How much of your addiction is about the gear and not the stars?

[White Rabbit]

I'd have to say maybe 50/50 for me.
I'm an audio engineer and the amount of audio equipment I have is scary, I have more guitars and amps and recording do hickys that if i used one every day I wouldnt have to use the same one twice in about 6 months lol. This astro affliction that I have at the moment is becoming the same.

I have a ridiculous love of gadgetry, and if you can combine it with another passion like music or astronomy, I'm in.

Gadgets+awe and wonder= love

Bring on the robogirls .

[iceman (Mike)]

Good question.. I suspect a lot of people involved in amateur astronomy do love the technical side and the gadget side.

For me, I love photography and astrophotography - gadgets are a part of that, and I'd love to have some more gadgets but can't afford it.

50/50 sounds about right for me too.

[erick (Eric)]

I love looking at what is in the sky 100%

But I want to do that as comfortably, conveniently and effectively as possible - hence having gear fit for the purpose, making lots of improvements, having lots of gadgets and aids, comes along for the ride. Nothing better than making a significant improvement to observing by either purchase or manufacture.

[sheeny (Al)]

I'd have to say 50/50 too I think.

I'm always concious of "do I need it?" and how much I'll use it. That's why I'm investing in an obs... it'll help me to use my gear more. As an example, I tossed up whether or not to invest in a big dob, but I decided the obs will help me to do more astronomy, where the big dob is likely to spend a lot of time in the shed as my scope currently does.... I would love a big dob! Having said that I do have a collection of small gizmos, like adapters, lenses etc that I don't use all that often, but once you have them they can be put into service when necessary.

Al.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

If I am honest about it, I say 50/50...

No doubt I love looking up (naked eye, binocs, telescope)...but part of the excitement is gear related...I do enjoy the hardware and thrill of ownership.

[Ric]

50/50 for me as well and a good scope makes it all that more enjoyable.

cheers

[renormalised (Carl)]

100% the stars....as much as I like the equipment, I don't necessarily need it to enjoy what I do. The most important piece of equipment....your mind and imagination.

[Ian Robinson]

The equipment are just tools that extend my natural ability due to my eyes for me.

I have some good and expensive equipment , but my favourate instrument is my 20x80 Unitron binoculars.

So I rate the gear at < 20%.

[PCH (Paul)]

Jeepers, what an embarrasing question to have to ask oneself Surely we initially justify the purchase because of our love of astronomy. And then to admit that we (at least partly) want it just to drool over is a bit scary.

But like others, I have to admit that I'd be at least a 50/50. I just love gadgets.

Cheers,

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I prefer my equipment to be as simple, high quality, and gadget free as possible.

Every bit of kit I own has to justify its existence in facilitating the way I like to view the heavens.
Its taken a while to get to where I am now with the acquisition of gear, knowing what i want to do, and what i need to achieve that. Everything else is being sold off.

Contentious statement: So many people seem to just want to follow the herd and lust after whatever equipment is the current flavour of the month.

[snowyskiesau]

I'd go with the 50/50 suggestion.
I have more telescopes than I can use at one time and should get rid of a couple.

Given a choice. I'd stick with the ED80 and get rid of the 2 Celestron C8s I have.
I'd keep the binoculars too.

[casstony]

50/50 I like equipment but not complicated gadgets. Anything that makes set-up more time consuming is an annoyance, and I don't like stuff sitting around that's not being used. I'm also interested in how the light gets to us and how we manipulate it before it gets to our eye, how it interacts with the glass and mirrors. Looking forward to the day when I shift to a better observing location so I can increase the ratio in favor of observing.

[AlexN]

i have a real love for toys. All my gear is what makes me happy, but the results with astronomy make me happy too. 50/50 is a fair call.

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

I started out in the stone age (aged 5) back then it was 100% love of the stars just lying back on summer nights and visually exploring.
Time quickened and equipment was introduced and for a long period it was 10/90.
Now with time in the fast lane I'm progressing towards 40/60.
Eventually I'll be at 90/10 before senility sets in.
Then I'll be 5 again

[ngcles]

Hi All,

Interesting thread. For me its 90% stars 10% gear -- I almost never buy gear on the basis that is is simply good/excellent _for the sake of the gear_. I might drool occasionally (okay, maybe more than occasionally) over new trinkets/toys but I wouldn't buy unless it would make my observing experience better.

Actually, I've never bought a complete telescope in my life (I'm almost 46), but neither am I a dyed in the wool ATM -- not by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just not good enough with my hands or motivated enough to be a good ATM. I make/build/assemble a 'scope if I need one and usually conscript help to do what I can't do easily/properly. I have therefore tended to buy quite a few components over the years and have enjoyed them, but only for what they do -- not for what they are/look like/feel like.

I only really buy gear only to make observing more pleasurable/producive. Take away all my gear and I'd still be a contented naked-eye observer.

I love the stars. Period.

Best,

Les D

[Jen]

I would say im 100% star girl for now
Only because im still learning and i haven't got some real good stuff YET but im looking but i really need to know what i am doing first before i get into the big big big toys which at the moment looks scary to me but i get more gadgets one day

[TrevorW]

What addiction ??? now where did I put that list "Honey how much is in the bank at the moment"

[Alchemy (Clive)]

the gear just allows me to do what i want, GSO dob on a G11 Mount, budget scope... does well......... no goto, no gps, no encoders, Entry level CCD, I sold off a bunch of stuff as i didnt use it enough....... i think to me it needs to fulfil a purpose rather than just own it for the sake of it. I love taking pictures of the unknown (from my perspective) watching an image take shape revealing the wonders thats been captured. Gadgets only if they are useful.....perhaps ive passed through the gadget stage.

[AlexN]

i think a G11 is considered some pretty major gadgetry!

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

So many people seem to just want to follow the herd and lust after whatever equipment is the current flavour of the month.

You say that as though that's a bad thing...