How much have you spent over the years? - Astronomy might be cheaper than you think.

[Tim99]

I have only been involved in this obsession for about a year and I keep all my receipts in a notebook so that when i croak, my kids will know what this stuff is worth.    

[A40farinagolf]

I must be losing my touch as I haven't bought any astro related stuff for weeks, having said that I've just had my offer accepted on a cottage that

has a large garden, good outlook and darkish skies that make it suitable for an obsy so watch this space.

My total spent on astronomy could be going skywards soon if I include the price of the cottage.

[ArmyAirForce]

I've just bought a Lunt Ha solar scope, bringing my total to £4725 in three and a half years of astronomy. Astro is still my cheapest hobby.

[cyrille-86]

hello , I have spend about 1645€ (about 1215 Pounds ) , For :

100 ed  on NEQ 3.2 (with motor ) ,                 850 € 

eyepieces 50mm 2" ,                                       80€

32 mm plossl ,                                                 30€

16.8  / 9 / 6 / 5 mm ortho ,                               300€

NPB filter ,                                                       70€

Seben Zoom 7.2 / 21.5 ( good zoom ) ,          90€ 

Diagonal wedge Takahashi  ,                          85€

and Herschel Wedge .                                      140€

I think that I have enougth for a long time . 

[jnb]

We are not the only guilty ones. My wife posted this on face book recently.

[Roy Challen]

hello , I have spend about 1645€ (about 1215 Pounds ) , For :

100 ed on NEQ 3.2 (with motor ) , 850 €

eyepieces 50mm 2" , 80€

32 mm plossl , 30€

16.8 / 9 / 6 / 5 mm ortho , 300€

NPB filter , 70€

Seben Zoom 7.2 / 21.5 ( good zoom ) , 90€

Diagonal wedge Takahashi , 85€

and Herschel Wedge . 140€

I think that I have enougth for a long time .

Yes, but what about next year?

[Charic]

I wrote a similar thread in April '14 but in reality, I have spent very little upgrading my Skyliner, compared to other budgets here.

The ED EPs suit the f/6 scope very well and I get very good views. Only a side-by-side comparison with a 12" Skyliner and some TeleVue EPs will change my circumstances, if the difference proved to be impressive.

From my site, I doubt there would be major improvement, however, Im fortunate enough to have unpolluted skies close by, where the 12" would be better, but then the size and weight of the scope becomes an issue for transporting?

[Macavity]

It's quite easy to add up the cost of my scopes.

TS/GSO 8" f/4 Newt, MAK150, ED66, ST102.

Nothing "expensive"... none more than £400?

Two Watec video cameras @ £4-500 each...

A measly £200 for my ZWO planetary cam?

An HEQ5 and a pillar mount... £1000 total.

My "Alexanders Observatory" cost a bit...

But it's the (hidden) rest that mounts up?

(Notwithstanding stuff I have sold on too)

Implementing  a remote control observatory

setup... I rarely seemed to return from B&Q

or Maplins (notwithstanding CPC Farnells!)

with much change from £50 each time...

BUT I GENUINELY believe my major spend

has come to an end now. Of course, being

single, I don't have to account in detail...

[Casus belli]

About £3.500.  Which is still less than the wife has spent on shoes.  (yes I am still using that argument to justify what I spend on this hobby)

[John]

I have been in the hobby for over 30 years now so I genuinely can't recall how much I've spent on equipment over that time

I've owned 25+ scopes and dozens of eyepieces but the vast majority were bought used and then sold on to fund something else. I guess an investment has been gently circulating over the years but I have added some more £'s from time to time as needed.

In contrast, the memories of what I've seen through the gear I've owned are much fresher, from initial thrilling glimpses of timeless favourites such as Saturn and my first galaxies M81 and M82 back in the mid-1980's to the detailed exploration I was undertaking in the Veil Nebula the night before last. Whatever the investment is, it seems good value when I think of all the enjoyment