE - boring
16inch dob - boring
Lunt 60 - Pretty cool

Should have stuck with the PST and left it at that.

Erg

[TrevorW]

Mmmm... let me think ?, anyone want to buy a scope !!!

Motivation, commitments, weather etc,are all playing their part to impair my imaging nights

:D

[stardust steve]

I use my small reflector with the home made piggy back mount for my DSLR just about every clear night i get. Especially more so on New Moon clear sky weekends, i make time, cancel all appointments :lol: . Now i have a 50mm f1.8 nifty fifty, i am always keen to see what it can pick up. I observe in my backyard, the South East skies are reasonably dark as Adelaide is to my North East and i am about 30-40kms out of the city. I have a dark site 300kms from home on the Yorke Penninsula. It is pretty much out of Adelaides light pollution. The difference is incredible to the naked eye, then i view through my 76mm reflector and see so many more stars. Although i think i need to do a colmination test as i dont think its performing as well as it should. And lately the view in the EP has gone smudgy after i tried to clean the main mirror, secondary mirror and EPs:question: Cant wait for the day when i own a nice Dob for viewing and Refractor for images...i want both:lol:

Heres to clear skies and New Moons:)

[ZeroID]

I check the sky EVERY night, even if I know the clouds are going to stcik around.
If any sucker holes appear normally the little 80 mm Achro just to pan around and check my favourite bits. Or even just the binos.
Otherwise the 10" comes out on the DOB base and if it's looking really good then it's up on the EQ6 and powered to go.
I get a bit of viewing about 2 to 3 x a week I reckon when you account for weather, family commitments and the call of the 'wine'.
Maybe 2 good nights per month.
Do you count workshop time ? When I'm downstairs building the next iteration of astrogear I have dreamed up ?

[Terry B]

1.Every clear night I'm not working.
2. Vixen VC200L
3. My observatory 100m from my house in a very dark paddock.