Telescope Reviews: True cost of astronomy?

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Equipment

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all)

Pauls72
sage

Reged: 10/28/07

Loc: LaPorte, IN

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5533851 - 11/22/12 12:17 PM

I don't keep track of the cost of any of my hobbies, as it would probably be depressing at what I have spent on some of them over the years. I purchase the equipment that I feel is right for me and in my price range. Most of it is good and moderately priced but none is extravagant and some is down right cheap. You don't need top of the line equipment to enjoy this hobby.

With no astronomy stores near me anymore, it's kind of hard to do any impulse buying. Yes I can buy it over the internet or phone, but it will be at least 3-5 days before I get it in my grubby little hands, so it really takes away the impulse buying urge. Now days it seems like most manufactures announce their new product at least 6-12 months before it's available, so there is no impulse buying there either.

Quote:

Anyone know how to mount a scope on a Bass boat????

Mounting the scope to the boat is the easy part. It's building the concrete pier in the lake to mount your boat on for stability that's the problem.

Post Extras:

SL63 AMG
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/21/09

Loc: Williamson, Arizona

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5534008 - 11/22/12 02:02 PM

THE BEST investment one can make in this hobby is purchasing a home in a dark sky location.

I know from experience. I spent tens of thousands on equipment and none of it helped me see or photograph a single object in the sky at my previous light polluted home.

Since moving to Arizona, in a location with little to no light pollution, average MPSAS SQM reading of 21.5 and weather conditions that allow me to view the sky 300+ days per year, I have never been happier.

If I sold all of my expensive gear and was left with just a small DOB, refractor, binoculars or even my eyes, I still would be happier.

When I lived back east I never just walked outside, looked up and exclaimed "WOW".

I do that every time I step outside at night here in Arizona.

My move to a dark sky location is priceless and I wouldn't trade it for the most expensive telescope in the world located in a light polluted area.

Post Extras:

stevenf
sage

Reged: 10/11/09

Loc: Vancouver, BC

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: SL63 AMG]
#5534029 - 11/22/12 02:18 PM

I think you make a very good point here Dave. I can only speak for myself, but I know that part of my gear buying addiction (or pathetic weakness as some here would call it) is due to the fact that I live in a location where it's constantly raining, and I'm in the middle of a white zone for light pollution. Collecting and acquiring gear, fiddling with it, trading and selling it...it's a way to get some enjoyment out of the hobby and still feel connected to it, even though I can't actually use it all that often for it's intended purpose.

Post Extras:

starrancher
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/09/09

Loc: Northern Arizona

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: SL63 AMG]
#5534032 - 11/22/12 02:20 PM

Quote:

THE BEST investment one can make in this hobby is purchasing a home in a dark sky location.

I know from experience. I spent tens of thousands on equipment and none of it helped me see or photograph a single object in the sky at my previous light polluted home.

Since moving to Arizona, in a location with little to no light pollution, average MPSAS SQM reading of 21.5 and weather conditions that allow me to view the sky 300+ days per year, I have never been happier.

If I sold all of my expensive gear and was left with just a small DOB, refractor, binoculars or even my eyes, I still would be happier.

When I lived back east I never just walked outside, looked up and exclaimed "WOW".

I do that every time I step outside at night here in Arizona.

My move to a dark sky location is priceless and I wouldn't trade it for the most expensive telescope in the world located in a light polluted area.

You got that right !

Post Extras:

csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: starrancher]
#5534085 - 11/22/12 03:17 PM

Know what you mean. I now live in the Denver Tech Center (think skyscrapers across the street); used to have 5 acres outside of Edgewood, New Mexico. Only lights around were mine. Didn't own a scope then, wasn't a happy time in my life; but I did spend a lot of time just looking at the stars there with the naked eye. The milky way was just that. Sure do wish I had those skies now....

Post Extras:

Doc Willie
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/31/10

Loc: Mid-Hudson Valley, NY, USA

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5534097 - 11/22/12 03:31 PM

Trying to put this in some kind of perspective: Adding it all up, with the most generous assumptions, I still have not spent what one year of college tuition for one of my kids cost.

Post Extras:

EddWen
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Here or There

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: SL63 AMG]
#5535386 - 11/23/12 12:23 PM Attachment (9 downloads)

Roger that!

I will add that a ROR Observatory is a nice addition.

Quote:

THE BEST investment one can make in this hobby is purchasing a home in a dark sky location.

I know from experience. I spent tens of thousands on equipment and none of it helped me see or photograph a single object in the sky at my previous light polluted home.

Since moving to Arizona, in a location with little to no light pollution, average MPSAS SQM reading of 21.5 and weather conditions that allow me to view the sky 300+ days per year, I have never been happier.

If I sold all of my expensive gear and was left with just a small DOB, refractor, binoculars or even my eyes, I still would be happier.

When I lived back east I never just walked outside, looked up and exclaimed "WOW".

I do that every time I step outside at night here in Arizona.

My move to a dark sky location is priceless and I wouldn't trade it for the most expensive telescope in the world located in a light polluted area.

Post Extras:

Shneor
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/01/05

Loc: Northern California

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: EddWen]
#5535433 - 11/23/12 12:50 PM

I don't agree that you need to live under dark skies - you just need to be within driving distance.
Clears,
0

Post Extras:

Bill Weir
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/01/04

Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Shneor]
#5536354 - 11/23/12 10:04 PM

Quote:

I don't agree that you need to live under dark skies - you just need to be within driving distance.
Clears,
0

Besides if everyone did then I suggest those places would be quite a bit less dark.

I stopped keeping track of how much I've spent. It's irrelevant. I wonder what is the cost to my inner self if I don't take part in this hobby that really fills a hole/desire?

As long as I'm not spending more than I can afford then it doesn't matter. If you are then that's different. You can't take any of this "stuff" with you when you go. As a nurse I've been a part of and seen many deaths. At none of them was the person packing anything visible. It's only money/stuff. Live life with no regrets as it's all too short. On the other hand it's far too long to carry the big burdon of regrets.

Oh and the expensive scope in my signature, it was my wife's idea. She's the best.

Bill

Post Extras:

Bob Griffiths
Getting Grouchy

Reged: 10/10/05

Loc: Frederick Maryland

Re: True cost of astronomy? new

[Re: Bill Weir]
#5536923 - 11/24/12 09:51 AM

I sure have NOT read many of the replies...

But I've been in this hobby since the Mid 1950's when I got hooked as a Cub (not boy) Scout..
Astronomy is BY FAR the least expensive hobby that I have..

I'm a serious woodworker and I play around with older Corvettes ...the cars (6 if them) do not even have to leave the garages and they cost me a few thousand dollars a year.. The wood shop does not function without lumber ...

I have not spend a single Penny this year on anything (except a magazine subscription and a few Apps for my table and phone on my Astronomy hobby..

Just my thoughts ...

Bob G

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all)

Extra information

11 registered and 27 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Jarad, tecmage

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 3175

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics