Are visual observers a dying breed?

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Baurice
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#101

Post by Baurice »


ewomack 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.
I first saw the Magellanic Clouds from the Chilean coast, so there are some clear bits of sky in some places. As for AP, it does not need to be expensive. I do most of mine with just a DSLR. I sometimes attach it to a telescope but not that often. I can snap the brighter DSOs and can get a surprising amount of lunar detail. I also like to leave a camera outside, taking snaps of the sky while I'm indoors doing chores or sharing family time. I hope to do some visuals on the Lyrid meteor shower. I really enjoyed them last year while I was laid off work and had no need to get up in the morning.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#102

Post by kt4hx »


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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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#103

Post by John Fitzgerald »


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?

#104

Post by turboscrew »


Well, I just quite recently joined to the visual observers.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#105

Post by Ylem »


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 :)
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#106

Post by pakarinen »


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 :)
Es 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.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#107

Post by OzEclipse »


pakarinen wrote: Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:39 pm
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 :)
Es 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.
You don't have to be the best astrophotographer in the world or better than Hubble. Any decent DSLR will allow quick captures of open clusters without laptops etc. I take AP's, mostly wide fields for my own enjoyment. If others enjoy them, it's a bonus. Since getting back into AP about 3-4 years ago, I have mostly used the simplest of setups. EQ mount, one DSLR, One camera lens, $25 Intervalometer to drive the shutter to capture subs, one battery beneath the tripod. No autoguide, no computers, no cables strung out along the ground.

Capturing star colours in open clusters requires short exposures at low ISO. Even an old DSLR can do it.

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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#108

Post by helicon »


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
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#109

Post by John Donne »


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. 👍
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#110

Post by John Donne »


Congratulations Andrey !
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#111

Post by Gordon »


Congratulations Andrey!!!

Well deserved VROD!!!
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#112

Post by Makuser »


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.
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#113

Post by Bigzmey »


helicon 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
Thanks Michael and TSS team! It did turn out into interesting and friendly discussion. Thanks everyone for participating. Visual or AP, manual or GoTo - we all share fascination for the skies.

Also from how fast used and new EPs and scopes are getting sold out it is clear that the hobby is alive and kicking. :D
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Re: Are visual observers a dying breed?

#114

Post by OzEclipse »


Congratulations on the VROD Andrey.
This has been a really engaging thread.

Thanks for starting it.

Joe Cali
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