On 2006-12-03 09:19 +0900, Jan Owen wrote:

So, the real question is, how important is it for the SCOPE to show you what
you want to see, versus whether or not YOU are willing to learn how to find
the objects you want to see, on your OWN...

There's also the potential issue of light pollution making star hopping
a total drag. I certainly face that here. Recently, we had a topic here
about the Little Dipper. For me, the only star visible in that asterism
is Polaris itself, and just barely visible without averted vision on a
typical evening. Given such conditions, having go-to lets me actually
spend time looking _at_ stuff rather than mostly _for_ it.

There is fun to be had with thrill of the hunt, but that works best
under dark skies that are chock-a-block with naked-eye stars. IMO.

trane
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// Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.