1. because it's fun, there's something about doing things like that yourself.
2. because if we don't then we become like the episode in every sci fi series where an entire civilisation lives off the benefits of marvelous technology but has no idea how it works or how to fix it when it finally breaks.
Why do we do it?
Because we have to channel our obsessive compulsive tendencies somehow, and this is one of the more socially acceptable ways of doing it.
But actually watching Venus cross the disk live through the scope at first and second contact was equally (if not more) impressive I think.
Cheers,
Stephen
+1 perfectly worded Stephen.Sharing the joy of this event with family and friends also made the event something special.
Amazing image Mike-thanks for posting.
BTW -do not be disheartened,seen some people playing golf the other day-and they call it fun-If someone wanted to really torture me that's where they would send me.rather chase a black dot on the sun any day,with kiddies bino's, than a white ball a round a park.
When all of humanity become mere spectators and just watch the winners do their thing, we will lose the ability to produce people that even have a chance of becoming the winners.
It is the active participation of many interested people in ANY field that is important. Not the achievements of the few at the top. The gold tip at the top of the pyramid owes its exalted place to all the lowly stones below. Without their support the gold tip is down in the sand with the rest of us stones.
The real joy is in the journey and the learning on the way, not the destination.
Is not the destination of all life death? This fact should not affect how we live our lives apart from not taking life for granted. Just enjoy every day as if it is your last as one day it will be!
This is how I cope with my mortality without the crutch of wishful thinking of an imagined paradise.
That is a phenomenal image Mike, gobsmackingly good (not sure if that's even a word) but the emotion created by actually seeing it happen live and recording it, for me, was right up there with the best astronomy related experiences I have had.
After seeing the images and reading the reports of your expedition to Nygan with Houghy I sort of wish I had also been there, times like that shared with like minded people really are golden moments to reflect on in latter years.
And I aint got a billoin dollars to spend on astro photography gear ,,,
