60 replies to this topic

[VA3DSO]

I recently took at stab at doing some EAA with my telescopes and mirrorless camera. I immediately didn't like it. The cables. The laptop. The software. The EQ mount. Futzing with my camera. Futzing with the focus. I quickly lost my "Zen" even when I did see an image on the laptop screen.

 

A few days later I was in the backyard with my Alt-Az mount, my drum stool and a few eyepieces. That was it. It was SOOOO relaxing! I felt completely at peace.  

 

Have any of you encountered something similar where you went from complicated to simple in your setup?

 

What is your "Zen" observing setup?

 

Here are mine:

 

 

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

 

 

[JoeFaz]

My zen observing is definitely just going out with one of my binoculars. I love using my telescopes, but there's something about the ease and simplicity of observing with binoculars that is so satisfying and relaxing.

[Takuan]

Yes, visual astronomy can definitely be compared to meditation (Zen or otherwise). It's about focusing your sight on a point and concentrating your mind on observation, leaving mental activity behind. The deeper your state of mind, the better and more satisfying the experience. I imagine there are quite a few of us visual observers of the Universe who practice meditation in our daily lives. However, I challenge all meditating astronomers to try meditating with one eye closed for a period of time. The experience is, to put it mildly, different than doing it with both eyes open, half-closed, or closed.
That's why my favorite setup always includes two eyes. Whether it's a pair of 40-50mm binoculars, a BT, or a telescope with BV. I must admit that, although I enjoy my telescopes/BV a lot, right now, I have a soft spot for scanning the night sky with large FOVs (up to ~2⁰).
That's my favorite meditative astronomical experience.

[Scope_hogger]

Just give me a clear night, any alt-az scope above three inches and bellow twelve, a well-enough set finderscope and three eyeieces, and I'll be in my most focussed, relaxed state of mind the entire day, no matter how much sleep I had the night before

[TOMDEY]

On your subject of zen and drummer's throne --- here's me in Panama City (the real Panama City) 50++ years ago. It was quite the cosmopolitan tropical paradise back then. I mostly played with "American Jazz" Bands, which were welcome and popular. Also got to know the natives quite well, up close and personal! Sort of took after Richard Feynman in that respect.   Tom

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[VNA]

Hello. the simpler the better so I can concentrate on what I am observing and admiring.

From my backyard listening Mozart music. That sublime music helps me see better.

[Keith Rivich]

My Zen observing happens with a comfy lounge chair and a nice cold Belvedere vodka and soda (I'm growing fond of Topo Chico) with a twist of orange. Otherwise I want my 25" with all its minor hassles. 

[DOBguyinGA]

 

I recently took at stab at doing some EAA with my telescopes and mirrorless camera. I immediately didn't like it. The cables. The laptop. The software. The EQ mount. Futzing with my camera. Futzing with the focus. I quickly lost my "Zen" even when I did see an image on the laptop screen.

 

A few days later I was in the backyard with my Alt-Az mount, my drum stool and a few eyepieces. That was it. It was SOOOO relaxing! I felt completely at peace.  

 

Have any of you encountered something similar where you went from complicated to simple in your setup?

 

What is your "Zen" observing setup?

 

Here are mine:

 

 

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

 

Good evening everyone,

 

I bought a GoTo scope and liked the idea of it. Then I used it on the deck. Now I use the scope with an azimuth setting circle and a digital inclinometer and I am much happier. Simpler and easier. I now think of it as a purer experience, which suits me just fine. I never listed to music because for me it dilutes the experience, but to each his own.

[sevenofnine]

I'm hoping my new AT70ED will be Zen like. Otherwise, it's bino's and a Zero Gravity chair 

 

.

 

 

[VA3DSO]

Good evening everyone,

 

I bought a GoTo scope and liked the idea of it. Then I used it on the deck. Now I use the scope with an azimuth setting circle and a digital inclinometer and I am much happier. Simpler and easier. I now think of it as a purer experience, which suits me just fine. I never listed to music because for me it dilutes the experience, but to each his own.

I have had a few GoTo scopes and at the time I thought it was the bee’s knees. But I did grow tried of making sure batteries were charged, and firmware was updated, and I often had my scopes hooked up to my laptop.

 

So I went to just an EQ mount with power on the RA axis. And then I drifted to my current AZ setup. Honestly one of my favourite all time scopes was a simple 10” Dob.

 

I also don’t listen to music while I observe. I listen to (and so does all the wildlife around me) myself natter on constantly. I’ve always talked to myself when I’m on my own. I really enjoy my own company. 

