Realistic viewing expectations

[Benjamin]

"I see the pics posted and wonder , " how'd they do that?""

There are few good youtube vids showing what a 'realistic' expectation should be, picture vs live view through a telescope

If you have a look at some sketches made at the telescope/eyepiece you’ll get a pretty good idea of the right expectations :-)

[OhNo]

"I see the pics posted and wonder , " how'd they do that?""

Often the pics posted are a compilation of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of long exposure images taken of the same object over a period of time, then manipulated via computer software, stacked one on top of the other, color enhanced, background clutter removed etc.etc.. to arrive at the finished incredible picture. It is an amazing combination of science, technical skill and art.

There are few good youtube vids showing what a 'realistic' expectation should be, picture vs live view through a telescope.

I'm a complete rookie at this too. There are still amazing things to see out there with even entry level telescopes and binoculars to fill years of viewing.

You forgot to mention the thousands of dollars a trip down the rabbit hole can cost! That said a very good visual scope that helps makes thing clear(er) (resolution) isn't cheap either.

[Lokifish]

In my humble opinion beginning this activity with AP without first a visual learning time is a mistake. Not trying to start an arguement, this is only MY opinion.

I agree. At home, AP is almost a must due to LP. When at a dark site I'll tend to run an imaging and visual scope, alternate nights, or sit back with a pair of binos while imaging.

[Shabadoo]

I'm shocked that the photos user posted of galaxies are "manipulated by computer software...and color enhanced."
Sheesh.

So you guys and ladies are seeing the same as me. Grey little fuzzies apparently.
As previously stated, like in the sketches forum.

[Marilyn Mangel]

I have to admit that I've got the astrophotography bug and had to go down that route in order to write. I tend to specialise in the sort of objects that most people ignore. It doesn't mean that I don't enjoy a bit of visual but I mostly use binoculars these days.

[mcolbert]

a lot of wisdom has been shared above, but it also makes me sad to think that there are some who cannot appreciate what we see because they simply do not have this precious sense of ours, eyesight. Then too, think of the avid astronomer - amateur or professional, who towards the end of their days, begins to lose that which has given so much pleasure, joy, satisfaction...

[AbbN]

I feel the same way. While visual astronomy will never yield Hubble-esque views, in any instrument, just being able to regard those faint fuzzies at the eyepiece, knowing that the light has been traveling for millions and millions of years is simply awe-inspiring. Even from my light-polluted backyard.

Every Christmas I see department store junk scopes advertising 500+ magnification showing Hubble like images and people fall for this crap :mad: Sadly when the scope is tried and don't get these Hubble like results many, especially young kids get disillusioned and never bother to take another attempt at astronomy again......

Abb

[AbbN]

"The light pollution is so bad around here,"... lol Sounds like the start of a hundred jokes. I'm now supposed to shout out "How bad is it?" - lol
Even viewing in the still heavily light polluted backyard of a northern Chicago suburb, my son and I are captivated by how many 'other' dimmer stars appear in the FOV going from the naked eye sighting in on a bright star to the new scope's eyepiece view.

I live in Windsor just across the river from Detroit (Windsor is the only Canadian city SOUTH of the US because of the bend in the Detroit River ) and I live near downtown. My light pollution is so bad that I can count the number of naked eye stars on both hands with a couple of finders to spare :mad:

Abb

[Aratus]

It might surprise people to know that we don't see with our eyes, but with out brains. Using a telescope visually teaches the brain to see very faint objects. This is one of the reasons why the newcomer can't 'see' the galaxy or whatever, which is plainly visible to us. The brain is a massively useful, self learning, image processor! It just needs lots of practice.

In addition to that - we instinctively use the part of the eye away from the centre, which is more sensitive. Someone not used to seeing faint objects, looks straight at the middle of the view and puts the object over the insensitve part of the eye.

We know to avoid looking at lights,and any unnecesary illumination, and even to keep them closed for a minute or two before observing. Someone else might have been staring at their 'phone' just minutes beforehand.

Newcomers tend to squint to try see a faint object. We know to relax the eye.

My eyes are not so good as they used to be, so a camera and a monitor is a God-send for most very faint objects. However, I will tell you something - there is nothing to beat looking at the moon through a telescope. No amount of electronics can beat the 'reality'