Why are you a visual observer?

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

1. Because I really do believe the Psalm where it says "The heavens declare the glory of God' - and I like to witness that first hand.
2. I like double stars and don't know of any amateur photo method that will resolve 0.8" separations.
3. When I have not prepared an observing list - the freedom to look around and say "now what shall I look at next"

[Paddy (Patrick)]

What a fantastic and interesting bunch of replies! My own experience is very much what others have said. The simplicity of setting up. The challenge and achievement of star hopping, not to mention the state of mental absorption that comes with looking at patterns of stars trying to pin down the elusive. Then the observing itself - as others have said teasing out the subtleties of colour of stars, shapes of gossamer, asterisms etc. It's like really relating to the object. And directly - no screen between. In Zen, the term intimacy is used. I reckon Narayan's comment about the reaction to seeing Saturn's rings vs seeing pictures of them says so much. And of course the knowing what I'm seeing and that I am star stuff watching star stuff... One does not need to be religious to have a profound spiritual experience in astronomy. Science is quite enough.

Thanks so much for your generous and thoughtful replies and I hope that there are some more to come!

[Suzy]

Patrick this is a fabulous question.

Firstly, I must say I do have a high regard for anyone that images, because we get to see the glorious detail captured that we can not. I admire their dedication for what must be quite a lengthy pain staking process.

As for visual. Brent said it nicely - I think exactly the same way, I love the challenge. And the wow factor, it is amazing having your eyes to that eyepiece knowing that what you see is so ridiculously far away.

Admist the dark and lonely night which surrounds me, I feel taken away from this planet, it is easy to feel I have opened a curtain into space and I feel like I'm doing a space walk. It's a real high. And then, as others have said, it's a great challenge to bring out the detail in these objects, and your eyes just get better and better and doing so.

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by The Mekon

1. Because I really do believe the Psalm where it says "The heavens declare the glory of God' - and I like to witness that

Well said, and I go by that as well

And of course, I forgot to mention Saturn earlier. Great point. Nothing beats seeing it for yourself.

[Paddy (Patrick)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Firstly, I must say I do have a high regard for anyone that images, because we get to see the glorious detail captured that we can not. I admire their dedication for what must be quite a lengthy pain staking process.

Oh yes! And I really appreciate how astro-imagers make their beautiful work so available for others to enjoy.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

I've taken a little time to figure out my reasons.

When I started in this hobby, I poured over the astro magazines advertising hypersensitizing kits, specialised film holders, etc. As a young fella, this was out of my range. So whilst dreaming, visual astronomy had to do. And I'm glad it did.

I can now find my way quickly around the sky at a moment's glance up. I'm familiar with its 'landmarks'. Spot faint satellites. And curse like a drunken sailor when dew sets in!

As money became less of an issue, I then reasoned: I can get a smaller scope, get bogged down with mount issues, software bugs, processing horrors, and try to find time that I no longer had. Or, I can get a bigger scope and simple mount and exploit the years of visual experience I now have, and be up and running at a moments notice.

I've got a little webcam-come-astrocam that I made from the article in the Projects here in IIS. This is as far into photography as I'd like to go. And a lovely little tool it is too. For people who have mobility difficulties, to rig this little cam to a scope and laptop so that they can see the Moon & Saturn on a screen and see the image bounce around when you touch the scope or a breeze shakes it, it's just as good as through the eyepiece. When a kid in a wheelchair sees the rings of Saturn this way, the OOOHs & AAHHs are just as awesome!

Another thing, I love using different scopes too. I've got four, five if you include binos. They all tell a different story about the same thing. They all have their own quirks. They are all beautiful too. Shame I've only got two eyes, and stuck in the one head!

Mental.

[mickkk]

When I was lil, the "how and why" books, I think thats what they were called, showed the moon breaking off from the earth. Then we got to see man landing on the moon.

Now i can look at an object in the sky, look it up on stellar or similar then find images taken from earth, hubble, spritzer etc. So much change in so little time.

