ollypenrice Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 It seems that astronomy has always had its frustrations. I just read this excerpt from Allan Chapman's excellent book The Victorian Amateur Astronomer: 'The making of object glasses is a dreadful and tedious labour.' So trying was it that, 'Men have been known to go and throw their heads under waggon wheels, and have them smashed, from being reguarly worn out with working an object glass, and not being able to get the convex right.' Although we can now buy inexpensive object glasses we have the new terror of the Windows Update ready to send us out in search of passing waggon wheels. Good job these have gone scarce! Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 2 minutes ago, ollypenrice said: Although we can now buy inexpensive object glasses we have the new terror of the Windows Update ready to send us out in search of passing waggon wheels. Good job these have gone scarce! 'Tis true, Olly, Windows 10 automatic updates often have me searching for a wagon wheel - even though we are out in the sticks here, there are usually only one two wagons passing by each day and you have to duck to miss the horses hooves ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey-T Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Kinda ironic that computers have made perfect objectives easy and " cheap " to produce and then stab us in the back when we're using them Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rl Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 To err is human....to mess (paraphrase) it up completely requires a computer.... I had the same experience last night..Bill Gates' evil updater brought the AP session to a grinding halt. ...Gave up and enjoyed a visual session with my John Owen handmade triplet refractor on an a push-to mount. The OG has a tiny scratch on surface six....I can see him spotting this and saying "sod it. I'm not doing all that again..." to himself... I've often wondered how many hours and re-works it took to make that OG..I know I'd never have the patience. RL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkSteele Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 I am guessing you nabbed that book off the review reading list, that was my first choice as I always enjoy his lectures. Sounds like I might just have to purchase a copy instead! ? We really do take for granted sometimes just how lucky we are with the ready availability of good quality kit for not much money. That change seems to have come about in not very long a space of time. Even in the mid 90s, an entry level scope would cost several hundred pounds. Today for the same money (disregarding inflation) you get so much more. Any usually better quality as well. Thankfully we don't see too many wagons in Chelsea anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarsG76 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 I completely get it... Man, lucky that wagon wheels are hard to find or I'd be in a bit of trouble during a lot of observing or imaging sessions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollypenrice Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 31 minutes ago, DirkSteele said: I am guessing you nabbed that book off the review reading list, that was my first choice as I always enjoy his lectures. Sounds like I might just have to purchase a copy instead! ? We really do take for granted sometimes just how lucky we are with the ready availability of good quality kit for not much money. That change seems to have come about in not very long a space of time. Even in the mid 90s, an entry level scope would cost several hundred pounds. Today for the same money (disregarding inflation) you get so much more. Any usually better quality as well. Thankfully we don't see too many wagons in Chelsea anymore! Sorry!!! You're right, I did. I move like lightning for an old'un... Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben the Ignorant Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 1 hour ago, ollypenrice said: 'The making of object glasses is a dreadful and tedious labour.' So trying was it that, 'Men have been known to go and throw their heads under waggon wheels, and have them smashed, from being reguarly worn out with working an object glass, and not being able to get the convex right.' The right reaction was to experiment with other techniques and/or other materials. How could they not see something in their method wasn't right? Doing systematic research is also tedious labor but it always goes forward, and after you've done it you have your solution and you can go back to figuring lenses without despair and randomness. I have great respect for researchers and creative people, they made all of humanity's tasks easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollypenrice Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 34 minutes ago, Ben the Ignorant said: The right reaction was to experiment with other techniques and/or other materials. How could they not see something in their method wasn't right? Doing systematic research is also tedious labor but it always goes forward, and after you've done it you have your solution and you can go back to figuring lenses without despair and randomness. I have great respect for researchers and creative people, they made all of humanity's tasks easier. I think we can be fairly sure that they knew something in their method wasn't right. The 'waggon wheel' moment comes when, after much effort, you still don't know what it is... Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old_eyes Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Come on people! You know what we are like. As technology makes things easier we push it to the edge to do more things. We are never satisfied and always looking to do more. We live at that boundary where the benefits we see are just more than the frustration we feel. Personally, I would rather deal with frustrating computers than hypersensitised film and manual guiding through an eyepiece.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 14 hours ago, ollypenrice said: It seems that astronomy has always had its frustrations. I just read this excerpt from Allan Chapman's excellent book The Victorian Amateur Astronomer: 'The making of object glasses is a dreadful and tedious labour.' So trying was it that, 'Men have been known to go and throw their heads under waggon wheels, and have them smashed, from being reguarly worn out with working an object glass, and not being able to get the convex right.' Although we can now buy inexpensive object glasses we have the new terror of the Windows Update ready to send us out in search of passing waggon wheels. Good job these have gone scarce! Olly The modern version of throwing your head under a wagon wheel is "Throw yourself under a bus". You may have to wait a while, but then 3 of them come at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 8 minutes ago, LukeSkywatcher said: The modern version of throwing your head under a wagon wheel is "Throw yourself under a bus". That's because, as everyone knows, wagon wheels have got so much smaller. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 44 minutes ago, JamesF said: That's because, as everyone knows, wagon wheels have got so much smaller. James And less tasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimvb Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 21 hours ago, ollypenrice said: The making of object glasses is a dreadful and tedious labour.' So trying was it that, 'Men have been known to go and throw their heads under waggon wheels, and have them smashed, from being reguarly worn out with working an object glass, and not being able to get the convex right.' Does it say anything about mirror makers? (? implied) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE AMENDALL Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I prefer Doritos to wagon wheels .Once you start you can't stop! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 9 hours ago, DAVE AMENDALL said: I prefer Doritos to wagon wheels .Once you start you can't stop! Dave Copyright infringement there. That's Pringles slogan...ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE AMENDALL Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Oh I haven't had Pringles for years, i did'nt know you could still get them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 41 minutes ago, DAVE AMENDALL said: Oh I haven't had Pringles for years, i did'nt know you could still get them They dont taste like they used to. Cheaper ingredients and all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L8-Nite Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I don't need no stinking updates ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul M Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I'm not even sure what this thread is about now, but mine's (another) gin, if you're asking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 48 minutes ago, Paul M said: I'm not even sure what this thread is about now, but mine's (another) gin, if you're asking... Oh go on then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hallingskies Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 I kno knothing about Windows 10, but if you have the Pro version, can you not just elect to turn automatic updates off? Or has Mr. Gates decided that he knows best now? All of the other flavours of Windows laptops and PCs I have, have automatic updates turned off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiponJas Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 2 hours ago, Hallingskies said: I kno knothing about Windows 10, but if you have the Pro version, can you not just elect to turn automatic updates off? Or has Mr. Gates decided that he knows best now? All of the other flavours of Windows laptops and PCs I have, have automatic updates turned off. Ditto ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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