Why are you a visual observer?

Paddy (Patrick) · #1 10-08-2010, 02:16 PM

It seems to me that a lot of people addicted to astronomy end up in imaging. The imaging section of this forum had a thread a while back inviting people to say why they did astrophotography. But there are quite a lot of us that stay in the realm of visual observing, eschewing laptops, CCDs and autoguiding. There may have been a thread on this before, so I apologise if it’s already been done, or if its not of interest. But I wonder what keeps people observing visually? I imagine for some it’s the expense of imaging, but for many there will be other reasons. What are yours? What do you get out of visual observing that you wouldn’t get out of making photographs? What changes have you noticed in your observing over time – how you observe, what you see, what you like to look at.

I’d love to hear about people’s passion for observing – the awe, the science, the aesthetics, whether you make notes, lists or sketches and why, do you like to see a lot of objects or do you like to take your time?

Thanks in advance to all who reply!

Greenswale (Wren) · #2 10-08-2010, 04:06 PM

Good call Patrick!

I am a visual observer, because of its simplicity, flexibility, 'wow!' and the stimulation of imagination.

But there is another reason. We are all made of stardust - and every time my eye absorbs photons originating a celestial object, I feel even more part of our universe. Esoteric, but hey!

Sarge (Rod) · #3 10-08-2010, 06:03 PM

Thanks Patrick
I agree with Wren, its definately the "wow" factor. Being able to actually observe the universe, seeing it for myself. I have no ambitions to move into photography. I am vey happy to see all those wonderful sights simply using magnification (and perhaps a few filters).

Rod

pgc hunter · #4 10-08-2010, 06:14 PM

It's relaxing, fun, challenging and problem free! My first experience with astronomy was visual thru scopes, then I got into sketching and I guess it just stuck with me.

I really don't have the patience to deal with crashing computers, miles of wire, 10 ton EQ rigs and a whole checklist of things that can go wrong

Oh and most importantly I'm too lazy to climb the learning curve

Truth is, I'm more likely to give up the booze and KFC and turn into a vegan than ever take up imaging.

sheeny (Al) · #5 10-08-2010, 06:16 PM

I do both. Well I try to.

I tend to do imaging as a learning experience, and I generally do it alone, but I enjoy doing visual when people are around... visitors, friends, etc. Visual is an experience that's great to share!

Al.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #6 10-08-2010, 06:40 PM

Hi,

All the above to some extent, and also cost. There are so many things I want to spend money on, like travel, that I decided I could satisfy my lifelong ambition to have a proper telescope without going on to astrophotography. So far so good.

I am also 80% colourblind, and I have gained the impression that this would be a significant drawback for astrophotography. Anyone got experience with that?

Cheers

xelasnave · #7 10-08-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

Hi,

All the above to some extent, and also cost. There are so many things I want to spend money on, like travel, that I decided I could satisfy my lifelong ambition to have a proper telescope without going on to astrophotography. So far so good.

I am also 80% colourblind, and I have gained the impression that this would be a significant drawback for astrophotography. Anyone got experience with that?

Cheers

I dont post photos anymore because I am colour blind and it shows in my images..people point out all the green....what green I ask...but for me personally I love my shots as the colours dont offend me.

I love visual because I am in such a great location... given up mentioning it cause it makes folks envious...so I just enjoy it all on a personal level.

alex

sheeny (Al) · #8 10-08-2010, 07:01 PM

No experience with it Geoff, but colour blindness would only be an issue with the final colour balance of colour images. Monochrome images, narrowband, spectroscopy, photometry, supernova searches, comet searches, solar images, etc wouldn't be adversely affected at all I imagine.

Al.

astro744 · #9 10-08-2010, 07:20 PM

I am a visual observer because I can find any image I need at http://hubblesite.org/

I also like finding things using charts and tables because I get a better feel for where things are and how to get there. No GOTO for me!

astroron (Ron) · #10 10-08-2010, 08:13 PM

There are a few things that keep me being a visual observer.
1 Cost of gear for Astro Photography

2 I did Astro photography for a while in the last century

and wasn't very good at it

3 I don't have the computer Savvy for the processing

4 I love Dark nights with the Milky Way Galaxy arcing over head, seeing Meteor flashing by and just the Ambiance of being outside taking this all in

5 But most of all I love the thought when I am observing that the light hitting my retina has traveled anything from a few light minutes to 2 billion light years and I am seeing it through my very own telescope

PS It's one of the only things I am any good at, I think so anyway

M54 (Molly) · #11 10-08-2010, 08:30 PM

I'm a visual observer because I like the simplicity of it.
I like the challenge of locating an object on a map and tracking it down by starhopping.
It's such a buzz when you find it!

orestis · #12 10-08-2010, 08:43 PM

I'm a visual observer because i just love being out there with the stars observing things light years away .

