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Re: (meteorobs)Watching for Fun
bob>>What is the wrong with watching for fun?<<
Nothing is wrong....enjoy yourself. Just don't delude yourself with the
importance of visual meteor observing when automated video cameras get more
widely in use.
bob>>When we found out that we could make scientifically useful contributions
(even with the existence of video cameras) a small number of us advanced
to the next level and became seriously interested in meteor observing. <<
That's fine then, but today if someone advances to the next level and become
serious, they probably should be eyeing the notion that without a video
camera setup, the end results to their efforts will be relatively minor.
bob>>When the fun seekers start seeking
knowledge it will be the AMS, ALPO, DMS, IMO, and NAMN that will be
there extending a helping hand encouraging them to learn how to count,
plot, and analyze their data while still having fun.<<
A lot of needless work for most when they discover that their efforts aren't
up to snuff because technology has surpassed the simple visual meteor data
recorder. Usually when people go thru all that trouble, they are under the
impression that it is for a purpose and useful. As long as people think there
is some purpose in it and their efforts are genuinely useful, they will
consider it as a form of fun. But for those who do it knowing that their
efforts have no real purpose and consider it fun, they are deluding
themselves.
bob>>If I was not having
fun visually observing would you think I would drive 100 miles each
morning to find dark skies? Not on your life!!!<<
Bob, you and I know you don't drive 100 miles each morning to find dark
skies. But when you do observe at other places than home, you do drive about
100 miles. I do think what motivates you to drive that far is some sense that
you believe you are on some mission with a purpose. If someday you come to
the conclusion that your efforts aren't as useful as they use to be due to
automated video recorders becoming popular, I doubt you will be having as
much fun.
bob>>As for that kid with his 4 inch telescope, well like many telescope
users we start out small and look for the fun of it. He may not be
providing any useful scientific data but 10 years from now when that
young adult is viewing Saturn with his 16 inch telescope and discovers a
storm on the equatorial belt he will be glad that no one told him that
he was wasting his time. Also recently there are 3 chaps named Hale,
Bopp, and Hyakutake who were also having fun visually observing while
satellites were busy discovering all the comets!<<
Good analogy for a situation that doesn't involve naked eye observing.
bob>>Visual observing, whether naked eye or through a small telescope, will
not wane in importance.<<
Words of bravado, but not the case in reality. Ever since the beginning of
the space age, visual observing has waned in importance. The naked eye
observer has less and less to contribute while the good small telescope has
become more of a rich man's toy. Only a few will truly find it of any real
importance. Those of us who get the typical department store small telescope
will often soon find it of little importance.
bob>> I believe that it's great when anyone looks at
the sky for any reason. The clouds, rainbows, and aurora may not provide
scientifically useful data but they may be a stepping stone to bigger
and better things! <<
Yes it is, it might motivate them to look towards a higher education where
they can participate if lucky with some high tech equipment.
bob>>May I suggest a few more positive posts to this group encouraging people
to look and watch? If not, then reading meteorobs may not be fun anymore.<<
Yes, looking and watching during major meteor showers is fun....as for the
rest of the year it is a real drag. For useful satisfaction in the not too
distant future, I recommend acquiring an automated video camera setup.
geozay
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