The Royal mall, Amazon & excitement

[Greenman]

Nearly 3 weeks back I ordered an 8 to 24mm zoom Celestron eyepiece. It was due to arrive the next Monday. Sure enough at 04:30, it left the local Royal mail depot 6 miles away from my house. Unfortunately by Friday, it had still not appeared, so I rang Amazon. They were great and sent out a replacement as it seemed the package was lost. It was due to arrive the following Monday.

Once again 04:30, whoosh - out of the depot, by Friday, no parcel. Somewhat deflated I just decided to wait it out. Last Tuesday, ping delivery, of two eyepieces from the postman. I told him to return one to Amazon, and accepted the original one, mentioning that it must be overtired due to walking to my house from said depot. Now, I thought that witty, but my sanguine audience of one was, I thought, lacking in appreciation of my humour.

The evening came, and I glanced out through the curtains, ”Wow, it's clear, I mused”. My wife retorted, ”you are not going out again are you? All that walking around is making the lawn muddy”. Down I sat, muttering ”No, I just mean the forecasters have it wrong again”.

11:30 rolled around, and I switched off the TV. Now alone, I peeped through the curtains. Bright moonlight bathed the garden. I popped across to the foot of the stairs, and sure enough I could hear gentle snoring. Operation tippy-toe was go!

AVX set up, Starwave in place and quick align on the moon. Then slew to the Orion Nebula and centred, confirmed with my 25mm that the scope stayed put and then slotted in the zoom at 24mm. Nice bright view, and with averted vision I could make out the nebulosity, slowly wound down to 8mm and to my amazement, the nebula was clearer still (averted). Time for some projection into the DSLR. But no chance, the moon was washing everything out on the camera.

If you can’t beat ’em - back to the moon; fired off a few shots (dodgy focussing on the camera screen), but in principle no problem. Hurriedly, I packed away. Walking back to the house I stared into the sky. For some odd reason, I love this hobby. As Juno16 noted in another post, I was a bit too excited to sleep for a while, nothing compares to space.

Such fun!

[Bigzmey]

Congrats on the new glass and the first light Tony! I totally agree this is fun and exciting hobby no matter what day say.

I have a solution for your 'making lawn muddy' issue. Propose to your better half to build observing pad in the middle and paved path to it - no more mud.

[helicon]

Sounds like a nice peaceful evening with the Orion Nebula. Funny story about the eyepieces as well Tony.

[Juno16]

Sounds like your waiting paid off!

My wife doesn’t understand either. When I was doing more visual, I would see an amazing sight and bring her outside to see. She humored me, but there was no spark or excitement. She told me one time “why go out in the heat/cold to see something that can be seen much better in photos online?”
At least she is a good sport about it though.

Funny story about Amazon. I have had the same thing happen several times. Some items I have returned and some just kept, but I am trying to be more patient (not in my nature).

Glad that you are happy with your new eyepiece!

[Greenman]

Sounds like your waiting paid off!

My wife doesn’t understand either. When I was doing more visual, I would see an amazing sight and bring her outside to see. She humored me, but there was no spark or excitement. She told me one time “why go out in the heat/cold to see something that can be seen much better in photos online?”
At least she is a good sport about it though.

Funny story about Amazon. I have had the same thing happen several times. Some items I have returned and some just kept, but I am trying to be more patient (not in my nature).

Glad that you are happy with your new eyepiece!

Yeah, I am impatient on delivery services, after all the vendor got my money immediately - prehaps they should only be able to take in once the customer has delivery. That might put more ooomph in to their shipping choices.

Likewise my wife tolerates my hobby, but really doesn't get it I quote "Now you have photographed the Moon and Mars, what else is there to do?"

Me encroaching on 'her' garden (don't rember that being stated in the sale documents ) I need to tread carefully. After all laying 3 paving stones for my tripod to stand on was a two week Mexican stand off. In the end of course the outcome was like 'The good, the bad, and the ugly' (may be a bit more dramatic). My current sin is not shutting doors or standing in open doorways looking at the sky. Yup that's true, I will attempt to stop my habit of "Oh well, I was coming back in soon".

To be fair, Sue keeps me abreast of scientific and astronomy news, something she doesn't have to do . She is in the end always on and at my side .

[Juno16]

Yeah, I am impatient on delivery services, after all the vendor got my money immediately - prehaps they should only be able to take in once the customer has delivery. That might put more ooomph in to their shipping choices.

Likewise my wife tolerates my hobby, but really doesn't get it I quote "Now you have photographed the Moon and Mars, what else is there to do?"

Me encroaching on 'her' garden (don't rember that being stated in the sale documents ) I need to tread carefully. After all laying 3 paving stones for my tripod to stand on was a two week Mexican stand off. In the end of course the outcome was like 'The good, the bad, and the ugly' (may be a bit more dramatic). My current sin is not shutting doors or standing in open doorways looking at the sky. Yup that's true, I will attempt to stop my habit of "Oh well, I was coming back in soon".

To be fair, Sue keeps me abreast of scientific and astronomy news, something she doesn't have to do . She is in the end always on and at my side .

Me too! My wife's sanctuary is the backyard. She likes it "pretty", so a shed with my scope permanently set up is for sure a "no go". There are flowers and tall trees everywhere!

I sunk six bricks in my backyard (two sets in case I have to set up 180 degrees in reverse so that the camera doesn't crash into a tripod leg). She tolerates that, but wants me to build a small patio circle of pavers soon so it will look nicer. I plan to do that sometime.

My wife also keeps me in the know as far as astronomy happenings. Usually, I already know about them, but like your wife, is also on my side as I am on hers. It works, just a bit of give and take.

Thanks Tony!

[JayTee]

I've always attributed my wife's somewhat lack of enthusiasm to the sensitivity of her retinas. I believe that my retinas are very sensitive to the photons emitted by distant astronomical objects such that they cause MY brain to produce endorphins which we all know leads to addiction. But it is a nice addiction though.

Cheers,
JT

[Makuser]

Hi Tony. My wife doesn't enjoy astronomy as much as I do. But, she enjoys the fact that I enjoy it and she bought me the new lunar atlas book by my mentor Charles Wood for our 50th wedding anniversary. And, as to the eyepiece delivery, many things are worthwhile for he who waits. Thanks for your fun read report Tony, and keep looking up.

[Greenman]

It seem to me astronomers have tolerant, supportive partners. Long may that be the case

[helicon]

My wife was not very sensitive to my astronomical inklings. I did manage to build a 6" rich field Dob when my kids were 4 and 6 (they helped out) but didn't get a chance to use it much. I am no longer married so it is somewhat easier to get out these days.