Comments on: Is looking at space through a telescope an enjoyable hobby? http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/ Thu, 17 May 2012 20:54:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Panda http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1851 Panda Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:24:50 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1851 Depends on if you like space and looking at it Depends on if you like space and looking at it

]]> By: n2s.astronomy http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1850 n2s.astronomy Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:12:31 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1850 I found my first telescope very unenjoyable. I was very young at the time and aside from the moon, I couldn't really find anything. This was long before computers and the internet, and I was trying to find things from a backyard in what was then one of the biggest metropolitan areas on the planet. I tried, and tried, and finally gave up. Many years later, that first scope a distant childhood memory, I decide to buy a second telescope. This time it was very easy to find things; so much so that my curiosity got to me and I tracked down and purchased a exact copy of that first telescope. Once more, I had no problems tracking down dozens of objects that first night; and, although it was only a 60mm, the views were remarkably good. It's amazing how much that scope had improved with age. ;-) Astronomy is a hobby that requires lots of patients, and some level of basic understanding. You have to know up front that you will never see most of the objects in space as they appear in books and magazine covers. Those kind of images require photography and are far beyond the abilities of the human eye. Having said that, many objects in space are tremendously beautiful, and your telescope is a window to those kinds of views. It is a form of virtual spaceship that is available to each of us. If your telescope magnifies an object by 100x, then it appears 100x closer, and it is easy to imagine yourself out in space looking through a porthole having traveled 99% of the distance between here and there. But, make it easy on yourself and find an experienced astronomer to help you get started. I found my first telescope very unenjoyable. I was very young at the time and aside from the moon, I couldn’t really find anything. This was long before computers and the internet, and I was trying to find things from a backyard in what was then one of the biggest metropolitan areas on the planet. I tried, and tried, and finally gave up.

Many years later, that first scope a distant childhood memory, I decide to buy a second telescope. This time it was very easy to find things; so much so that my curiosity got to me and I tracked down and purchased a exact copy of that first telescope. Once more, I had no problems tracking down dozens of objects that first night; and, although it was only a 60mm, the views were remarkably good. It’s amazing how much that scope had improved with age. ;-)
Astronomy is a hobby that requires lots of patients, and some level of basic understanding. You have to know up front that you will never see most of the objects in space as they appear in books and magazine covers. Those kind of images require photography and are far beyond the abilities of the human eye. Having said that, many objects in space are tremendously beautiful, and your telescope is a window to those kinds of views.

It is a form of virtual spaceship that is available to each of us. If your telescope magnifies an object by 100x, then it appears 100x closer, and it is easy to imagine yourself out in space looking through a porthole having traveled 99% of the distance between here and there. But, make it easy on yourself and find an experienced astronomer to help you get started.

]]> By: ChrisCT http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1849 ChrisCT Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:02:26 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1849 Yes its enjoyable.And you will enjoy it when you saw an astronomical event you had never seen before.Like me,Im 16 years old and i enjoy looking at the sky with my telescope and binoculars.Its really enjoyable.To see whats up in the sky go to spaceweather.com. Yes its enjoyable.And you will enjoy it when you saw an astronomical event you had never seen before.Like me,Im 16 years old and i enjoy looking at the sky with my telescope and binoculars.Its really enjoyable.To see whats up in the sky go to spaceweather.com.

]]> By: Bobbyp416 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1848 Bobbyp416 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:02:37 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1848 I've enjoyed it since I was a small child... I spent my entire 12th summer lugging heavy golf bags across a local country club (as a caddy), giving compliments to members of that particular club on their shots (even though, most of the time, they didn't deseve them!) I pocketed every cent I earned (even though I was a kiss- a55!) With that money, I purchased my own first telescope. I am now older, and just a tad wiser (46), but I still, to this very day, have the telescope I bought with my summers' earnings all those years ago. I have since upgraded quite a bit, but the night sky's splendors still fill me with the same sense of awe it did when I was 12. There is not a better hobby one could partake in, in my own humble opinion. Try it... You won't be sorry that you did. I wish for you the same sense of being awe- struck at the beauty of Saturn's rings, Jupiter's cloud bands and moons, mountains and rilles of the moon that I was struck with as a little boy! Clear Skies, and Good Luck! Bobby I’ve enjoyed it since I was a small child…
I spent my entire 12th summer lugging heavy golf bags across a local country club (as a caddy), giving compliments to members of that particular club on their shots (even though, most of the time, they didn’t deseve them!)
I pocketed every cent I earned (even though I was a kiss- a55!)
With that money, I purchased my own first telescope.
I am now older, and just a tad wiser (46), but I still, to this very day, have the telescope I bought with my summers’ earnings all those years ago.
I have since upgraded quite a bit, but the night sky’s splendors still fill me with the same sense of awe it did when I was 12.
There is not a better hobby one could partake in, in my own humble opinion.
Try it… You won’t be sorry that you did.
I wish for you the same sense of being awe- struck at the beauty of Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, mountains and rilles of the moon that I was struck with as a little boy!
Clear Skies, and Good Luck!
Bobby

]]> By: Tom A http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1847 Tom A Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:41:02 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1847 The chances of a meteor crossing the narrow field of view of a telescope just as you're looking at that spot are remote. And it would be too fast to see anyway. Looking at space is boring. Looking at what's in the space is interesting. If you have no experience, then first find a local amateur astronomy club. When they have a "star party", you'll be able to look through many different types of scopes, find what you can expect to see, and get advice from people who were once at the point where you are now. Don't rush in; do some research like that. Read this. Ignore that it's from Australia, and ignore the money amounts which are Aust dollars for 2002. The principle is the same anywhere. The chances of a meteor crossing the narrow field of view of a telescope just as you’re looking at that spot are remote. And it would be too fast to see anyway.

Looking at space is boring. Looking at what’s in the space is interesting. If you have no experience, then first find a local amateur astronomy club. When they have a “star party”, you’ll be able to look through many different types of scopes, find what you can expect to see, and get advice from people who were once at the point where you are now.

Don’t rush in; do some research like that.

Read this. Ignore that it’s from Australia, and ignore the money amounts which are Aust dollars for 2002. The principle is the same anywhere.

]]> By: Roman Soldier http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1846 Roman Soldier Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:27:44 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1846 Very enjoyable, although your enjoyment is mainly a factor of the weather. A nice clear warm night is much more enjoyable then a cloudy cold night. Very enjoyable, although your enjoyment is mainly a factor of the weather. A nice clear warm night is much more enjoyable then a cloudy cold night.

]]> By: Tom K http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 Tom K Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:02:06 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/is-looking-at-space-through-a-telescope-an-enjoyable-hobby/#comment-1845 It can be very enjoyable, especially when a meteor happens to flash across your field of view. It can be very enjoyable, especially when a meteor happens to flash across your field of view.

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