[AZ-Observing] Re: Any Advice?

Stan,

I went through the same phase. I put it down to a combination of the aging 
process together with the loss of the initial enthusiasm that I had 
experienced when I first took up the hobby - after all, seeing the Orion 
Nebula for the first time was just absolutely marvellous, as was seeing 10 
galaxies in the same FOV in the Virgo cluster.  But 10 years later and the 
same views repeated hundreds of times tends to make things less spectacular 
- the Law of Diminshing Returns. And the aging process does not enhance 
one's staying power. Fold in the cold nights (I feel the cold more as I get 
older) and those long drives through the ever-increasing light polluted 
housing tracts and it is just natural that the initial charm diminishes.

Everybody is different, so all I can do is pass on my evolution through this 
stage.

Firstly, I decided to pass on deep sky observing. This saved me a lot of 
travelling time as well as the hassle of packing my vehicle, unpacking the 
vehicle, setting up, taking down, packing etc etc etc.

Secondly, I decided to 'take a break' for a spell. Just de-emphasize the 
practice of the hobby, but also to get more involved in the adminstrative 
side of EVAC thereby keeping my hand in things.

Thirdly, I began to develop my observing in areas that I could do from my 
backyard. There is a wealth of things that do NOT require a dark sky - the 
Sun, the Moon, double stars, planets, asteroids, brighter clusters, brighter 
planetaries, etc. Even some kind of 2nd rate dark sky observing is still 
possible in my light-polluted Gilbert back yard - M81/82, Sombrero, Eskimo, 
etc.  But right now I am having a ball tracking Mercury in the west, and 
tracking Vesta in virgo (almost naked eye !), and I just got a pair of 15x 
image stabilized binoculars (see my upcoming article in the Newsletter) - 
where my observing sessions now require almost zero set-up and are conducted 
in the warmth and comfort of my backyard.  I do have a refractor, but it is 
kept permanently set up on wheels, and it takes me only a few minutes to 
wheel it outside.

And finally, I stopped any kind of observing program. I used to put a lot of 
work into making up lists, copying maps, checking off my "accomplishments", 
etc.  - a LOT of wok.  Now I just thumb through S&T and if something catches 
my interest, then I will set aside half an hour that evening to look at it - 
simple, quick, no hassle, and VERY enjoyable !  And if the planets are up, 
I'll also look at them, or I'll look at M35, or the Moon, or whatever 
happens to be there. My hobby is no longer work, its fun.

Stan, I hope I've not rambled on too much .....

Silvio.


>I started observing with EVAC in the mid 90's per my notes and early
>sketches.  I was in my forties and didn't have any visual challenges to 
>speak
>of.   However, somewhere along the way, my observing sessions became more
>laborious and I don't know what to do.  I think it may be due to the fact
>that seeing printed materials and star charts etc. has become much more
>difficult in low red lighting conditions requiring taking glasses on and 
>off,
>etc. and making the experience less discovery oriented and more "work."  In
>fact, I found myself experiencing much more fatigue as well.  Has anyone
>experienced this?  Is this something unique to me or to my age?  Any ideas 
>as
>to how to get past this difficult phase if that's what it is?
>
>Looking for a second wind...
>
>Stan F.
>
>
>--
>See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please
>send personal replies to the author, not the list.
>


_________________________________________________________________
STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.

Other related posts: