Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

This was posted in a group I belong to on Facebook. I think it sums it up pretty nicely.
Jim

The absurd hobby of astrophotography.

Why should one bother with the dark art of astrophothotography when:
- Almost two thirds of the year the weather does not permit to photograph.
- When the weather permits, usually the moon and light pollution prevents taking deep-sky or planets shots.
- The equipment costs a ton of money.
- You have to deal with the whining of friends and relatives, because you're gonna stay out and take pictures all night long , usually in the cold.
- the exodus into dark skies which allows for good captures ,occurs once or twice a year .
- If everything goes as planned and you finally set up ,you keep your fingers crossed for equipment to work. Cables, connections, telescope, cameras, laptops, software, etc.Because if they don't work the way they should, you could spend the whole night fighting to figure out the problem.
- If everything works well and you get some shots, you have to pass the processing marathon. When editing alone is very time-consuming and very difficult to learn.
WHY? WHY THEN?
The answer is awe. The awe you feel when the the first frame comes in and when you have the final picture in front of you.

When you realize that you, a small human, looked into the infinity and captured the greatness of the universe.

Theodore Mentis.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I think he missed the point of being a masochist/isolationist.
We often sit out in the cold dark, alone, waiting for minutes to slowly go by, while an image fills the wells of our sensor. Alone because most won't share our misery. And those that will often do so alone themselves.
Just to collect an image that may, but often may not, be a viable candidate for sharing.

I often read of visual observers, and of their tales of prowess darting about, and claiming to have seen 10's of objects in an evening. But I have to wonder, if they actually did, did they really see them?

The human eye and brain cannot build an image the way a camera can. A camera sensor can collect the faint light of an object, and the details of the "dust" of a long ago incident of unimaginable power and proportions.
A camera sensor can "stare" into the void, collecting the very faint light being emitted millions of years ago from a cataclysmic event.

I find I wonder. So I try to image. And although my efforts are often quite marginal in results, they are my images. I spent quite a bit of time deciding IF I wanted to image objects in the night sky.
Then deciding WHAT I wanted to try and image.
Where others were imaging the Moon, or the Planets, or Star Clusters, my fascination reached out for the unique and obscure Nebula from the destruction of what had been. Or the creation that might be taking place, Such as is theorized about The Great Orion Nebula.

I was watching a program about the Universe on Netflix yesterday. When they get around to Deep Space, I find I differ with their hypothesis. Especially when they are acting like their theories are fact. Theories, because they really don't know. At best, it is a best guess based on collected ideas from the data.

Anyway, I image to see what I would not be able to see otherwise. Staring up into the light polluted skies, there is no chance for my eyes to see what my camera's can gather.
I must be moving in the right direction with my efforts. My biggest critic has said that I do get some good images of outer space. But she is the CFO of our abode, and prying any praise from her hawk like eye on the finances is difficult.
But I try to image to see what I might be able to capture.
Not because I'm a masochist, or want to be alone in the dark with the ditch rats scampering through the ivy, shivering my butt off.
And every once in a great while, I actually get an image above and beyond my typical Picturds.
In the last 5 years, I actually got one of the Lagoon Nebula I was really pleased with.
Pretty expensive image....

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

All the listed points are not things to NOT do astrophotography, but the other way round are part of the main reason to do it.
If astro was as easy and simple as pointing your cellphone to the sky wherever you are and pushing a button, then it wouldn't be so attractive :)

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

We are a strange group, however the challenge of getting the absolute best image I might never achieve is what motivates me.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I totally agree. You can look at Hubble images, and they hardly catch your attention. But one that you do yourself, which is vastly inferior to what Hubble can do, means a lot more to you because it was something you were able to do yourself.

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Yall are right in your own respect , I do whatever I can do because I can . It's whatever yall feel is the driving force to look into the past " Creation of the Universe ". I wonder if yall look into a black hole will yall be sucked in or just your imaging train? I hate this weather that we're having over here on the East coast!

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

No better here on the West Coast. Lots of rain.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I think I am at least partially responsible for our weather here.
I picked up my new mount, and snuck it home. Only took it outside when the Sun was going down.
I bring it in after an evening and hide it inside.
But darn it, the clouds found out and now they are upon us with a vengeance.
I think we'll have a bumper crop of Brush Fires this season.

Meanwhile, I've been ordered by our Governor to stay home. I wish he would order the rain to stop, so us native lizards could sun ourselves, and get some starlight.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

So You're The One!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Well, I tried to be sneaky.
But I guess some passing fart must have seen it.

Stand by for 10 foot weeds.