How many of you have left astronomy and come back? - Page 3

asimov (John) · #41 25-01-2011, 05:33 PM

I had to force myself to do some imaging last night after 3 months of solid clouds - C'mon Asimov! Get it together!

erick (Eric) · #42 25-01-2011, 09:58 PM

Haven't left ............ yet. But I'm a newbie - late 2006. And I'm getting itchy to get the scope out again. I had seven great nights observing in a run of ten nights last New Moon - that seemed to satisfy for only a few weeks.

Shano592 (Shane) · #43 25-01-2011, 11:39 PM

I don't think I would ever part with my eyepieces. Perhaps the scope, to upgrade or downgrade. Even if my interest wanes for a while, I waited and saved for far too long, to just move it along.

The EP's though, they will be with me forever. Some bugger's going to dig me up in 10000 years, and wonder what the heck these glass and aluminium tubes are for.

renormalised (Carl) · #44 26-01-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shano592

I don't think I would ever part with my eyepieces. Perhaps the scope, to upgrade or downgrade. Even if my interest wanes for a while, I waited and saved for far too long, to just move it along.

The EP's though, they will be with me forever. Some bugger's going to dig me up in 10000 years, and wonder what the heck these glass and aluminium tubes are for.

Knowing archaeologists, they'll think they're religious objects...everything they've ever dug up seems to be a religious object or has something to do with religion. They're obsessed by, and with, religion

John W (John Wilkinson) · #45 26-01-2011, 07:12 PM

I have always been interested in Astronomy but I found renewed interest when I erected a Sirius observatory and an installed an 8 inch LX90 SC GoTo telescope. Easy to set up and find objects that could not be found visually with finder scope. Also set different challengers each month from Aust Sky and Telescope. I also have a PST solar telescope for daytime work - again only a minute or so to set up each day. Buy some of the latest astro books to renew interest (specialist ones) such as those from the Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series. Cheers all.

toc (Tim) · #46 26-01-2011, 09:51 PM

I do this a few times a year http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/....es/happy19.gif Bottom line is that it is a hobby. Its ment to be FUN. If its not fun, then take a break and do something else.

For the last 6 months I have been mucking about with microscopes. It actually ties in well with Astronomy, because its something you can do when its cloudy, and requires very little setting up. (apart from getting samples)

I find astronomy a pretty challenging hobby, but I love that it has so many levels of difficulty. Sometimes I try to aim a bit higher than my ability or equipment will allow, and I get frustrated and give it a break.

The number of times Ive thought 'I would love to go out and have a look', but that will require three trips to setup the C8 and HEQ5, and then wait an hour for the scope to get settled - I often just give it a miss and watch top gear :-)

Ive just got myself a 90mm refractor, and simple Alt-Az mount, so Im thinking that will help...

Jules76 (Julian) · #47 26-01-2011, 11:13 PM

I'm relatively new to the hobby of Astronomy, but this is my take on it all.

Don't feel like everytime the night sky is clear that you have to go out just in case you get another bad run of weather. The sky isn't going anywhere, the moon isn't going anywhere, the star's aren't going anywhere soon, the planets will still be there. Slow down and don't feel rushed. I've done this myself, looked out at a clear night and felt like I should get my telescope out and feel a little bad when I don't as if I'm wasting time. It's a bad mindset to get into.

Breaks are OK. Don't feel as if just because you haven't used your telescope for say 12 months that it's something bad. The way I look at it, this hobby is for life and as long as my eyes still work, I've got plenty of time to enjoy it. There's no rush.

Take a break. Nothing wrong with that.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #48 26-01-2011, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jules76

I'm relatively new to the hobby of Astronomy, but this is my take on it all.

Don't feel like everytime the night sky is clear that you have to go out just in case you get another bad run of weather. The sky isn't going anywhere, the moon isn't going anywhere, the star's aren't going anywhere soon, the planets will still be there. Slow down and don't feel rushed. I've done this myself, looked out at a clear night and felt like I should get my telescope out and feel a little bad when I don't as if I'm wasting time. It's a bad mindset to get into.

Breaks are OK. Don't feel as if just because you haven't used your telescope for say 12 months that it's something bad. The way I look at it, this hobby is for life and as long as my eyes still work, I've got plenty of time to enjoy it. There's no rush.

Take a break. Nothing wrong with that.

Fantastic way to look at it

You are absolutely right.

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #49 27-01-2011, 12:03 PM

I find it's quite a pain to carry my 8" dob outside. I know I should mount it on wheels or something but I'm terribly lazy.

Also, the biggest thing in QLD besides the weather stopping me from going outside..... friggin midges!!

Aaron · #50 31-01-2012, 09:08 PM

Hi Everyone,

I was into astronomy about 10 years ago. I had a small 114mm Newtonian on a EQ mount (Just a cheapy). It was exciting back then and I've always regretted selling my telescope. I think we will always be interested on varying levels in the hobby whether with a telescope or just sitting back and looking at the stars.

I've currently been using just a planisphere until I am comfortable in knowing my way around the sky before I'd like to invest in a telescope.

I was thinking of a 10" Dob. However my wife doesn't realise how much telescope's cost. I mentioned around $800 - Looks like we're going on a holiday first before I can spend the money on myself.

cventer · #51 31-01-2012, 09:51 PM

I got very obsessed and pretty much burned myself out about 7 years ago. I was wesite editor for ASV, writing and sellign my own astro software, doing talks and trying to image as often as possible. then first baby came along and I tried to keep it up. Big mistake.... ended up leaving hobby for over 6 years. I did not sell anything though as I new one day I woudl come back to it. Glad I did not.

