Observing Session Tonight - 3rd Oct 2005

[Mike]

Well we never got to do any observing, but we had a few drinks and a good chat that covered things as diverse as :-

CCD imaging
Childhood fascinations with astronomy
How to spend as little as possible on astro equipment
Spanish jewellery
Conspiracy theories about American oil companies buying up new technologies
The height of children in Croydon in the 1950's
Japanese tourists
Freezing and defrosting dogs

Well it certainly kept me entertained for a few hours! Better than a night in front of the telly anyday!

[Ian]

"How to spend as little as possible on astronomy" - not a long conversation then....

[Mike]

I must admit it didn't last long as most people said that in their own experience they had every good intention of buying cheaply, but before they knew it had spent triple what they intended!

I've spent over a grand this last 2 months just buying bits and bobs for my equipment. It all adds up. Still, if it's looked after it will last many many years so it's all worth it in the long run.

[JohnP]

Nice one Mike - I'll have to use that one '... it's all worth it in the long run....' on the wife the next time I 'smuggle' some astronomical goodies into the house...  

[Mike]

Well it's true. Look at Paul's C8. I think he has had it something like 15 years now and it must have cost a small fortune at the time. He has looked after it and it is still going strong. if you spread that initial cost over those 15 years it is a lot less a year than some other hobbies. Astronomy is expensive initially, but once you have what you want, as logn as you don't get aperture fever or anything it's cheap to maintain.

[JohnP]

I can agree in part with your argument but still maintain that there is always something new to buy or dream for like better mount, better optics, new software, better eyepieces, faster laptop...... etc. etc. & none of it comes cheap. Of course it depends what enjoyment you get from astronomy i.e. whether you are happy scanning around at the wonders of the universe with a pair of bino's or if you are one of those astronomers out to image those faint photons that have taken hundreads/ thousands of years to reach us..... I think you'll agree that when it comes to imaging the results are on the whole in direct proportion to how much you spend.

Anyway, I think it's probably one of those topics where you could argue all night long (obviously all day long if you are observing.... )

John.

PS - If it's cloudy at the next observing night perhaps we could ponder over the question .... 'what's the speed of darkness....'

PPS - Weather forecast looks good for tonight...