[BlueMoon]

My former "zen" observing rig. A 2006 Megrez 90FD with TeleVue DeLites on a modified Vixen Porta II Tall. Star hopping was never so enjoyable.

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[VA3DSO]

Yes, visual astronomy can definitely be compared to meditation (Zen or otherwise). It's about focusing your sight on a point and concentrating your mind on observation, leaving mental activity behind. The deeper your state of mind, the better and more satisfying the experience. I imagine there are quite a few of us visual observers of the Universe who practice meditation in our daily lives. However, I challenge all meditating astronomers to try meditating with one eye closed for a period of time. The experience is, to put it mildly, different than doing it with both eyes open, half-closed, or closed.
That's why my favorite setup always includes two eyes. Whether it's a pair of 40-50mm binoculars, a BT, or a telescope with BV. I must admit that, although I enjoy my telescopes/BV a lot, right now, I have a soft spot for scanning the night sky with large FOVs (up to ~2⁰).
That's my favorite meditative astronomical experience.

I have no trouble meditating with one eye closed. I have tried binoviewers but I have strabismus and anything over lower power is impossible for me to merge the images. I can use 7x50 binocs, but I can’t use 10x50 binocs. But cyclopic observing hasn’t prevented me from really enjoying my celestial adventures. 

[havasman]

Scrupulously avoiding AP/EAA/roboscopes has enabled me to maintain the meditative balance of concentration and attention that brings joy to my observing. Direct input to my eye/brain reinforces my practice of the hobby and, though I do use electronic finders (Nexus DSC), I often feel the sky's objects deeply. Varying apertures do encourage different target selections but the contact is maintained.

Edited by havasman, 13 June 2025 - 07:04 PM.

[ABQJeff]

OMG yes. I am in total Zen with my visual set-ups. The GoTo is super easy and intuitive, the scopes and binos all symbiotic with each other. Total Shangri-La.

I just got a Night Vision Device, and I hate to say it, it had no Zen. Now NVD is very eyepiece “like”, so I am hoping I find a way to make it Zen. Not quite there yet.

Edited by ABQJeff, 13 June 2025 - 07:25 PM.

[Buyjupiter]

In the 80's through the 10's I was a "serious" Jupiter and Mars observer with my 6" f/10 Newtonian on a basic equatorial mount. Sketching, and recording  longitudes of storms on Jupiter from my Bortle 7 back yard. Sending my observations to the ALPO. I loved it! But even then, I would sometimes load up and head for the local club's Bortle 4.5 site. THERE, it was Zen astronomy. I would have a very short list of deep sky targets, and would spend plenty of time soaking in each one. Nowadays, the "serious" planet work can be done so much better with imaging. My scope was home-built and had a number of quirks. It was a bit awkward to transport. So, I retired it and got an 8" f/6 Dob. Now ALL of my astronomy will be of the Zen variety. In my back yard it will still be the moon and planets, but this scope is so much easier to load up to go to the dark site.

 

Craig in Tampa

[desertstars]

The Zen moments, for me, come from something old at home, and something new elsewhere.

 

At home, it's the "Old Scope," a 60mm refractor I bought in the early 1970s and has traveled with me through the decades. Yes, it's on an EQ mount, but those have never felt complicated to me. A couple of Plossls and the Moon, or some double stars, the sorts of things I observed all those years ago, and a quiet evening is guaranteed.

 

More recently, I'm having a similar sort of feel under darker, out of town skies with a newly acquired 20x80 binocular. Last time out, some observing time was spent just cruising the Milky Way. I kind of got lost up there. I'll likely do it again.

 

 

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[EJN]

The late Ron Ravneberg wrote an article about this. He called it "Quiet Astronomy."

 

 

[Javier1978]

I have been doing quiet, simple visual astronomy for a long time now.

 

 

 

 

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[12BH7]

OH yeah. I was thinking of buying a strain wave mount about a year ago. When I went to an astronomy shop in Tucson and found out what was involved with all the software, wifi, connectivity, etc............. I said - "keep it". 

 

I use a GOTO LX90 which is an incredibly simple mount. My other scope is a PUSH TO that is bare bones and simple. I love it. 

[Bill Weir]

I think you are misunderstanding or maybe oversimplifying the meaning of Zen. Being able to calm oneself and deal with a complicated situation is also an expression of zen. Some people actually love and find relaxation in sorting out what others might find difficult problems. One must each find their own Buddha nature. I see you found yours.

