I first saw the Magellanic Clouds from the Chilean coast, so there are some clear bits of sky in some places. As forewomack wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:09 pm Having witnessed a fully luminous night sky in a desolate part of South America that had no electricity, I can say that looking up at the mostly blank sky in my heavily light-polluted city makes me a little depressed. I don't know if I'll ever see anything like that again. Were such stunning views more readily accessible, I think naked eye and visual astronomy would make a massive comeback.
Though I've never owned a telescope, I can't imagine buying a programmable one and just letting it do all the observations for me. Being present for the observation is pretty much the point, at least for me. If I bought a telescope, I would want to use it for visual observation and be right there when the primordial light strikes the Earth. At the same time, I identify with the lure of the gadget and understand the fun of a "new toy."
That said, what kind of equipment do people use to get into EP? I'm more curious than anything, but if it allows me to see the sky where I currently can't see the sky, it might prove interesting. I miss looking up in the sky and seeing Orion clearly, which I remember well from years ago. Now I'm lucky to see anything at all.
Are visual observers a dying breed?
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
To answer the title of this thread succinctly, I'm not dead yet! When I am check back with me.
Alan
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"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
I would like to try some NV, when the NV eyepieces drop to the price of a TeleVue Delos. Too expensive now.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Well, I just quite recently joined to the visual observers.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Ever since they took film away from us, I have been visual.
The amount I would have to learn, and spend I don't see me getting back intoAP .
I am simply amazed at the images captured by the members here, some look like Hubble stuff to my eyes, youAP guys are amazing
The amount I would have to learn, and spend I don't see me getting back into
I am simply amazed at the images captured by the members here, some look like Hubble stuff to my eyes, you
Clear Skies,
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Ylem wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:00 pm Ever since they took film away from us, I have been visual.
The amount I would have to learn, and spend I don't see me getting back into AP.
I am simply amazed at the images captured by the members here, some look like Hubble stuff to my eyes, you AP guys are amazing
There are times though when I wish I could grab a quick shot of an open cluster or random starfield without a laptop or whatever. Maybe I should try putting some effort into sketching.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
You don't have to be the best astrophotographer in the world or better than Hubble. Any decentpakarinen wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:39 pmYlem wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:00 pm Ever since they took film away from us, I have been visual.
The amount I would have to learn, and spend I don't see me getting back into AP.
I am simply amazed at the images captured by the members here, some look like Hubble stuff to my eyes, you AP guys are amazingEs verdad. There's so much great astrophotography being done that I'm not sure I'd bother to attempt it.
There are times though when I wish I could grab a quick shot of an open cluster or random starfield without a laptop or whatever. Maybe I should try putting some effort into sketching.
Capturing star colours in open clusters requires short exposures at low ISO. Even an old
Cheers
Joe
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Congrats Andrey on winning the VROD of the day! This has become one of the more well-discussed topics on TSS . Let's see what other comments folks have.
app.php/article/5-6-2021-tss-visual-report-of-the-day
app.php/article/5-6-2021-tss-visual-report-of-the-day
-Michael
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Not dead yet !
Got out last night for a few looks with my Pentax binoculars.
Actually it was early this morning about 2am.
I sat in my iron lawn chair and watched Antares and the little cluster of four or five stars north of it in the same 5-6•fov .
I was surprised to be able to pick out M4 as a faint dusty smudge to the right of Antares.
I was only out for about 15 minutes...but this old visual observer ain't dead yet.
I sent a new tele to one of my grandsons last week or so. He is 6 yrs old and requested it for his birthday next month. His mom is committed to the adventure with him...they Home Educate.
So...maybe there will be more observers in the next generation.
Keep Looking Up!
Got out last night for a few looks with my Pentax binoculars.
Actually it was early this morning about 2am.
I sat in my iron lawn chair and watched Antares and the little cluster of four or five stars north of it in the same 5-6•
I was surprised to be able to pick out M4 as a faint dusty smudge to the right of Antares.
I was only out for about 15 minutes...but this old visual observer ain't dead yet.
I sent a new tele to one of my grandsons last week or so. He is 6 yrs old and requested it for his birthday next month. His mom is committed to the adventure with him...they Home Educate.
So...maybe there will be more observers in the next generation.
Keep Looking Up!
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
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I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
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"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Congratulations Andrey !
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
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"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Congratulations Andrey!!!
Well deservedVROD !!!
Well deserved
Gordon
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Hi Andrey. Not really, because it is quicker and easier to scan the skies with a binoculars and then take out a telescope. Setting up for lunar/planetary imaging takes more time, and the accomplished DSO imaging folks on here are really in the "major leagues". So, there is a still a need for visual work and reports. And, thanks for your report Andrey, and congratulations on winning the TSS VROD Award today.
Marshall
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>)))))*>
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Thanks Michael andhelicon wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 2:15 pm Congrats Andrey on winning the VROD of the day! This has become one of the more well-discussed topics on TSS. Let's see what other comments folks have.
app.php/article/5-6-2021-tss-visual-report-of-the-day
Also from how fast used and new EPs and scopes are getting sold out it is clear that the hobby is alive and kicking.
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- OzEclipse
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?
Congratulations on the VROD Andrey.
This has been a really engaging thread.
Thanks for starting it.
Joe Cali
This has been a really engaging thread.
Thanks for starting it.
Joe Cali
Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site : http://joe-cali.com/
Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80.
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Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec.
Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari
Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members), The Sky Searchers (moderator)
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