What size is yours!

Jared, just out of interest, what do you hope to do with the info? I'm just being nosey

Jared, just out of interest, what do you hope to do with the info? I'm just being nosey

A telescope points in two directions one is outwards to the depths of infinity and the other is inwards to the depths of infinity. The viewer is at least as interesting as the viewed.

I am "profiling" the Irish Astro. community as part of some sort of written project. Perhaps a scholarly tome, perhaps a novel of mystery and intrigue, perhaps (most likely ) a pile of paper on the corner of my desk.

Hope you all don't mind. But then again surely the questions & answers are interesting in themselves??

JMP

A telescope points in two directions one is outwards to the depths of infinity and the other is inwards to the depths of infinity. The viewer is at least as interesting as the viewed.
I am "profiling" the Irish Astro. community as part of some sort of written project. Perhaps a scholarly tome, perhaps a novel of mystery and intrigue, perhaps (most likely ) a pile of paper on the corner of my desk.Hope you all don't mind. But then again surely the questions & answers are interesting in themselves??JMP

Jared,

Well, not really. There's only one question and I can't quite see how the answers to this particular one could form the basis of any project on profiling the astro community or how you could extrapolate any useful information from it.

The fact that someone's largest telescope is 14" or 20" for example tells you virtually nothing about the person or his/her observing habits and interests. The 20" could be lying in a shed unused (I know a few like that!) while he/she spends most of his/her time observing through a smaller 6" dob or an 8" GOTO or doing astrophotography through a short focus 80mm apo. Binoculars are not even mentioned yet that is the chosen optical instrument for so many observers, some of whom are quite happy never to own a telescope. Personally, I spend far more time observing with binoculars, a 40mm solar telescope and an 80mm ED refractor than I do with my largest telescope so ticking the button for it would be meaningless. What about armchair astronomers who enjoy astronomy but don't own any optical instruments at all?

Assuming this is a serious project and not a frivolous poll, could I suggest that you give this some thought and decide first of all what the project actually is and what you're trying to achieve (you seem a bit vague on this) and then come up with questions designed to extract information which could lead to to some useful and interesting conclusions.

The 20" could be lying in a shed unused (I know a few like that!)

Are they for sale? I'd take that off someone's hands for a mutually agreeable price!

To re-iterate Gordon's point, but also to recognise that I have no problem ticking the poll box, the size of scope is too rough to be used as an indicator of anything useful. Though, like cars, perhaps telscopes say something about the owner... I don't know what mind you

Another example Gordon - I cannot remember the last time I observed thru my 8" - its dedicated to imaging. But I dig out the binos when I want to lay back and take it all in. I'm not sure what that says about me!

Cheers

Dave

Jared,

Well, not really. There's only one question and I can't quite see how the answers to this particular one could form the basis of any project on profiling the astro community or how you could extrapolate any useful information from it.

add edit @ 12:40

On reflection the below answer seems a bit.....curt. This would not have been my intention. I do take your point but you must allow that I may well be working to a plan and it would seem (to me) impossible and pointless to expand here.

This seems a lot of unnecessary typing just to generate a profile.

end edit

You don't seriously assume that I am daft enough to base any kind of project on one question do you? There are some 25,000 emails on this board why would I allow one question carry so much weight?.

JMP

On reflection the below answer seems a bit.....curt. This would not have been my intention. I do take your point but you must allow that I may well be working to a plan and it would seem (to me) impossible and pointless to expand here.
JMP

Well, if you did expand a bit, it may help people help you. Unfortunately, it was only possible for me to comment on what you actually posted (one question and a statement that you're not sure what the project is yet: a scholarly tome, a novel of mystery and intrigue or a pile of papers on your desk). Now, if you're not sure, how could I surmise what your plan may be?

Anyway, good luck with whatever it is you are doing, hopefully it will turn out to be useful and interesting.