How Often Do You Use Your Scope

[TJD (Trevor)]

did my first star hop last night

[Davekyn (David)]

When ever I can! Average about once a week over 6 months. I prefer getting out of town though.

[TJD (Trevor)]

10 pm-3 am last night

[Spacetrakker (John)]

Unfortunately my since the start of my "Grey Nomadding" retirement last year the observatory and telescope has been gathering a lot of dust!
The good news is that for our next trip this year I'll be taking my brand new ETX125 to make use of the clear outback skies.
Cheers,
John

[Jay-qu]

I have been using my new scope everytime its clear

So far on the checklist:
The Orion Nebula
Omega Centauri
Eta Carina
and Saturn


Im very happy with the performance so far and cant wait to get to a dark sky..

[Kevnool (Kev)]

My scope leaves the confines of the lounge room between the last quarter and the new moon , weather permitting.

Thats the plan.....Cheers Kev.

[pgc hunter]

now that "summer" is over, I prolly get one chance every 2 months or so. Ahh the reality of living in Melbourne

[TJD (Trevor)]

well only one person uses there scope once a year i wonder who they are

[pgc hunter]

someone that lives on the western coast of Tasmania

[Benny L (Ben)]

every clear night.. even the moonlit ones narrowband ftw!!

[TJD (Trevor)]

nearly every day for the past 2 weeks

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

The poll needs to have added to it "when the skies are actually clear".

Dave

[TJD (Trevor)]

its just the average eg: 20 times a year=18.25 days = 2.5 weeks

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Well, I've had the scope 4 weeks or so now, used it twice much to my angst. I guess it could be worse, I could live in the UK ;-)

Dave

[dannat (Daniel)]

I voted every month, but its the binos that i use - I find my eyes prefer them - if clear would use my 15x70's twice a week. Scope is really for other's - or to get a peak at a planet

[Jen]

i dont use mine enough lately
i have lost a little confidence out there
Im trying to do the RA thing and it just gets me frustrated lately
But the nights are starting to get dark earlier now so bring it on

[pgc hunter]

^^^EQ mount woes?? I must say, I'm an Alt Az man myself.

Well, all the Melbourne cloud is actually clearing, believe it or not!!!!

Scope is definately going outside tonight.

[Dog Star (Phil)]

Originally Posted by TJD

alice springs doesnt have as much cloud but there still is cloud ayers rock ilucky for the same reason and almost no light pollution all you need therare some 30 inche dobs

Don't you believe that old wives tale for one second longer, my enthusiastic friend!
This Summer has been absolutely abysmal for viewing due to almost constant cloud cover virtually every night!
Between September last year and January this year, I think I've had my scope out for maybe 10 occasions! The few nights I had clear skies almost invariably coincided with waxing gibbous Moons.
Things have improved markedly over the last 6-8 weeks and I'm expecting the Winter months to be awesome (as they were last year when I first bought my 12" dob)
If the skies are clear and the Moon is user friendly, I get out as often as possible, usually 4-5 nights a week either side of the New Moon.

[TJD (Trevor)]

allright who uses there scope once a year

[higginsdj]

Every clear night - for as long as the sky is clear (not that I am actually standing behind or looking through the scope for that amount of time).

Actually I can't remember the last time I looked through a telescope - some years I think though my telescope averages 1000+ hrs a year of use.

Cheers