tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900285754609661191.post232787664608217104..comments2023-10-06T07:40:48.960-04:00Comments on A Lifetime of Amateur Astronomy: What's Wrong With Today's AmateurJames Paulsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14584597390959270907noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900285754609661191.post-45931591789324117882009-10-08T10:06:24.515-04:002009-10-08T10:06:24.515-04:00Hey Jimmy,
Totally right on. But you contradict y...Hey Jimmy,<br /><br />Totally right on. But you contradict your self, go to and dobs don't go together. Today's amateur either loves go tos (my case) or they love Dobs (a lot of other people). The irony is that on a good night I can get 2-3 times more objects than the Dob user. Thats not to say that I go to 2-3x more objects but it is possible. Last week my friend with his dob went to a lot more objects than I did with my 6" SN. I spent most of the night on the moon which was I wanted to do :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425314541317667125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900285754609661191.post-38199072570452495162009-10-06T21:35:40.615-04:002009-10-06T21:35:40.615-04:00hey james, i agree most astronomers have a lack of...hey james, i agree most astronomers have a lack of discipline. when i first started, i didn't have goto and it was hard to get around, because i couldn't find many constellations. but i did try, now with the goto i don't even think about finding constellations. i think i should! thanks!<br /><br />great blog! enjoy reading your posts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900285754609661191.post-24276710043887689462009-10-06T19:52:43.447-04:002009-10-06T19:52:43.447-04:00James,
Once again, my words seem to be coming out ...James,<br />Once again, my words seem to be coming out of your mouth. What's going on? I agree that the hobby is suffering from some sort of attention deficit disorder. It seems we got to get the latest thing or there is no use in pursuing the starry skies.<br /><br />The last telescope I bought was in 1985 and that one is not used much compared to my primary instrument, an 8 inch SCT I got in '83. I still use it every clear night, must be some sort of record. I still have my 35mm camera and yes I still shoot film for astrophotography. Is it better than digital? In my view and in the ways I use it, yes. <br /><br />I still use setting circles occasionally, but star hop to most places and I loath GOTO scopes because most object are mapped in my mind and I can get there myself. Modern GOTO users will never learn the sky like that. <br /><br />It's not about gadgets, its about a relationship with the night sky. My life is richer for all the hard work I put into it. Technology is great but can be a distraction from enjoying all those clear nights otherwise wasted browsing telescope catalogs.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06284564125792258012noreply@blogger.com