87 replies to this topic

[Pipito]

hope yall help

[GrassLakeRon]

Astronomy is a personal thing. To me it is stress relief. To me it is a brain puzzle to keep up my mental acuity. To me it is getting outside which has been shown to keep you healthy. From an economic standpoint, spending money with small businesses help others.

[gstrumol]

It will give you an appreciation of the incredible beauty present in the universe. An understanding of where we're from and what the future holds for us (e.g., look at Venus and think runaway greenhouse effects). 

 

It's both incredibly humbling and satisfying. Humbling in that we are the tiniest speck in a vast expanse of stars and galaxies too numerous to count. Satisfying to think that the minds of those on this speck are able to understand and explain many of the mysteries it holds.

 

So if you appreciate knowledge and learning, growth mentally and, perhaps, spiritually, you'll see the benefits easily.

[kfiscus]

It's like art.  It can make life more enjoyable.  The night sky is ALWAYS changing and offering new sights and challenges.

[truckerfromaustin]

It's the perfect way for me to spend my time when I'm in the middle of nowhere and the stars are saying,"LOOK AT US!". It's relaxing and gives me food for thought about my place in the universe. I've always been intrigued by the universe and astronomy lets me see what is going on. I'm getting interested in the field of astrophysics . I could probably keep writing about the wonders of the universe, but I'll let you discover them for yourself.

CS, Greg

[weis14]

Like others, I do astronomy to relax and destress.  I find it a relaxing way to connect to nature in times and places when few people are out.

[MikeHC8]

After hard week at work nothing better than looking up and enjoying the night sky.  I listen to classical music maybe have hot coffee of tea and pick an area to enjoy.  I blank out and just enjoy my views and not worry about anything else, sometimes I will hear my wife sewing machine going which is also music to my ears.  I plan to buy her a piano this year because that is what she truly wanted for may years and it's time.  I am doing something that I enjoy and soon I will hear her playing the piano.  One thing about observing is, I don't do astrophotography because I don't need the added stress or disappointment of pictures.  I will enjoy pictures that others have taken.

[Alex Swartzinski]

Lots of great comments on here already, but I'll add that it comes down to opportunity. When you are observing, you are enjoying the quietest and most peaceful time of a day. You are seeing things that very few people have ever glimpsed throughout history, and even fewer have had the privilege of understanding what those objects truly are. Even access to modest eyepieces and equipment is light years better than the likes of Galileo or Messier's. 

 

Observing is humbling, exciting, but it also demands effort and skill which makes it rewarding. You have to wait for the pieces to come together, and they don't every night. From clouds, the moon, schedules, and general life getting in the way, it makes those wonderful moments that much more memorable. You return to your routine satisfied yet ready to have another go when the chance arises again. 

 

It's also the journey. Traveling to a beautiful remote dark site, or even experiencing a familiar urban area in a whole new setting of quietness. Part of the journey might be connecting with others at a club site, or it can be a solitary experience that connects you better with yourself and the universe. 

 

I really need this moon to go away so I can head to a dark site! 

Edited by Alex Swartzinski, 03 May 2023 - 07:44 PM.

[Look at the sky 101]

Thoughts of Blaise Pascal. 

Men, not having been able to cure death, misery, ignorance, have decided, in order to make themselves happy, not to think about them: this is all they have been able to invent to console themselves for so many evils .

.

[cos]

I have a fair amount of stress in my life, astronomy and astrophotography require me to think and focus on something other than the normal everyday problems. I find that even though I don't get out every night I can occupy my mind with things like framing a shot, planning a session of shooting, what I hope to see next, things that I'd like to see, trying to figure out how to deal with light pollution etc. I can't say that it is a huge stress relief for me because I get pretty wound up about this stuff, but it is an absolute distraction. For me the distraction takes my mind off of all the other nonsense going on in life and lets me just focus on the beauty of the stars and heavens. Maybe that sounds geeky but that's how I view it. 

