Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- From: "RMOLLISE" <rmollise@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 25 Feb 2006 07:13:15 -0800
Hi:
LarryG wrote:
In a few weeks, I will have another birthday past my fiftieth.
The effects of aging are beginning to affect my habits and
choices in this hobby. And with the not-so-new news that the
baby-boomers will soon start to retire (if they can afford to
do so), a number of questions arise for both the experienced
amateur, and those who suddenly find time and interest in this
activity.
I passed the "50" milestone a few years ago. Thus far, the only MAJOR
change has been in my closeup vision (reading...eyepiece viewing is not
affected).
I do need reading glasses to view charts now. Actually, this started
coming on when I hit 40. Hell, in my 30s I thought nothng of using
those tiny _Peterson's_ charts (Wil Tirion) at the scope. Now I find
that I need reading glasses and a brighter red light than I'd like are
required; even for _Sky Atlas 2000 Deluxe_.
On the other hand, since I'm using goto scopes almost exclusively now,
I find I don't need charts often. I will have to whip out my spectacles
to see the HC or laptop screen clearly sometimes, but that's about it.
..
TWO TELESCOPES
1. A portable 80-100mm short tube refractor
- for wide field, high image brightness, low magnification
views. Great for sky sweeping, large patches of the milky way,
open clusters, large nebulae, and maybe casual terrestrial/
nature viewing. It should be on a light, but stable alt-
azimuth mount.
I don't like alt-az mounts, never have. Well, they are OK for dobs, but
for a small refractor? No way. Even an EQ-1 is more stable than the
average photo/video tripod. Commercial alt-az mounts? There are some
good ones and quite a few bad ones. I'm not of a mind to give up easy
tracking, though.
And just TWO telescopes? :-)
I do have a grab 'n go scope (currently an ETX125), but not because I'm
decrepit (overly). I am no more reluctant to setup a C8 in the backyard
to spend a few minutes on the Moon than I was when I was in my 20s. But
it is very nice to have a smaller scope when the sky can be best
described as: "a few sucker holes."
OK, I will admit that maybe I'm a little less likely to haul an 11 or
12 inch (or larger) scope to a star party than I used to be. And the
Ultima 8 _was_ beginning to whisper about my poor achin' back, so I did
remove her OTA and place it on a Celestron CG5 (really, mainly because
the mount offers goto...nothing to do with my broken down physical
condition...you believe me, doncha? ;-)).
At any rate, I am reluctant to take any scope smaller than 8 inches to
a star party or dark observing site, and still do haul the Nexstar 11
to the occasional event. I think if there's a change coming in my
habits, it will be toward more manageable GEM mounted instruments. An
Orange Tube C14 really is "too much" for me now as a portable scope
<sigh>. Most folks can handle a surprisingly large GEM-mount scope
since it can be broken down into bite-size pieces.
2. A fixed location large scope.
- My preference would be for a 10" to 12" dobsonian, f/6
or greater. I never tire of the moon, planets, and small,
bright nebula. An 8" to 14" SCT or 7" Mak might also work,
if one can afford them. The unit should be on a fixed pier
mount or roll-out casters. Lugging a heavy scope is not
practical or desirable as one gets older.
If the scope is "fixed" (in an observatory, I presume you mean), why
would you want a dob? a 12 - 14 - 16 inch SCT provides far more
capability--far more--and if you don't have to move it around, who
cares how much it weighs. They are also amazingly affordable,
especially as a retirement scope--when you get to cash in on that 401K
;-).
EYEPIECES
Most people's eyesight and visual acuity deteriorate with
age. Eyeglasses and contacts help, but contacts are a
lot of bother for some people. Also, maximum pupil
openning decreases, raising the minimum magnification for
full illumination. Ways of dealing with these problems
include:
- long eye relief eyepieces - Lanthanums and similar
- barlow plus long focal length eyepieces
- long focal lengths for both telescope and eyepiece
I don't have any need nor much love for eyepieces with over generous
eye relief. What I mainly find as I get older is not problems with
eye-relief. What I notice is that floaters in my eyes are somewhat more
prominent, leading me to avoid setups with too-small exit pupils.
Acuity wise, at this point I can still appreciate a good Nagler (or
the new Uwans).
The good news is that with the loss of some visual
acuity, there is a corresponding loss of need for
premium quality eyepieces. More magnification may be
needed for the same detail to be apparent to an older
person, and dimmer image will also result. General
purpose Plossls will satisfy a greater variety of
situations.
I've thought about this factor, but it has not, as above, asserted
itself yet. My eyes can easily tell the difference between a TV and a
Chinese plossl.
FINDERS and STAR DIAGONALS
Right angle, correct orientation (no reversal of just
one axis.) As one gets older, agility wanes. The
contortionist peering through a straight or reflex
finder to something nearly overhead is just not possible
any more. Right angle viewing is required.
This is true, in spades. The EQ fork-mounted Ultima 8, even with a good
finder, was killin' me, especially when I wanted to look at objects at
far northern declinations. But now since I use goto almost
exclusively, I only need to contort myself long enough to center a few
alignment stars. IMHO, the answer is not finders, but goto or DSCs for
us "seniors" <ulp>... I doubt I will ever use an EQ mounted fork scope
for visual use ever again.
VIEWING SUPPORT
A chair or ladder is often instrumental in allowing
one to obtain and hold a stable eye position while
viewing. Such a thing should be considered an essential
part of the observer's equipment.
Forget ladders. If I have to perch on a ladder, I ain't gonna look
long. That's the beauty of SCTs and MCTs. Do all your observing while
seated.
Oh, I'm sure the day will come when I just can't handle even a C8
anymore. When it does, a few decades down the road I hope, I'll get
that Questar 3.5 I've dreamed of and vacillated about for so long.
For now, though, I ain't goin' smaller than 8 inches for most tasks.
And you'd be surprised what I've seen with a C8 at dark sites (and
especially with a Stellacam II hooked to it ;-)).
I think this post is an important one, as many of us who've been in
this game for many, many years, us babyboomers, and are noticing a few
changes in the old bods. I will say I can still go til dawn, maybe just
not quite as OFTEN as I used to. ;-)
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of: _Choosing and Using an SCT_, and _The Urban Astronomers's
Guide_.
_http://members.aol.com/rmollise/index.html_
(http://members.aol.com/rmollise/index.html)
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- From: Edd Weninger
- Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- References:
- The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- From: LarryG
- The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- Prev by Date: Re: How High the Eyepiece?
- Next by Date: Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- Previous by thread: Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- Next by thread: Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
