197 replies to this topic

[Inkie]

Take your pick from any of the following, one or more as befits your situation:

 

a. Variety is the spice of life. Some of us purchase a sold or lost or damaged scope a second time, but we rarely have two scopes that are the same.  Each scope offers a promise unlike the others we own;

 

b. We learn as we go. As with all intense pursuits in life, we teach ourselves and forge a path through the pursuit.  Often that means the acquisition of an implement of some kind. In our hobby, they are eyepieces and scopes;

 

c. Different scope types offer the user a novel or unique experience. I have used the words, ...whispering sweet nothings...' in other posts recently.  We look for magic where none exists.  It's a siren call that must surely be present for any hobbyist in any milieu. We are always looking for magic, for better, for 'Wow!';

 

d. Often better is definable and realizable.  Yes, it usually costs as well, but it's attainable.  All that's missing is assigning to 'better' the motivation and the justification for what is ultimately going to cost a lot more....usually. [The law of diminishing returns is at play, but some of us want that last 4-10%);

 

e. Last, but not least....FOMO. I can't imagine dying and missing out on the promised excellence.  It's a bit emotionally immature in a way, but as I age I become more secure in some ways and less secure in others.  As life gets shorter, some of us want to grasp the brass ring we've disdained reaching for previously.  I am guilty and my hand is raised.

[asterope62]

They accumulate over 50 years!

[Herodotus]

Personally, I have different scopes for different object type. weather/sky/moon conditions. Everything i have gets used a lot.

[kfiscus]

Scopes find me.  One week two separate, quality 8" scopes fell in my lap for free.  It helps to be a medium-size fish in a small pond.  Everybody in the area knows me because I taught them (Earth & Space Science) or their kids.

[12BH7]

I only buy what I need. Mainly because I don't feel like storing it. However, I am looking into adding a nice 4" refractor to the list soon. And one day if the 12" SCT fails I will be replacing it with something else. I'll decide when that time comes.

 

One of my other hobbies used to be vintage 70's audio. You want to talk about pack ratting - at one point I had about 50 stereos kicking around the house. There were in my closet, under my beds, in the garage, just all over. That was when I realized the difference between having and using. I vowed to never do that again with any hobby. 

[Mike W]

Some have a hoarding issue, especially with eyepieces. 100-200 eyepieces?

[mountain monk]

So many scopes, so little time…

 

Dark, clear, calm skies.

 

Jack

[A Star Geezer]

A very wise man once said "He who dies with the most toys wins" 

[ABQJeff]

 

 

Jon

 

P.S.  If you look at the first photo, you will see some stuffed donkeys.  I do collect stuffed donkeys.

 

If I knew nothing else about you, that would tell me much (ie you are a fun and friendly person!  I mean come on, what jerk would collect stuffed donkeys?!   ) 

[ABQJeff]

As stated, some scopes are just from trying different things and it can be hard to get rid of scopes. 

 

Some scopes are for different purposes (different focal lengths, different portability (grab and go vs all nighter scope), scopes for travel, scopes for remote dark sky house, scopes for townhome in the city, etc....)  

 

And then there are those that collect without purpose, without for trying something different, they just like the looks of telescopes.  Which is cool.

 

I am at 7 scopes, but really only 4 are part of my baseline observing.  I do have one excess, a beautiful C9.25 Edge that I got for AP, but smartscopes are making that more and more a bygone era.  If the price is right I may sell it (but it is my best performing scope...)

[joseluis.17g]

For me it's about having the right tool for the right job

 

the C5 lives in a pelican case with a small mount and a few eyepieces, it's ready to go whenever I go camping, takes little space

 

the Evo 8 it's grab and go for me, I can carry whole to my backyard and be ready to go 

 

the refractor it's just to try some of that refractor magic 

 

the ST80 was my first scope and has sentimental value 

 

the Meade was a bargain and couldn't say no to that

 

the truss tube dob it's the one I'm taking if the trip it's astronomy related 

[johnsoda]

I just hope that when I die, my wife doesn’t sell my scopes for what I told her I paid for them.

