Re: David Levy moving to Astronomy

On 4 Ιαν, 20:41, mommycal...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

After reading Naeye's editorial I got as far as typing up nasty
letter, putting it in an envelope and putting a stamp on. I may mail
the letter, but I doubt this fool will care whether a 44 year
subscriber continues his subscription or not. I have 44 years bound
Sky and Telescope's on my bookshelf and I often refer to them,
particularly the Deep Sky Wonders and Telescope Making articles. It is
very clear that Seronik has dumbed down the telescope making section
compared to Bob Cox. Indeed Seronik has done more harm than good.
Saying that nobody builds their own scopes any more is foolish as a
quick search on the web will prove. Seronik's job is to encourage to
make people feel that it is impossible. Sue French has been able to
salvage Deep Sky Wonders, but I'm afraid she won't be around along. As
far as more astrophotography: I wonder just how many people can afford
a $1300 CCD camera and a $1500 mount (Orion prices) to make a 8 hour
exposure at an increasing rare dark site two hours from home . Looks
like Sky and Telescope is going to die off.

Personally I am not worried about the $1300 CCD camera and/or the
$1500 mount ... these prices are peanuts ... but what worries me is
the degradation in the weather. For me personally, winters are out the
window as far as imaging is concerned which means I have a six-month
window of opportunity to do my work (April through October) each year.
My belief is that the weather is the real threat to astronomy (amateur
and ground-based professional).

No matter how good your equipment may be and how good your seeing and
lack of light pollution may also be, it means didley squat if the
clear skies are not there to allow one to spend a few quality hours
under the night sky.

It has been five to six weeks and I have yet to manage a mere 2-hr
window so that I can at least pursue an open cluster. Predictions for
the next ten days are more of the same: clouds and rains.

I am happy to see S&T take a more serious look at astrophotography.
Take one look at the forums and you will see that a serious amount of
bandwidth does indeed involve astrophotography.

As for S&T, I have also noted a decline in the quality and, in fact, I
find myself spending more time reading my monthly issue of Astronomy
than S&T. I have never been a fan of David Levy and, therefore, I feel
indifferent where he ends up.

Anthony.
.

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