How many of you have left astronomy and come back?

[Ric]

I can honestly say that in 40+ years of amateur astronomy I have never lost the passion for it.

I find that if one area becomes tedious or dull I shift my focus to another.

For the last 12 months I have simply gone back to the basics and returned to visual astronomy.

I had been doing astrophotography but I hit a wall with trying to get my head around the processing part of it. So I decided to have a break from it and just enjoy the wonders of the sky visually. I will go back to photography and start from scratch with fresh eyes.

I have even thought of trying some sketching for a while and with my artistic ability this could be very interesting.

[danielsun]

I sometimes go through that stage but I would never give it up or sell anything because there are times where like tonight it is clear but don't get out there simply too tired from day to day stuff like work or kids etc.., but sometimes when it's new moon time and I know I'm not working the next day I convince myself to make a super effort to get out there and once I'm under way with the music on quietly in the shed, it all comes together guiding and clicking away, i am so glad I did it and it's tranquility. It also really helps if you do have it all pre set up.Mine is on rollers so all I do is carry the laptop to the shed and camera's, roll it out and I'm away. But it can be months between imaging sessions for me.
On many clear nights even though I know it would be perfect to be out there with the scope, I at least just step outside basically just to see how good a night I'm missing out on and at least say hello to the night sky or hope to just catch a meteor or something before stepping back inside and going to bed.
I also some times just need a change like get the dob out for a little or at the moment I am into doing time lapses which is a new area for me which has given me a new spark.
I think just have a break for a bit and when the itch comes back ,which it will, you will be glad you didn't sell it.



Cheers Daniel.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

I never really gave up the hobby, but due to financial problems, and other things I wanted, which put more strain on the budget, I sold almost everything I had. BIG mistake. Now I am building my own observatory (in the DIY Observatories section) I am making a permanent setup so if I do lose interest for a while, at least I can keep it locked away, ready for next time. Another thing that annoyed me was light pollution. Not having a great deal of cash, and only a DSLR un modded, I thought that imaging was limited. Now though, I found out narrow band imaging is not as affected by LP so this is the way I am rebuilding my setup, for Narrow band imaging.

So changing my setup, could be worth while in the end. Don't sell up, you will regret it, I know I do sometimes.

[Jeffkop (Jeff)]

I think it becomes a problem when so many hours are poured into it. Astro photography is a very time consuming thing and good results are a little hit and miss for a miriad of reasons, and just when you think you've got on top of the problems ... think again. So its a fairly big conviction one takes to stay in it and happy. Most of Australia has had rain and cloud for, well, almost a year now ... and so we have been doing other things at night. Some will naturally now start enjoying the difference, whatever that is and at the same time contemplate, and certainly part of that thought process is going to be rehashing the setup process the alignment, the imaging, the tear down and put it all away. All for results, as I mentioned earlier, that are hit and miss.
The notion of giving it a rest for awhile seems pretty natural to me ... just dont sell all your stuff immediately. If you havent got any inclination in a year or two .. then perhaps it is time to move on .. its going to take that long at least before the dollar decreases in value and all this telescope stuff is worth some thing anyway.

I keep my interest in it by keeping it at bay. I keep my interests as a mixture because I know if any one of them starts to take the lions share of the time then it will be the one that eventually will become so so and likely to fall of the radar completely ... but thats only my lot, Im sure others are different.

[Darth Wader (Wade)]

I'm kinda in the same boat. Crap weather, 4 out of 5 observing nights with my astro club cancelled due to weather, family commitments, other personal reasons, plus I got a Playstation 3 LOL... somtimes it just gets too much. I also considered selling my scope (I've used in 5 times since June) then thought better of it - lucky really, considering my interest in all things astro is returning.

My bet is it'll pass, and in a while you'll find yourself in the dark being wowed once again.

Cheers
Wade

[Sylvain (Jon)]

I think many of us have been there.
In my case, I have found that getting quick to setup, light and mobile gear was the solution.
Bulky and heavy gear just gets in my way now.

These days I like it simple: all manual, no battery, no cables, no nothing. Just grab a small scope and do wide field observations. Simple pleasure, that has been a back to basics for me: just looking up and enjoying, taking some time to thing about the universe and its mysteries.

I agree with the others who said it is good to observe in groups, especially under a good sky where you can look up and see something else than light pollution.

The key might be: having a break + changing something in your practice of astronomy.

Good luck mate.

[sheeny (Al)]

I left astronomy twenty something years ago when my then wife complained about the amount of time I was spending outside at the scope. I did my bit and spent more time inside, and then sold the scope after it was sitting inside doing nothing for 6 months.

I then got involved in rescue which kept me fully entertained for the next 20 years... Once I got out of rescue, I had plenty of time on my hands and got back into astronomy.

But it is normal to go through periods where you're as keen as, to downright lethargic. I've been through a couple of cycles of that since I got back into astronomy. That's OK. I think it's normal.

ATM I think I'm about middle of the road in keenness... I enjoy doing my solar imaging ATM, and while I haven't done any spectroscopy in a while, I've enjoyed doing a bit of tinkering while building and troubleshooting the L200, but with visitors and relatives to entertain I have had no chance to really do any night astronomy... but that's OK, it'll come...

Part of my problem is the broad plethora of hobbies and interests I have... there's only so much time! ...but I wouldn't have it any other way.



Al.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

I have only been seriously involved for 4 or 5 years but have had some times when I look at the gear and think "hmmm". I think the main thing to do is have a goal. Simply aimlessly wandering outside with no plan is no way to enjoy your observing or imaging. Set out with a plan such as getting all the messiers, or getting all MGC objects within an area of sky, or imaging a new class of object. Find out what the faintest object you have observed is and see if you can get something fainter. There are lots of projects if you put your mind to it. When viewing nights are abit of a rarity as they have been in much of the country this past 6 months, it is easy to get out of the habit of planning.