But possibly the biggest reason why i love observing the heavens is because as Carl Sagan would put it "We are starstuff pondering the stars" and that thought just boggles the mind.Just to think that i am a living organism looking at stars from the other end of the galaxy makes me want to learn so much about the universe.

I also like to study the universe so i take notes and make sketches and to answer paddys question,i like to take my time with objects trying to grab as much detail possible from it.Just like exposure in astrophotgraphy.I Make sketches because it fun and its a visual representation of what i've been able to observe over a period of time plus it sharpens your observing skills a lot.

Regards Orestis

Ps- the cost of astrophotography also boggles my mind

michaellxv (Michael) · #13 10-08-2010, 09:00 PM

It's all still relatively new to me so I still get the WOW factor from looking at something with my own eyes for the first time. And there's sooo much to discover.

I've tried some sketches, and whether you keep them or throw them out the process enhances the observing.

I've put a webcam in and done some basic Lunar images. I don't think I have the patience or $$$ for deap sky imaging. and there's no shortage of excellent images out there to admire when it cold and raining.

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #14 10-08-2010, 09:36 PM

the only reason I image is because my visual acuity is poor

nothing like seeing it for yourself

remember the first time you saw Saturn through a telescope? I'm willing to bet you had seen plenty of photographs before that..was it the same?

no, seeing those rings for yourself-what a buzz

astroron (Ron) · #15 10-08-2010, 09:47 PM

I also love the WOW factor when I see A comet like Holmes that fills the field of a 20mm eyepiece in my 16" scope.

Great thread Patrick

leon · #16 10-08-2010, 10:25 PM

I have been imaging for years and loved it, but now I have given it all away, but still enjoy the cold frosty nights just to look up.

One feels very small under that dark sky, and it is free.

Leon

DavidU (Dave) · #17 10-08-2010, 11:06 PM

......cause I don't have a camera.

Saturnine (Jeff) · #18 10-08-2010, 11:09 PM

Similar story to all of you that've replied, visual astronomy is the simplest, cheapest way to enjoy our hobby, pastime, obsession, whatever you want to call amateur astronomy. Although I do dabble with cameras occasionaly and quite often when I go observing with the club, I will take the dob, first scope in the car, then I'll take an EQ and a mid sized refractor and camera gear for a few happy snaps, widefield mainly, easier to manually guide.
Visual always is my first love though, the thrill of the chase,so to speak, studying observing lists and charts and then star hopping until the object is "found" or sometimes not, when it's on the limits of what my scope and the seeing conditions will allow. Just the beauty and the wonder of the gossamer glow of faint nebula or faint fuzzy galaxies that are tens of millions of light years away or the countless pinpricks of light of an globular cluster or teasing out the colours of many double star systems and therefore the stars temperatures and so on and so on.
Just sitting back on a clear night and taking in the panorama of the stars while having a break from the eyepiece is as rewarding as any telescopic view.

Jeff

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 11-08-2010, 12:06 AM

I do both happily.

I do Visual with club members and visitors on every Club night and any other night I can't be bothered setting up all the imaging gear.

I do imaging because I like to be able to record what I've seen up there and print it out and frame it.

I am another one that even after 26 years at it now STILL says 'WOW!'

Telescope: $1299

Mount: $1500

To be able to see something Billions of light-years away as it is happening Billions of years ago with my own eyes: Priceless

ZeroID (Brent) · #20 11-08-2010, 08:42 AM

The WOW ! it never ends, The SEARCH !! Got it, finally !! The CHALLENGE !! So THATS where you have been hiding !
I will attempt some Astrophotog one day but I don't think I will ever not be amazed but what I see with my own eyes