[johnsoda]

I just hope that when I die, my wife doesn’t sell my scopes for what I told her I paid for them.

Yes, it’s an old joke, but it’s still funny and applies to many different kinds of hobbies.

[rajilina]

I’ve collected different scopes over the years as my focus in the hobby has changed. I still use them all, but some more than others. I expect to purchase additional scopes at some point in the future as I decide my needs have evolved to where what I have doesn’t quite cut it for what I want to do. What I currently have isn’t excessive by any means relative to others in the hobby, but to some people it’s a lot of equipment “just to look at the moon”.

 

I just bought a H-alpha solar scope because the white light filters I could put on the scopes I already have just didn’t show me the detail I was looking for. Different scopes/mounts/cameras/accessories for different purposes.

 

It’s like having multiple pairs of shoes. You wouldn’t want to go hiking in a pair of dressy heels or want to attend a wedding in hiking boots. You could, but… it’s better to have the right item for the intended purpose.

[rjacks]

If I'm going to dark skies and I know it's going to be a nice night - I take my ES16" dob because it's the best for DSOs.

If I'm only going out for an hour or so or if the conditions are iffy, I take my Celestron Evolution 8. Don't want to set up the big dob unless I know it's worth it.

If I'm doing outreach, it is also the Evolution 8, because it tracks and keeps things in the eyepiece.  

If I'm setting up in my light polluted front yard to look at the moon or planets, it's either the Evolution 8 or my AT115 EDT refractor.

If the Milky Way is going to be prominent, I'm taking the AT115EDT refractor to pan the MW and to get wide-angle views.

If I want to dabble with low-tech astrophotography, it's my William Optics Z73. That's also my wildlife scope.  

 

So, four telescopes, each with a different purpose in my observing life. 

 

I sometimes wish I had a Maksutov, but I don't really need it, and I still have weddings to pay for.   

[MrsM75]

Because I am Maks crazy, if I have the funds I would collect ALL the Maks there is out there in this world. Only Maks though, not an SCT fan.

 

oh and I'm Mak crazy, I have 2 of each, like 2 of the 4 inches Skymax Mak, 2 of the Sarblue Maks, Lol.

 

People just like things, like some people collect stamps of antique. Some people just telescopes obsess, whether if it Dobs, Maks, SCT, Refractors, etc..

[Jay_Reynolds_Freeman]

I also suggest that there are several categories of telescopes, such that an amateur might well want one of each. These include:

 

(1) Big iron -- as much aperture as you can possibly handle, for going deep into the abyss. Often a huge Dobson.

 

(2) High-tech conversation-stopper -- typically something smaller than (1) but better-suited to dealing with high-magnification views in less than perfect seeing. Fancy but expensive. Often a high-end refractor or perhaps a Maksutov-Cassegrain.

 

(3) Largest conveniently portable telescope -- perhaps more compact than (1) or (2), so as to fit in an automobile rather than a van or pickup truck. Often a smaller Dobson or Schmidt-Cassegrain.

 

(4) Quick-look telescope -- a still smaller and more compact unit, left set up in a corner at home for short sessions outside or nearby. Mounting bulk likely dominates the size of this one, so telescope type almost doesn't matter.

 

(5) Binocular -- something you can have dangling from a neck strap as you walk around at star parties. 14x70 works well for many.

 

(6) Public outreach telescope -- for many of us, one of (1) through (4) might work, but if they are all too cumbersome or perhaps expensive enough that you worry about mishandling, something inexpensive and car-portable might be indicated, and a driven mounting would be nice. Small doublet refractors, Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Cassegrains work well here.

 

(7) Rich-field telescope -- the idea here is wide fields at low magnification, something fairly fast in the aperture range of four- to six-inches, with a two-inch focuser. Often a 120 mm or so doublet refractor on a simple altazimuth mounting.