Being a believer in life existing somewhere other than earth, I always have a glance upwards, you never know what you might see. I reckon "they"know we are here and are sending signals, we just dont have the right receiver yet. I also think that they dont want a bar of us due to our behaviour as a species. Ive seen things that are unexplained, I want to see more, thats why I look.

I have an inquiring mind, partly formed through those how and why books that I never believed anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGinh4DbFwI

[Robh (Rob)]

Nothing puts things into better perspective than getting out under the stars and observing objects in our Galaxy and way beyond. I like the quiet, relaxed atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday existence, where I can ponder why we are here at all. Star-hopping is just sheer fun and getting to know that big road map of the sky is immensely rewarding. You just never run out of new objects to find and as you revisit a favourite again, there is always something you never noticed before. I guess its like going on a big adventure just by pointing that telescope in a new direction.

Regards, Rob.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Paddy
Nice question. When I was a kid, I loved SF books, all the really trashy ones, Heinlein, Norton et al. From that I developed an interest in astronomy, but due to a lack of funds (I was only 14!) couldn't indulge. After many years, and interests (archery, bushwalking, dancing, computers and some others!) I felt a twinge of regret that I had never followed up my old interest. Took the plunge and bought a scope, did some research online (found IIS among others) bough mags, got to a few star parties, bought a bigger scope and more bits and bobs. Through all this I have never lost a sense of wonder when I look at the night sky, and thanks to my resurge of interest, I can now share that with others.
I think I have a natural curiosity about things, and to look at the sky and not wonder, what else is there that I can't see, seems to me a waste and an intellect, even a pretty poor one like mine.
Sorry to ramble!!
Malcolm

[AndrewJ]

Every now and then i like to just point my scope into an interesting area, turn off the tracking, and just watch the sky drift through the EP.
Cant do that with a camera.

Also, i sometimes wonder what astro "photography" really means these days, based on the amount of digital processing used to make the product match someones idea of "what it should be".
Bit like paintbrushing a supermodel.
Sure there are some really interesting results, but are they real????,
vs an immediate view in an EP.
( and i know a picture gets way more faint detail than an EP can
but all that means is a visual user needs a bigger aperture )

Andrew

[Liz]

Yes, definitely visual for me too. As has been said, I love the ease of setting up the Dob and finding a beautiful object quickly and simply.
I also love taking pics, but with camera on tripod, and not attached to the scope. So much work involved these days in the processing afterwoods of images.

[Jen]

Because i have a crappy mount and dont know how to use my camera properly yet

Cant beat seeing things with your own eyes though and showing off in front of your friends i still go WOW every time i see Saturn

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by Jen

Because i have a crappy mount and dont know how to use my camera properly yet

Classic!
Out of the blue comes a random line like that...You've got the best humour Jen!

[hotspur (Chris)]

I prefer visual over imaging any day,Its far more enjoyable-looking through my 13 mm T6 naglar on my Vixen ED 103 at NGC 5139 and similar on a 10 out of 10 seeing night,its orgasmic! like crushed diamonds on black velvet-personally this has no peer.Although doing visual using other instruments is a bit of a let down,once you look through these modern day 4 and 5 inch ED refractors,looking through a old dob is a bit of a let down.

I only do imaging so people know I am a serious amateur astronomer,although I do not like it,find it very tiresome and boring.But the results are good to see,and people do not look down on you if you are into imaging.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

I love going up to the eyepiece and capturing the image with my own eyes.

Sure you can look at images with awe with there false coloring and a little over or under processing,But to see people peek into that eyepiece and here the wow factor from them actually seeing it with there own eyes and listening in on the conversations around the scope is a very rewarding experience.

Cheers Kev.

[WadeH (Wade)]

Why not!!! LOL

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Classic!
Out of the blue comes a random line like that...You've got the best humour Jen!

Awwww thanks Suzy

[Paddy (Patrick)]

Thanks again to all who posted to this thread - I really enjoyed reading the variety of the responses.