Telescope Reviews: True cost of astronomy?

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Equipment Discussions >> Equipment

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kbastro
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/20/08

Loc: Running from Clouds

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5525419 - 11/18/12 01:52 AM

in 25 years I'll be in the high 60's,, and probably go through at least 3 more vehicles, 10+ more scopes and another 2 or more mounts 'CAUSE who the hell knows what they will invent by then!!!!
And don't forget to add some new hi-tech imagers at 1 million iso by then,,,

I have all the bills I paid for the stuff over the past 8 years,,, and over the next 25 years I will continue to monitor what and how much I spend/spent on this life's journey!!

Keep in touch fellow astronomers! I will let you know in the year 2038....

Kev b

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MAURITS
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/22/09

Loc: Diksmuide (Belgium)

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: kbastro]
#5525454 - 11/18/12 02:27 AM

Good astronomical stuff is expensive, we know that all!

It is the price of a very beautiful and nice luxe car, but after then years of use the car is old and ugly with low value!

The astronomical stuff is than just so good as new!!!

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: MAURITS]
#5525503 - 11/18/12 04:05 AM Attachment (12 downloads)

Quote:

It is the price of a very beautiful and nice luxe car, but after then years of use the car is old and ugly with low value!

Hardly...

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Traveler
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/19/07

Loc: The Netherlands

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5525511 - 11/18/12 04:27 AM

Sure amateur astronomy can cost money. But there are some strategies which can reduce the expenses in relation with equipment.

Fist buy the telescope and mount if you are sure what you want and buy always your dream setup.

Second: don't buy EP's simple because they are newer and got better reviews...the differences between the ep's are not that big.

Third: Beware of buying electronic equipment: in two, three years you can replace the device whaich were once so good...

Fourth: Like what you have and USE it.

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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy

Reged: 09/19/08

Loc: Utah

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Traveler]
#5525626 - 11/18/12 07:33 AM

I think I've gained more from the friendships I've made than the financial costs I've inquired. YMMV of course.

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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy

Reged: 09/19/08

Loc: Utah

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Traveler]
#5525627 - 11/18/12 07:33 AM

I think I've gained more from the friendships I've made than the financial costs I've acquired. YMMV of course.

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: JayinUT]
#5525639 - 11/18/12 07:53 AM

You can say that again...

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Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5525658 - 11/18/12 08:15 AM

Quote:

You can say that again...

LOL nice one!

If I stopped to add up the costs of my hobbies, it would take all the fun out of them

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JohnMurphyRN
sage

Reged: 09/09/12

Loc: Near St Louis

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5525737 - 11/18/12 09:12 AM

The thing about astronomy is that after equipment start up costs, it costs nothing to participate in...

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Manny Myles
Postmaster

Reged: 11/29/05

Loc: Far South of the flyover city ...

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: JohnMurphyRN]
#5525750 - 11/18/12 09:23 AM

Maybe we need sponsors to defray the costs,,, see it now big numbers slathered all over the side of our scopes along with countless stickers telling one and not quite all where and or who to go git there stuff from,,,
m2

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omahaastro
sage

Reged: 08/30/06

Loc: Omaha, NE

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Manny Myles]
#5525901 - 11/18/12 11:22 AM

Boy, if I'd invested all the money I've seen depreciated through computer equipment I've owned over the past 3 decades... I could probably have had a PlaneWave CDK20 mounted atop a Paramount under a nice Ash Dome. At least good astronomical equipment tends to hold it's value, sometimes even appreciate.

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csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Starman1]
#5525948 - 11/18/12 11:48 AM

Quote:

1) It's my hobby, my profession, and my passion.
2) I can't take it with me.
3) The people in the industry are generally so nice......
4) I enjoy the buying experience and getting new toys--don't you?
5) Because I travel to observe, I probably have paid more for gas over the years than I have for all the equipment I've bought.
Gas is more expensive now than 40 years ago, but my income is higher, too, so it probably evens out.
That's an exaggeration, of course, but still! I went out last Sunday night and the 354 mile round trip cost me $52 in gas, and I have a small car.
[My "close" dark sky site is a round trip of ~200 miles].
Figure 12X a year for the last 35 years.......
Nope. I've spent more than that for just eyepieces.
6) I've got to face it, I'm an addict. The 12 step plan to beat it entails....naw, who am I kidding? I don't want to be cured!
And my wife is an enabler--after 10 purchases on eBay, she says to me, "Honey, don't you need a new eyepiece or something?"
Life is Good.

Does she have a sister???

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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?

Reged: 01/09/06

Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5525973 - 11/18/12 11:57 AM

I used to race a ratty old RZ350, at a track three hours away. About $1000/weekend, if you didn't break anything (I always broke something--$2000 motorjob, anyone?).

Astronomy is cheap...

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csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: RogerRZ]
#5526054 - 11/18/12 12:46 PM

Astronomy is free. It's the modifying of the way our eyeballs see it that's expensive.......and worth every penny.

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Fireball
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/24/06

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5526100 - 11/18/12 01:02 PM

Astronomy is a reasonably priced hobby unless you

- want an 8" or bigger refractor

- want to do serious astrophotography with a big astrograph
- want a 30" or bigger dobson with all the jingles and bells

- want to collect all Televue and/or Zeiss eyepieces

- need a motorhome and air-conditioned trailer to haul all your stuff

Any more ideas ?

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stevenf
sage

Reged: 10/11/09

Loc: Vancouver, BC

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Fireball]
#5526139 - 11/18/12 01:18 PM

I think this hobby would be a lot cheaper if it weren't for sites like this one convincing us that we need bigger, better, faster, more!!!!

Some friends and relatives of mine are avid golfers. That seems a lot more expensive of a hobby than astronomy.

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Gastrol
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 11/04/11

Loc: los angeles

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5526167 - 11/18/12 01:38 PM

I just wish astronomy was my ONLY hobby.

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csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Gastrol]
#5526227 - 11/18/12 02:17 PM

Quote:

I just wish astronomy was my ONLY hobby.

Eh, a couple of month's looking here,a few thousand dollars later.....and it WILL be your only hobby...

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starrancher
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/09/09

Loc: Northern Arizona

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: stevenf]
#5526702 - 11/18/12 07:42 PM

Quote:

I think this hobby would be a lot cheaper if it weren't for sites like this one convincing us that we need bigger, better, faster, more!!!!

This site as well none other that I know of have prompted myself to continue to spend beyond what I could easily afford .
Maybe weak minded can be influenced into that , but you can't blame a web site for the weak minded . That sounds so much like a leftist view it's almost laughable if it weren't for the severity of the slander that it imposes .
Grow your own brain strong and stop blaming others for your downfalls .
Cheese and Rice !

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stevenf
sage

Reged: 10/11/09

Loc: Vancouver, BC

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: starrancher]
#5526725 - 11/18/12 07:51 PM

Spoken like a true Randian hero starrancher.

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