The Pros and Cons of Stargazing

[Nexus 6]

Mine are no doubt very common to many of us.

British weather is a major con, as such I declare we must need our heads testing for trying to take pleasure from our hobby when we have to put up with what it throws at us.

"I knew this would happen"....its actually looking good for observing BUT I must oblige and miss out due to a prior engagement booked months before, make that another con, dealt by fate

Work....that's a con no matter how you look at it.

Illness...no getting away from the fact if you are its so difficult to focus on astronomy, you can feel like life's a con.

Sitting looking at equipment gathering dust ever felt like you've be conned?.

The pros are easy

one or two good nights observing part of Cosmos is all that's needed to make it all fell so worthwhile

we don't ask for much do we? but we sure pay a lot for our enjoyment of the night skies.

Clear Skies SGL

here's hoping 2012 is a record breaker...for nights of cloudless skies.

[Bart]

I agree, we must be mad spending all this money and hoping against hope we can get out to use it once in a while.

But I also agree that a good night observing gnerates the hunger for more.

Its my view that if we actually got more time observing we'd spend less, as the boredom takes over, and thats one way of participating in the pastime.

Bart

[smudgeball]

I think if you got out every night without fail, that would be a con and you'd probably get board as mentioned.

At least you can rest assured that it's a pastime that will always offer something new and exciting.

That's a good Pro for me.

[Nexus 6]

guess it would be too much... endless nights of clear skies, doubt I'd be able to cope not something we'll ever have to worry about living in the Uk and Ireland

roll on the next night of decent skies

[Bart]

guess it would be too much... endless nights of clear skies, doubt I'd be able to cope not something we'll ever have to worry about living in the Uk and Ireland

roll on the next night of decent skies

You know, Nexus 6, when I bought my first scope in Jan of this year, I couldn't believe how often I got out for the following 2 or 3 months, it was fantastic. I thought to myself "I usually slag off the Irish weather, but maybe its better than I think".

I now realise that was an abberation and have come back to Earth with a bang. Pun intended.

Bart

[tbird]

The weather really is crazy, just been sat outside in a T shirt trying out my new Tal barlow.

I would sooner have been in my coat and freezing cold but with some clear skies though.

[SamAndrew]

light pollution!

Fingers crossed, the Governments slow response to replace our nuclear power station will cause lots of blackouts in the years to come

[Nexus 6]

ight pollution!

yes, forgot to add that, well its a con all right, we all pay to have the streets light up all night! what a waste of money

they should be all fitted with sensors so they trip on when any hedgehogs approach after all who's out at 3.00am apart from us lot and the wildlife?

[swamp thing]

When I drove trucks on night runs years ago it always amazed me how much energy was wasted lighting up roads, when all cars to my knowledge are fitted with lights.

Mile after mile of motorways ( where pedestrians aren't allowed) lit up, why?

If you can't see to drive you are a danger and shouldn't even be on the road period.

[Beulah]

Pros: Those rare moments which I have narrowed down to about two times a year out of on average 60 attempts at observing, when conditions are perfect in the sense that the seeing, transparency, lack of light pollution, spot-on-collimation and general DSO hunting 'mojo'. They are truly worth all the nights of frustration.

Cons: the opposite of the pros.

[Nexus 6]

Those rare moments which I have narrowed down to about two times a year out of on average 60 attempts at observing, when conditions are perfect in the sense that the seeing, transparency, lack of light pollution, spot-on-collimation and general DSO hunting 'mojo'. They are truly worth all the nights of frustration.

agree, it doesn't take much to make it all seem so worthwhile

like a few, I noticed the effect of a good night conditions wise here last saturday/sunday

great views of M42 being a particular highlight

[Nexus 6]

When I drove trucks on night runs years ago it always amazed me how much energy was wasted lighting up roads, when all cars to my knowledge are fitted with lights.

Mile after mile of motorways ( where pedestrians aren't allowed) lit up, why?

If you can't see to drive you are a danger and shouldn't even be on the road period.

complete waste Steve...

[swamp thing]

Must admit:

I haven't been out for weeks:(

The weathers been pants

I am so hoping to get one decent night this winter without the moon being nearly full.

Every year we wait for the long nights of winter and the promise of cold clear nights.

Every year we get clouds, clouds, and more clouds the only good clear nights are around the full moon. Sigh:(

No good for even lunar lovers.

The only decent nights recently have been the ones when either the moons been nearly full or when my blumming vans been off the road so no observing.

Man I'm getting fed up.

Reading the good nights others have had is the only thing keeping me sane ATM.

Thank goodness for SGL and the great observing reports and great people on here.

Regards Steve

[LukeSkywatcher]

Con: Cats jumping over the wall at 3am and scaring the bejaysus out of you.

Pro: Having a dog with you that hates cats.

Con: The noise the above said cat hating dog makes while chasing away the cat.

Pro: No more cats jumping the wall scaring the bejaysus out of you.

[Photosbykev]

Pros: the solitude of solo night photography

Cons: the unpredictable weather, the expense of waiting for the next clear break; clouds = more time to spend on equipment.