Searching for the Perfect Telescope

There are times when I wonder if some folks who claim to be amateur astronomers really have a different hobby - the endless search for the perfect telescope. When folks keep posting requests for "shoot outs" between high end telescopes, I have to wonder if "owning the best" (or at least the perceived best) is more important than having a fine telescope out under the night sky. We are fortunate to have a wide number of choices these days, and any top of the line telescope that fits an individual's observing needs is quite capable of providing a lifetime of pleasure.

Clear skies, Alan

I think sometimes this quest is inversely proportional to the number of clear nights available for actual observing per year

Gotta focus (pun intended) on something!

I've about come to the point myself where I would be willing to step back a little, to have less money invested, just to help me stop thinking about it all. I'm tired of finding out that one person's big improvement is to me a minor thing or that somebody else's idea of an egregious defect isn't even a bother to me. Sometimes that even goes the other way, with somebody else thinking some factor isn't much of a bother and it turning out to be something that I just won't put up with, e.g. eye relief below 5 or 6mm.
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Mike

I found mine. Two scopes that will be highly utilized and meets my personal observing perferences... and I'll leave it at that.

Rob

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I think this a key aspect of that "endless search" scenario, Alan. Too often, the perceived "need" is based on (&/or related to) the successes of others, & the credit for those successes is much-too-heavily biased towards equipment. Skill & experience are discounted *far* too much. I see this same scenario in many other recreational pursuits & hobbies: golf, bowling, bicycling, photography, home/car audio, etc... Seems the notion is that greater success (hence greater satisfaction & joy) is more easily attained via "better" (&/or more) equipment. Tools over skills.

I believe I rebel against this notion a little (almost subconciously, at times) whenever I go off on one of my "small scope" bents, pushing the limits of 2- and 3-inch apertures.

The "perfect scope?" If the idea is that the perfect scope is one which feeds an observer perfect joy, then, hey -- I already it. Actually, I have a few of them.

If I were to end up being "stuck with" and "limited by" my 60mm, 75mm, and 150mm scopes (as well as my modest binoculars), for the rest of my life, I'm certain their "perfection" would never die.

Cheers and best wishes.
-Dan

So why don't we all go over to the "observing" forum? Why do we always "meet" here where that is the only thing to talk about...equipment.

I remember when I started this hobby, it was because I was startled to learn that some of the photos I thought were taken FROM (not just of) deep space....I had no idea how a camera could be so close to a nebula...then later I thought all those photos are taken from Hubble, then later I learned almost all the photos I had seen were from the ground. And that people with telescopes were seeing things like that from their back yard (well, minus the color and all that).

I could hardly believe it and wanted to get some equipment, any equipment just so I could look at some of that stuff. I think that's how the dept. store urge comes in. People want to look at something in space and don't care squat about equipment. Is that so wrong? Well, I learned that dept store scopes DON'T let you see that stuff, and that a 8" dob or qualiity instrument at about the $500 range would open up the skies to you.

I read reviews on equipment. Found cloudy nights and this sight and astrosights and all these friendly folks were so helpful. Then I finally bought an XT8 and had fun!!! in between observing I would keep reading here and as if by osmosis, I learned the difference between good, great and elite optics. Then I started to look at my scope instead of trhough it. Thinking about aberations, coma, and color instead of distance, composition, and how far back in the past I was "traveling" with my $500 time machine. I've got better EPs now and a second scope of higher quality. This should enhance the experience, but I do feel like it needs to stop and I need to join the observing group and not look in here and get out more.

That's me.

Tom.