 

 

Clear sky ...

Edited by Jay_Reynolds_Freeman, 18 May 2025 - 03:18 AM.

[Mike Spooner]

I have ZERO telescopes… but, my wife has 14 - seven she has never looked through.

 

But I know she wants me to build her just one more!

 

 

Yeah, she hates it when I tell folks that at a star party …

 

Mike Spooner (never let the truth get in the way of a good story.)

[OAJoe]

I have had four telescopes over the last 35+ years in the hobby, and just three currently. My first one, a little 60mm refractor, is long gone.

 

The psychology of collecting stuff is fascinating. While I could see myself eventually collecting telescopes, I am probably too frugal to do that. But, I would be more likely to start collecting eyepieces (beyond the [edit] 17 or so I've got now) and astronomy books because they can be had for much less money. That is a problem I would worry more about.

 

If I sense it to become a problem (or my wife says it is a problem), then I could institute a one item into the collection, and one item out of the collection policy to keep the numbers similar. I've started doing that with eyepieces.

Edited by OAJoe, 18 May 2025 - 10:33 AM.

[Shorty Barlow]

In the profile of many CN'ers a list of equipment is published and some have even ten or more scopes and several binos. It seems like they are collectors rather than observers and / or astrophotograpers. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it, but just curiosity why there are so many scope / bino collectors.

I suspect it's because there is no one scope that can do everything. My most used scope is my SW 72ED Evostar, although for lunar/planetary viewing my most used scope is my 127mm Mak. Both are fairly portable with my physical disability. My most used scope for viewing a low Venus or Mercury is my 90mm Orion Mak. It is lightweight enough with the AZ5 to reposition in my observing area. My most used scope for sessions of rich field, DSO's & planetary sessions is my 102mm Altair f/7 doublet. My most used scope for rich field, low power sessions on moonless nights is my 102mm StarTravel achromat as it's f/4.9 & short enough to balance heavy 2" accessories. my favourite scope for dedicated planetary/DSO sessions with a BV is my 235mm SCT as it's just so big & has a GOTO. See what I mean?

[Pierre C]

I wonder if part of the allure relates to the virtually infinite nature of things to see in the universe.

 

Each piece of equipment allows for more things to be seen in different ways.

 

I only have two telescopes, but I can see that I started on the journey first with eyes in an urban setting, then eyes in dark sky settings, then binoculars, then a 4-inch refractor and then an 8-inch Dobsonian. So in some ways, I am now on to my fifth mode of observing.

 

My different eyepieces provide additional permutations for bringing out the best views in different circumstances.

 

Perhaps the seemingly unlimited aquisition of equipment is a reflection of the unlimited nature of things to see?

[Jon Isaacs]

I have ZERO telescopes… but, my wife has 14 - seven she has never looked through.

 

But I know she wants me to build her just one more!

 

 

Yeah, she hates it when I tell folks that at a star party …

 

Mike Spooner (never let the truth get in the way of a good story.)

 

I suspect that not only has she not looked through most of them, she probably doesn't know where they are and if she did know, she might not recognize them as telescopes. 

 

"That's a telescope?"

 

Jon

[Alex65]

Reading all these comments I do seem to be in a minority in that I only have three 'scopes of which I only use one, that being a small Dob. Of the other two, one, the refractor, sits unused in the attic at the moment while the second, the little AstroScan, has been retired from active viewing and now sits as an ornament in the corner of a room. 

 

I don't have the finances for more 'scopes, nor the room even if I had money to buy another, or several, new 'scopes. 

 

The main difference between most folk commenting on here and myself is that I am not an astronomer, whether professional or amateur, but an old school star gazer. There is a difference. 

[Brain&Force]

I definitely think in the future I will become more of a telescope collector, but at the moment one of the reasons I've kept my C5 around is because I've been going to dark sites with friends and it's nice to have a second telescope for others to use.

[edwincjones]

all optics are compromises

each scope sees the object a little different

 

edj