I've recently read a post by someone stating that planetary
observation used to be much more exciting before spacecraft. (This was in the context of Mars observation.) It would place the time period to rough anytime prior to 1965 I believe.
While as a planetary newbie/tyro, I'm currently having a tremendously good times with the planets this year. I've been thinking about this more and more. Indeed, we know there's no canals on Mars, know much more about the GRS, knows about the many, many rings (not just 3) around Saturn. Today, we see incredible photos from landers and fly-bys, from the Hubble and from amateur groundbased CCDs! Thus, it seems to me there aren't much left for the amateurs to ponder about, not even much left to the imagination (such as Martians ;-).
If I may then be so bold as to ask the "seasoned" observers who are fortunate enough to have done lots of planetary observations prior to the space age, ...
A) How did it feel back then compared to today? Much more exciting in the yester-years? Much more anticipation at the eyepiece?
B) Much more exercise in imagination and speculation than today?
C) Much more contribution to the scientific communities than today?
Or perhaps Nasa doesn't afford much "crums" left for the amateur today?
D) Have you been forced to change your observation technique/approach to planetary scrutiny due to the past 35 years of advances?
E) Last but not least, after all these years, oppositions after oppositions with tons of knowledge and photos available year after year, do you still find the same ethusiasm today as it was then, or perhaps even much more today?
This is a scrutinizing serious question and I'd be much grateful if you guys to share your experience with me.
Thanks in advance,
Ron B[ee]
observation used to be much more exciting before spacecraft. (This was in the context of Mars observation.) It would place the time period to rough anytime prior to 1965 I believe.
While as a planetary newbie/tyro, I'm currently having a tremendously good times with the planets this year. I've been thinking about this more and more. Indeed, we know there's no canals on Mars, know much more about the GRS, knows about the many, many rings (not just 3) around Saturn. Today, we see incredible photos from landers and fly-bys, from the Hubble and from amateur groundbased CCDs! Thus, it seems to me there aren't much left for the amateurs to ponder about, not even much left to the imagination (such as Martians ;-).
If I may then be so bold as to ask the "seasoned" observers who are fortunate enough to have done lots of planetary observations prior to the space age, ...
A) How did it feel back then compared to today? Much more exciting in the yester-years? Much more anticipation at the eyepiece?
B) Much more exercise in imagination and speculation than today?
C) Much more contribution to the scientific communities than today?
Or perhaps Nasa doesn't afford much "crums" left for the amateur today?
D) Have you been forced to change your observation technique/approach to planetary scrutiny due to the past 35 years of advances?
E) Last but not least, after all these years, oppositions after oppositions with tons of knowledge and photos available year after year, do you still find the same ethusiasm today as it was then, or perhaps even much more today?
This is a scrutinizing serious question and I'd be much grateful if you guys to share your experience with me.
Thanks in advance,
Ron B[ee]