 

Bill

[therealdmt]

/\ Admittedly, a bit of extra complication with the two scopes there, but both are wonderfully simple.
(note drummer’s stool )

 

My main take-me-out-of-the-experiencer is when I start switching in and out filters (or, to a considerably lesser extent, barlows and/or 2"-to-1.25" adapters). Accordingly, I’ve much reduced my use of filters the past year or two, though I’m looking forward to breaking them back out for the various emission nebulae around Sagittarius, etc. when the weather improves later this summer.

 

My cable management strategy:

That’s for the fan on the back of the Dob, which, along with a red flashlight, comprises the sum total of my non-personal electronics. I had to add a red flashlight about a year and a half ago when I started re-incorporating paper charts for the first time since the start of the iPhone era

Sometimes I’ll additionally bring out more detailed paper charts, but for when I have to go into deep details, I actually find it smoother and more relaxing at that point to go to Stellarium on my iPad which I’ll have nearby. Similarly, I find GoSkyWatch on my iPhone more relaxing as a planisphere than my paper planisphere. Oh yeah, and I’ll also typically include use of a laser for collimation instead of strictly limiting myself to that collimation cap as I’m going for a smooth, simple experience, not necessarily the most pure non-electric/electronic one. 

 

Sometimes just my one-hand-out-the-door 72ED is the way to go for the most equipment-invisible experience, or, as others have mentioned, binoculars. I like using my 72ED with Plossls for some reason — feels like a fun, mellow, low tech match. I especially like the 72ED for a quick ‘bright objects’ session (ex. catch a view of the Moon, or maybe Venus or a comet after sunset), while I especially like the binoculars when the sky is dark, clear and filled with stars

[Jon Isaacs]

I think you are misunderstanding or maybe oversimplifying the meaning of Zen. Being able to calm oneself and deal with a complicated situation is also an expression of zen. Some people actually love and find relaxation in sorting out what others might find difficult problems. One must each find their own Buddha nature. I see you found yours.

 

Bill

 

Zen Buddhism is a meditative practice that involves long hours of sitting still with ones self.  What is commonly thought of as Zen by the general public is not Zen. This is a dharma talk with her students by the Zen teacher Joko Beck:

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=KTc5RHNwr1I

 

That said, for me, amateur astronomy is primarily a solitary experience, being alone with myself, a telescope and the universe. It is a meditation on some level, it is an intellectual, spiritual, emotional experience,  "Communing with the Universe", "Being in the Zone", "In the moment."  For me, satisfaction is when it just flows, one moment to the next without judgment, total concentration in what I am doing without thoughts of elsewhere.  "Lost in the eyepiece."

 

In some sense, this is independent of the equipment I am using though my equipment, large or small, is chosen for its simplicity, the interaction, the relationship between myself, my friend the telescope and the universe is an intimate one.  I ask of the telescope only those things than I cannot do myself.  

 

A good night, that is not measured by the number of objects I have logged but rather by the experience, was I distracted and just going through the motions or was I totally involved, "in the moment", "in the zone."

 

Jon

[balcon3]

An important part of the enjoyment for me is not being rushed. I live in a big city so I have to drive about 30 minutes to a Bortle 6 zone to get enjoyable observation, which I can do about once a week. I like to arrive at dusk, when the sun has set but it is still light. That way I can set up calmly and ease into the night as more and more stars appear. I also like to be in a quiet place. I don't enjoy viewing from the city, even the moon or planets where light pollution doesn't matter. For me, astronomy is intimately connected to it being dark and out in nature, hearing the sounds of hidden animals. As others have mentioned above, I have gravitated towards manual AltAz mounts with no electronics, for the simplicity. I don't even like using a phone. I use a printed sky atlas and a red flashlight. I very much enjoy finding new objects, which can be a challenge if one is relying solely on charts. The challenge doesn't take away from the "Zen" because I am learning the sky as I am searching. And once I have found something new, and found it again on another night, a little bit more of our spot in the universe becomes known to me and I find this profoundly satisfying.

 

Here is my favorite spot and setup, waiting for darkness.

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[jcj380]

I use small refractors on manual alt-az mounts, but truly Zen was stumbling out of my tent in a B3 zone about 0200 and looking up at a sky so covered with stars that I could barely make out the constellations.

Edited by jcj380, 14 June 2025 - 05:21 AM.

[HellsKitchen]

My set ups have always been Alt Az or dobs. Never used an EQ mount in my life! For me, this hobby is about simplicity, because life already has too many complications, computers, screens, passwords, you name it. For me, "Zen" is going out with a simple no nonsense scope, a paper atlas, a set of eyepieces and star hop to where I want to go, because, in the words of Clark W. Griswold, getting there is half the fun