Re: The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- From: Phil Wheeler <w6tuh-ng7@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 17:48:06 GMT
LarryG wrote:
In a few weeks, I will have another birthday past my fiftieth.
My next will be the big 70.
The effects of aging are beginning to affect my habits and
choices in this hobby.
Oh yes,indeed. As I get older I find I'm less interested in making the sacrifices needed for "serious" observing (driving 2-3 hrs to a desert dark-sky site and such).
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.
My most used instrument (that and my P.S.T); mine is on either a Microstar (widefield scans) or Bogen 410 geared head (higher magnification looks at moon and planets).
It is so much more comfortable to be warmed by the Sun while observing ... so the PST gets good use :)
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.
I gave away my 10" Dob recently, realizing that to get best use of it required lugging elsewhere and that I have lost interest in doing that. My 8" SCT (Nexstar) will find the faint fuzzies from home, even with polluted skies. Alas .. I do not have a place where I can leave it set up, and that means I use it only when I can anticipate a few hours of clear skies. And set up means dodging streetlights by choosing just the right spot for it .. with part of the sky occulted by the structures blocking the streetlights. At this point it is the only instrument I have which is EQ .. though I am considering either a wedge for my 8" SCT (do I really want to fuss with setting that up very often?) or a GEM for my 80 mm APO (same question).
My third scope is a C5+ 5" SCT that travels well and is EQ mounted; doesn't get a lot of use, but with Starbright optics fully renovated by Celestron in 2003, it is a keeper.
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
I've had a set of Lanthanums for 10 or so years. My most used EP is an 8-24 mm LV zoom. I recently added some Orthos and a 2.5x TV Powermate for my 80mm APO .. since it supports power much better than the achromat it replaced.
FINDERS and STAR DIAGONALS
Right angle, correct orientation (no reversal of just
one axis.) As one gets older, agility wanes.
I have an RDF (Stellarvue or Rigel) on each scope. Tired of squinting through even 9x50 finders!
VIEWING SUPPORT
A chair or ladder is often instrumental in allowing
one to obtain and hold a stable eye position while
viewing.
Have a chair, but don't use it much. I always seem to be moving around too frequently. Ladder? No way: I'd likely fall onto my patio and break something.
Phil
.
- References:
- The Aging Amateur Astronomer
- From: LarryG
- The Aging Amateur Astronomer
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