This time im older and wiser. Just enoying learning curve again. and boy is it steep after so many years away the imaging quality has gotten so good that there is soooo much to learn.

Loving every minute of it again...

TrevorW · #52 31-01-2012, 09:53 PM

I left for about 15 years then came back when I could afford better equipment

Kevnool (Kev) · #53 01-02-2012, 06:53 AM

I cant see how someone could leave astronomy all together in the sense that at night you would think at some point you are going to look up.
For me I havnt left the thrill of the hunt.

Cheers

chrisp9au (Chris) · #54 01-02-2012, 08:46 AM

I haven't looked through my scopes for many months, my motivation has moved to other pursuits.
But I still check out IceInSpace every day to see what everyone is doing and talking about.
When I take the dog out for a walk at night, I look up, recognising what I see, and the sense of awe is still there.
The scopes are out in the shed, covered, but probably home to a few spiders.
Eventually I'm sure that curiosity, and a warm evening, will have me out there again.
What's the rush, it'll all still be there when I'm ready.

Cheers

Chris

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #55 01-02-2012, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

I left astronomy twenty something years ago when my then wife complained about the amount of time I was spending outside at the scope.
Al.

Hi Al,

My wife has often commented that if she had a 2" Feathertouch focuser for a mouth, she would get a lot more attention

Cheers,
John B

Poita (Peter) · #56 01-02-2012, 12:15 PM

I got into it when I was really young, and then mothballed everything for over 10 years. Unfortunately I went through the drought without using a scope and now miss those endless clear nights I used to curse on the farm!

The recent passing of too many friends reminded me that although the sky will always be there, I may not be and it prompted me to get back into it all again.

Poita (Peter) · #57 01-02-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taxman

Last night was the first clear night with no social engagements since well into last year.

I forced myself to plan what I would image in the afternoon, begrudgingly topped up my battery and then lingered over dinner, making my kids miss the first half hour of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (still paying for that today!!). I trudged outside, started to setup and about 10 minutes into it, thought 'meh' before packing everything up and guiltily returning inside.

I really think I may have lost interest, and reviewing my motivations am beginning to think that collecting equipment became more important than the pastime itself. It seems to be manifesting as getting unnecessarily crabby on IIS over trivialities as well...

Today I found myself mentally adding up the expected value of items if had a fire sale (EM11 2K, Borg 77ED & flattener 1K, SXV M8c with guide head 1.5K, C8 w/- motofocus .5K, etc) and immediately felt sort of sad.

Maybe if I go back to when it was fun with a DSLR, unguided mount and 60mm scope it wil come back, but I don't know. Anyone else ever felt like this? How long before you got back into it? Did you hang on to your gear or start over?

So many hobbies can turn into collecting gear, and thinking that next great piece of equipment will bring the joy back.

For me recently, a video camera and a small refractor on a small mount has meant that setup time is minimal and results are instant and fun, the kids are more interested as well as they can 'see more'.
Perhaps downsizing or changing direction would rekindle the interest, or just pack it away for 6 months and take a break. I have had quite a few nights where I couldn't face dragging the EQ6 and 10" scope and power and everything else out into the yard...

multiweb (Marc) · #58 01-02-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jules76

I'm relatively new to the hobby of Astronomy, but this is my take on it all.

Don't feel like everytime the night sky is clear that you have to go out just in case you get another bad run of weather. The sky isn't going anywhere, the moon isn't going anywhere, the star's aren't going anywhere soon, the planets will still be there. Slow down and don't feel rushed. I've done this myself, looked out at a clear night and felt like I should get my telescope out and feel a little bad when I don't as if I'm wasting time. It's a bad mindset to get into.

Breaks are OK. Don't feel as if just because you haven't used your telescope for say 12 months that it's something bad. The way I look at it, this hobby is for life and as long as my eyes still work, I've got plenty of time to enjoy it. There's no rush.

Take a break. Nothing wrong with that.

That's true. There's no rush and plenty of time to gather gear and bits and pieces and that's the way I look at it as well. As you said the stars will still be there for a while. I do miss imaging though since we've had all this rain. It is an important part of my life. Clear cut from work, getting in the car and out of Sydney. I also miss the social aspect of things, catching up with mates. But then again, since then I ended up doing other things so it's also true that sometime it can become very addictive and take all of your available time. I guess it's ok to do in moderation or it will eat your life and your wallet.

PS: my wife has named all of of my scopes and she hates my C11 with a vengeance because I spent so much time with it (him?).

Trixie (Carey) · #59 01-02-2012, 03:39 PM

I am very new to the hobby, but find at my point in life it is very hard to actually get out there. With so many other demands on my time I am too exhausted to plan what to look at so often end up going out for half hour with my binocs before collapsing into bed! I have also been working long evening hours and as this is at the microscope my eyes don't want to spend a few more hours looking down my telescope afterward!

So I suppose for me it's not a waning in interest but a lack of time and energy.
Ed for spelling

hotspur (Chris) · #60 01-02-2012, 10:17 PM

Yes,I can certainly understand the OP's feelings,If I did not have an observatory with gear set up all the time-I'd have sold the scope gear and moved on.Its a lot of money sitting in there that only gets used four or five times a year,if that (yes-that's how bad the weather is in S.E QLD)

There are certain aspects of my gear I will move on some time soon,-all this auto guiding stuff,-it really takes me away from viewing through eye piece,which is much more enjoyable.

But,thankfully all this gear which gets used seldom,is out of the house,if it was all stuck inside,it would have been got moved on years ago.Although its really pointless to sell gear-second hand scope gear is basically worthless,and the classifieds are full of it.