Edited by cos, 04 May 2023 - 03:58 PM.

[jlinsobe]

Some people will think that your equipment is a total waste of money.

Some people will think that you are insane for paying that much for a refractor or a filter set.

Some people will think that you are a hoarder.

Some people will roll their eyes when you tell them what you do late at nights.

Your wife/hubby may actually interfere with your budget and purchases.

 

Most of these ^^^^^^^^ are flat out ignorant.  They ignore the wonders of the night or heavens.

Too busy to see beyond their noses.  Not bad, just ignorant on the subject.
They are Irrelevant, for all we care.

 

Me, myself and I.     
 

Only you can answer that question.   Besides, that song was a good 80s hit.

[ShaulaB]

Knowing the sky connects a person to at least 10,000 years of knowledge of our ancestors, who also looked up.

 

Are you looking for information to convince a significant other, or yourself, that spending money on a telescope is worth it? Because yes, it really is worth the time, trouble, and expense to view the sky.

[TOMDEY]

Hobbies actually benefit mind and body throughout life, especially mitigating ~slowing down~ the ageing process, astronomy being an especially good one. This book gets into those benefits and more.  >>>    Tom

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[Look at the sky 101]

Hobbies actually benefit mind and body throughout life, especially mitigating ~slowing down~ the ageing process, astronomy being an especially good one. This book gets into those benefits and more.  >>>    Tom

Thanks. 

[star acres]

Astronomy is like pizza. It won't work as your only focus but you will probably love it.

[gwlee]

It’s impossible to quantify and varies from person to person, but people who stick with it seem to think it benefits them. 

[edwincjones]

the beauty, the relaxation, the brain stimulation, has made my life better

 

edj

[Tony Flanders]

There's only one way to find out ...

[csrlice12]

There's only one way to find out ...

Yes, spend a small fortune on astronomy equipment....this allows you to discover that Earth has a lot in common with Venus.

 

Actually, Tony is right.

[rrpallechio]

This is personal. For me ... I was out of astronomy for a very long time, decades. Then, I discovered that my autistic grandson, who was 8 at the time (he's 9 now) knew more about the solar system than I do. I found my Questar, which had been in storage since the mid 80's, and showed it to him, and he was interested. So I started doing astronomy with him, and he really enjoys it.

 

I see my grandson a couple of times a week, and we always pull out the weather app and look for a time when we can observe. My wife observes with us.

 

So for me, the benefits are time with my grandson and sharing a hobby with him and my wife. My wife would tell you it's my hobby, but if the telescope is set up and I'm observing, she comes out to observe with me.

[starfinder123123]

You are looking at the full moon and bird flies in front of it. It lasts for a second but it takes your breath away. Or you look up and see a bright meteor zipping across the sky. Or a Space Station. Or a satellite.
You hear coyotes yelling in the night.
You light the big Cuban cigar and just sit there, staring at the sky and getting lost in it.
You should try it sometimes.

[TOMDEY]

I'm kinda interested in sociology and personalities. Seems to me that those who discover and gravitate to astronomy as a hobby --- are interested in both Science and Art. So, if you already appreciate those modes of thought --- you will probably take to astronomy and benefit from the experience.    Tom

[JohnTMN]

how much astronomy will benefit my life ?

It won't, at all!

It will confound and tempt and confuse you for your entire your life!

It will force you to never ending quests for better viewing places and you could end up spending $1,000's in a quest for better optics with more clarity.

(that part never ends)

You'll end up mindlessly glancing at the evening sky even when your with the hottest date you've ever had in your life!

Run away before it's too late!

Edited by JohnTMN, 04 May 2023 - 09:30 PM.

[Chad7531]

I would say it would reduce stress levels, but to counteract that you may suffer from a lack of sleep. It’ll definitely hurt your bank account, and if you go overboard it’ll cause financial and family issues. In moderation I see it as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

[Todd N]

Pondering death and taxes is far more interesting so don't bother with astronomy.