Malcolm

[taxman (Matt)]

Thanks for the plethora of responses - helps me see where I am going. I think it is time to clear it all. Really, I enjoyed collecting the gear and planning my next purchase etc, but it all got a bit too much.

I was talking to my father last night and he had a similar experience with his interest in fishing morphing into boating. He sold his boat, 4WD and trolling gear for well under market value, got himself a nice baitcaster combo and went back to fishing estuaries from the shore. Still does it and gets the simple pleasure he always had. He is glad he had the boat as it always would have been an itch, but it is scratched.

Similarly, I think I will go back to a TV102 (should never have sold that one!!) and a selection of Panos eventually, but for now, I need a bit of time with the binos, dog and a cold beer.

Again thanks for all your considered responses - I really appreciate it. I thought I was getting fed up, but all of your answers have really restored my faith in this community of ours.

[leon]

Your welcome Matt, you are not alone in your thoughts on this subject, some times the simplest things we do are the most rewarding, hang in there mate.

Leon

[renormalised (Carl)]

Matt, know what would make a great scope for just looking...a little ED80 on an alt/az mount

[danielsun]

Originally Posted by renormalised

Matt, know what would make a great scope for just looking...a little ED80 on an alt/az mount

yep, with servo motors, encoders, 70mm guide scope, Lazer pointer,QHY9 or a DSLR, laptop, guide camera, PHD, Starry Night pro plus 6,Images plus software, EQ MOD,40mtrs of cables,power supplies, a light box ,and an extension cord juuust incase you decide you want to take a photo. ....



Cheers Daniel.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by danielsun

yep, with servo motors, encoders, 70mm guide scope, Lazer pointer,QHY9 or a DSLR, laptop, guide camera, PHD, Starry Night pro plus 6,Images plus software, EQ MOD,40mtrs of cables,power supplies, a light box ,and an extension cord juuust incase you decide you want to take a photo. ....

Cheers Daniel.

True

Sad, but true.

[RobF (Rob)]

Great thread

I first got interested in high school, and spent many years exploring with binocs and small reflector. In my 20s and 30s too many other pursuits distracted me. Now back into it in my 40s and the astrophotography bug is still biting bad a few years later. At least the family knows where I am at night!

I think as with all hobbies and pursuits its good to have goals in mind, but the other reality of this hobby is there is so much to learn and have a go at you don't always know what the next thing that will "suck you in" will be.....

[cybereye (Mario)]

When I was justifying to my wife why I needed to buy a telescope I used my 1977 high school yearbook as proof of my interest. In it I had written that one of my hobbies was astronomy. Nothing much happened astronomy wise between 1977 and 2008 when I bought my telescope. Since then I have added a hell of a lot of equipment and each time I suggest I am going to buy something I drag out that yearbook as justification!! At least I had the foresight as a sixth former to write what I did. Good boy Mario!!!

Cheers,
Mario

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by cybereye

When I was justifying to my wife why I needed to buy a telescope I used my 1977 high school yearbook as proof of my interest. ...... and each time I suggest I am going to buy something I drag out that yearbook as justification!! .....
Cheers,
Mario

GOLD STAR AWARD

[multiweb (Marc)]

Had a small 60mm perl-vixen refractor in 1986. Saw Haley, M42 and a couple of clusters. Had to sell it unfortunately. At the time I was also drooling over the Celestron/Meade catalogues looking at SCTs on fork mounts and big dobs. Got back into it in 2007. Never did really let go but more time and finance, dropping prices now makes it possible and affordable (kind of). I think if I ever sold the gear I'd regret it. I invested so much time and effort in getting into it it would be hard to start again.

[hotspur (Chris)]

To ask a question like the OP has asked on a forum like this-means one thing that one will never really leave the hobby,seen this type of question on the fishing forums/hunting forums and all the other special interest forums.

It really does not matter the 'level' one has in a given specialist hobby,if you keep thinking about and involved in it,regardless of 'level',types of gear,reults etc,you are involved,and providing you are getting enjoyment,that's all that matters.Once the enjoyment starts to wane,and you become more a 'manager' of gear and equipment,then yes its time for a review.

Over the years,I have thought about giving up various hobbies and selling gear,and have done so on various occasions,and more often than not,regretted
it.

One thing I have noticed over recent years,is how the rising of high tec gadgets seems to have over taken the simple enjoyment of visual astronomy .I much prefer looking through a fine refractor,or looking through Ron's (astroron) 16 inch dob and feeling the cold,and enjoying conversations with other astronomers.

In the last few years I built a 'role off roof' observatory,my level of astrophotography certainly did not warrant it,but building such a structure was something I had skills in doing,and I new where I could get good second hand timber at a reasonable price.Had I not the skills or the well priced materials,I would not have done so.Since then I can now tinker with various aspects of astrophotography-without setting up gear all the time.

Good luck,and enjoy. C

[Jeeps (Sam)]

I sometimes think it would be nice to have a computerised or a motorised scope etc but the reality is that i can setup my 10" dob in 5 mins, view for 30 mins or for a few hours and pack it away within 5 mins again. If there was to much mucking around i'd lose interest pretty quick. I work fulltime, have a family and other things in life to keep me occupied so i just want to look into the scope occasionally to see what's up there without getting into to much... or too fast

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Yeah, I found that setting up is the hard thing to do--much easier to have a nice dinner and a few glasses of red. I've re-motivated in two ways. One is to get an ED80 on a grab 'n go mount and the other is to get back into grinding my own telescope mirrors. Really motivated to finish the current project, try it out with the CCD camera (and then probably move onto making the next one).
Geoff