Re: Celestron C9 Question FL

Doink wrote:
> I used to recommend this group to people getting started in astronomy, now I
> caution them against it. They don't need to be clubbed over the head for
> asking a question like "should I buy a Radian eyepiece" or even the classic
> "what's the best telescope I can get for $500"----believe it or not, both
> those question can be answered with patience.

Actually, I think these questions very often are answered with patience,
but the few impatient answers are quite loud and can easily overwhelm
the general tenor of the group. It's very easy to get your fur up when
you read SAA and it takes a while to learn how to stop before things
get too riled up. Everyone here (myself included, of course!) has their
foibles and it's good to remember what they are, so you know what to
dismiss out of hand. Hell, I usually edit a good part of my own posts
down by figuring out which part of them I'd dismiss myself.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words. I can't say as I always live up to
them, but I try. I think one of your core messages--that we ought to
answer the question being asked, instead of the one we want to answer--
is a good one to keep in mind. I know I'm always going off on tangents.

And I also commend you for your local efforts in building an astronomy
community. I know it's hard enough even in an urban area where there
are lots of people; I can only imagine how hard it is to do in a remote
region. It's important stuff, though.

Brian Tung <brian@xxxxxxx>
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt
.