Open mind and ears

[And_yB]

Yeah sorry that did sound smug.  Thanks for the steer seriously.  Simple is best... particularly for me at the moment.

[And_yB]

Maybe one day John... although I guess that would be like a learner jumping into Farrari right now

[John]

9 minutes ago, And_yB said:

Maybe one day John... although I guess that would be like a learner jumping into Farrari right now

Dobs are really simple to use but very potent indeed. Under the dark skies of the Spanish mountains a big aperture scope would be a fabulous tool. Even my moderate 12 inch dob shows amazing views under dark skies

I didn't find your post smug at all. We have astronomers based all over the world on here

[And_yB]

I must admit that the evenings I have spent sitting on the patio looking up at an amazing sky are too numerous to count.   The contrast to what can by seen by the naked eye in northern Europe is incredible.   Having had an interest in all things in the cosmos since a very young age, it was a natural choice as a hobby for retirement... and I'm sure all on here would agree to that.

[John]

2 minutes ago, And_yB said:

I must admit that the evenings I have spent sitting on the patio looking up at an amazing sky are too numerous to count.   The contrast to what can by seen by the naked eye in northern Europe is incredible.   Having had an interest in all things in the cosmos since a very young age, it was a natural choice as a hobby for retirement... and I'm sure all on here would agree to that.

Yes indeed.

I've been observing for about 40 years now but since I retired in 2011 I've been able to take advantage of more clear nights without having to worry about getting up early the following morning.

I hope you enjoy your journey of discovery