Great inventions that changed our Hobby of Astronomy

[h0ughy (David)]

I had a thought!! Yes I know it is right up there with the improbability drive, but it was a thought none the less.

I was looking at some Astro mags from the sixties/seventies and even the early nineties, and I was looking at the images and equipment used and advertised to get them. What a quantum leap when comparing to today’s results.

So I then thought – what are the top inventions/gadgets that have influenced amateur astronomy in the last 40 years? This is indeed thought provoking pondering, so I came up with my own list. it is by no means accurate or complete, but if you so wish add your own.

Film stock - -- >Hypered film ----> modded DSLR/CCD’s

Mass produced SCT’s -----> current crop of ACF’s and RC scopes

Small refractors 40/60mm -----> current affordable large APO refractors over 120mm

manually tracking stars ----> cheap guiding with a toucam or CCD video

Dobsonian designed Scopes – cheap and very large light buckets we have today

setting circles --------->Computerised pointing (ArgoNavis)

0.996” eyepieces -----> 2” wide angled EP’s

Basic EQ/alt az mount-----> fully computerized PEC digital mounts

Focusing aids

News stand Magazines --------> the internet and web sites Like IIS/cloudy nights etc

These are just the start – there is a heap of things out there that changed our hobby for the better (and a heap that were and are just flops). What do you think?

[sheeny (Al)]

Don't forget the humble computer...

Al.

[iceman (Mike)]

You already mentioned the webcam in terms of guiding, but for planetary imaging, the fast framerate webcams have revolutionised the discipline.

[Quark (Trevor)]

Hi David,
Nice list.
I think John Dobson really brought astronomer to the masses with his Dob scope, but I would add to your list the humble Star Wheel, which has helped many of us in our initial navigations around the night sky.

As far as educational aids go I think the Laser has been of great benefit in guiding large groups of students and adults through the night sky.

Cheers
Trevor

Regards
Trevor

[RB (Andrew)]

Forums like IIS that enable us to learn and share from each other and amateurs from all over the world.
I know there have always been astro societies there to help but the internet has really played a big roll in advancing knowledge and info in this great hobby.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by sheeny

Don't forget the humble computer...

Al.

Originally Posted by iceman

You already mentioned the webcam in terms of guiding, but for planetary imaging, the fast framerate webcams have revolutionised the discipline.

Originally Posted by Quark

Hi David,
Nice list.
I think John Dobson really brought astronomer to the masses with his Dob scope, but I would add to your list the humble Star Wheel, which has helped many of us in our initial navigations around the night sky.

As far as educational aids go I think the Laser has been of great benefit in guiding large groups of students and adults through the night sky.

Cheers
Trevor

Regards
Trevor

Originally Posted by RB

Forums like IIS that enable us to learn and share from each other and amateurs from all over the world.
I know there have always been astro societies there to help but the internet has really played a big roll in advancing knowledge and info in this great hobby.

I suppose from a personal point of view I would have to also add the computer, software packages and my personal biggy – the cooled DSLR. Though I have a heap of gadgets (don’t choke RB) I think Pavel’s focus mask will and is a boon!! I am so looking forward to the Lunt solar scope – but the Coranado PST brought cheap Ha observing to the masses.

The stuff that the Chinese are pushing out like of the cheap (though not now the AUS Dollar is going south) 127ED and the humble EQ6 mount. The ED80 is a great tool and has really opened up a lot for imaging and guiding. The thing that really blew me away were the M42 shots from yesteryear and what is produced today. Unbelievable!!

Photoshop and other software that allows you to image process, might have to do a scan of one of the older images and link as a comparison to Mike Sidonio’s image or Greg Bradley’s M42 to highlight the advances in imaging. Mike you are dead right in stating that the webcam has had huge advances for planetary imaging, world class improvements.

I am so looking forward to IISAC so as to have a squiz at what is around and out there…..and using some of my stuff LOL

[bojan]

You mentioned "Basic EQ/alt az mount-----> fully computerized PEC digital mounts".. But I think Mel Bartels and his Scope program deserves to be mentioned as separate item :-)

[Jen]

Originally Posted by RB

Forums like IIS that enable us to learn and share from each other and amateurs from all over the world.
I know there have always been astro societies there to help but the internet has really played a big roll in advancing knowledge and info in this great hobby.

:thumbs up:

Google is my hero

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Jen

RB is my hero

Oh shucks, thanks Jen.......

[Alchemy (Clive)]

my biggest pick would be the webcam/autoguiding but thats been covered, so i would have to go for planetarium programs, i use desktop universe mostly as it has a photomosaic display, and it auto computes the comets for location and brightness...... invaluable.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by RB

Oh shucks, thanks Jen.......

[Phil]

The cost of all this gear. CCD back then where very very small. Today they are allot bigger and cheaper.
Phil

[TrevorW]

Hey don't forget Chinese ingenuity if it wasn't for them who could afford a scope made in the good old US of A

!!!

[coldspace]

For me it would be my new current setup I use with friends and family,

1: LX200R 12inch linked to my laptop and controlled with they sky6.
2: Mallincam hypercolour cooled video system connected to a hi-def 17inch LCD screen to view the colour images in real time and also connected to the laptop to record.

This has renewed my love of this hobby as I do not have alot of time to get to the dark sky more than a few times a year. With this set up we can view alot of the wonders up there with friends and family in my suburban yard. It so much fun sitting there with some friends over after a BBQ and a few beers and finding an object in the sky6 and clicking on it and then watching the scope slew to it and then it appears on the LCD screen with amazing detail and in colour alot of the time for the brighter objects.

It amazes me the advancement of things so one can only imagine what will be around in another 20years.

We live in amazing times.

Regards Matt.

[theodog (Jeff)]

Although old fasion;-
Fire -to work glass
The techniques in shapeing optics
But arguably the most contibution has come from the printing press and its children.
Where would A. Astronomers be without any of these.

[GrahamL]

electrikitty and rechargable batteries

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

what out the great freeware that is available

PHD guiding
Registax
Cartes Du Ceil
Deep Sky Stacker
other similar stuff that people develop and make available on line for free..does it happen in other hobbies?

[cfranks (Charles)]

The invention that has helped me the most - Credit Card.

Charles

[shredder]

Oh I would like to put my vote in for the Hubble Space Telescope, without which we would never know what those faint blurs are that we see in our own scopes... It has opened up the sky to the masses, and shown sights we can only dream of...

Most practical in terms of stuff that I own (or might one day own) I would say the Digital Setting Circles, that make sure that I am pointing at the right faint blur....

[xelasnave]

I find the relative ease of astro photograpy afforded by the wonderful slr digital camera which beats the sox off the old film approach between effort and satisfactory result could be added to our list if not considered to this point.

AND perhaps consider the range of good cheap wide app binnos.

But above all first prize must go to this very site...the wonderful ICEINSPACE and the folk who share ideas and oppertunity for many to involve themselves by reading of the experience of others...and the fast and free exchange of experience and ideas must contribute to a better experience for all.


alex