Hi everyone,
My apologies up front for the long winded post, but I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts and advice.
I'm about to go back to full-time university study in two months' time (post-grad medicine), so I've been seriously considering liquidating my astrophotography equipment and replacing it with (cheaper) visual gear.
I love the technical aspects of deep space imaging, but the last few months of playing around have led to me to the following conclusions:
* it's ridiculously light polluted where I live,
* I don't have the time to do a full set-up / tear-down regularly,
* building an observatory isn't an option (cost, time, permission, etc),
* going to a dark site isn't practical for me (time-wise),
* I'd like better gear for visual observing (e.g. my refractor is too dim for my more 'mature' friends and family to see things).
After selling most of my astro gear (e.g. EQ6 mount, WO FLT-132 scope, diagonal and field flattener, auto guider, etc), I'm thinking of getting a portable non-goto 12" or 16" Dob, e.g. Meade Lightbridge or collapsible Skywatcher, and possibly also a pair of nice binoculars.
This way, I can better enjoy visual observing with friends + family, do a bit of planetary imaging better than before, and liquidate a bit of $$$ for flexibility during study. I'd also be able to throw the scope/binos into the car to share with friends when camping/etc.
A few years down the track (when I have things like an income and house!), I'd like to set up a backyard observatory and re-acquire some even nicer imaging equipment.
Any thoughts about my crazy plan? I'd kick myself if I regretted my decision within the next year, etc. On the other hand, I think this plan will let me stay more involved with astronomy for longer
If you say "go ahead" just because you're looking for a good deal on some equipment for Christmas, please say so too!
Cheers,
Dave