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Solar System vs. deep-sky
It's currently stormy and snowy here (USA/CO); observing is out of the
question for a while. Here's a fun topic to kick around... what type of observing do you like better - Solar System or deep-sky? I'm a definite Solar System observer. In a very real way, we can divide the Universe up into two pieces: Our Solar System, and everything else. Or, equivalently, stuff that matters and stuff that doesn't. Things outsite our Solar System are interesting only on an abstract, theoretical basis. We won't interact with them in my lifetime, and probably not in the lifetimes of my great-great-great-great-great-great grandkids either. I view deep-sky stuff sometimes... like the Andromeda Galaxy. Andromeda is about 2.2 million light-years away - just over 13000000000000000000 miles. But seriously - would it matter so much if there were a couple more zeros in that number? It is *so* far away that it just doesn't matter! And Andromeda is a relatively nearby galaxy. It's a different story in the Solar System. Objects within the solar system are close enough to interact with. They move with respect to background stars. We've sent probes to many places, and we've even sent people to one other place. We can interact with them, we can ponder historical missions, we can dream of going there... (like we should be doing with Mars!). This is why I'm into Solar System observing much more than deep-sky; for me, it is more tangible. I view the planets whenever they're out, and I love seeing how many moons I can spot (currently 16, and I should be able to get to 19 or 20 with current equipment). I'll have to get into Asteroid spotting too, that would be fun. To me, glimpsing these things is cool because they increase my personal connection with them. I know Tethys really exists, not just from Voyager photos, but because I've personally seen it and tracked its orbit. If that sounds excessivly romantic - it is. But, deep down, all amateur astronomers are romantics; if we weren't, we'd stay indoors and download Hubble pictures rather than drag the scope out and look ourselves. IOMHO, YMMV, and all that! --- Dave Boll http://www.daveboll.com/ |
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