What is a telescope?

If a boat is a big hole in the water into which you throw lots of money,
what is a telescope?

"Larry Brown" wrote in message
...
If a boat is a big hole in the water into which you throw lots of money,
what is a telescope?
I'm not sure. Give me some time and I'll look into it.

"Larry Brown" wrote in message
...
If a boat is a big hole in the water into which you throw lots of money,
what is a telescope?


....A Shot in the Dark?

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 22:37:00 -0400, Larry Brown
wrote:

If a boat is a big hole in the water into which you throw lots of money,
what is a telescope?

A bazooka of sorts that you insert your wallet into, and blast it into
space ?!?!

Small print on telescope label " Please insert paycheck here"

A time machine of sorts but...it ain't as comfortable as a tardis. g

Best regards,
Bill
"Larry Brown" wrote in message
...
If a boat is a big hole in the water into which you throw lots of money,
what is a telescope?

Telescopes (and accessories) can be a black hole that sucks your wallet
in to crushing oblivion if you sucumb to high tech fever.

Ian




Otherwise it's just a

In article , says...
If a boat is a big hole in the water into which you throw lots of money,
what is a telescope?

Ian W wrote:
Telescopes (and accessories) can be a black hole that sucks your wallet
in to crushing oblivion if you sucumb to high tech fever.


Or (very large truss Dobs) aperture fever g

Then, too, there is the attendant cost for many of us of transporting
whatever scope to a dark sky site frequently enough to make it all
worthwile (unless planets are the focus of the hobby).

Still not the money pit a boat is: Been there, done that .. and now well
out of it.

Phil

In article , says...

Or (very large truss Dobs) aperture fever g

Hmm, truss Dobs don't excite me over much I must say, but the thoughts of
a 20" Intes Maksutov or a 20" Cassegrain on a custom EQ mount sure rings
my bell.

Then there's the other side, the wormhole from hell, top end ccd imaging
... serious ouch prices.

Then, too, there is the attendant cost for many of us of transporting
whatever scope to a dark sky site frequently enough to make it all
worthwile (unless planets are the focus of the hobby).

I'm pretty lucky in that regard, it's only an hours drive out to
excellent dark skies and 90 minutes to exceptional skies, but the
downside is having to keep an eye out for snakes.

Still not the money pit a boat is: Been there, done that .. and now well
out of it.

True, boats are in my books about on par with kids and wives and
observatories ...

(Jon Isaacs) wrote in message ...

It is a minor interruption in the light path between the stars and your eye,
and it gives a lifetime of happiness.

The cost of keeping a reliable telescope -- especially if it's not
computerized -- is practically zero. They are very low-maintenance toys.


Well said.

One of my neighbors has a boat, not too big, 24 feet or so. Week end fuel
costs can be $400-$500, then on top of that are slip rental, repairs and
general maintainance and on top of that goes the new toys and "upgrades."

And of course the original investment would buy any combination of telescopes
one wanted and there would be money left over.

Operating a boat is like buying a new Nagler every week, using it for the week
end and putting it in the trash.

jon

If your telescope should catastrophically malfunction, you won't drown.

"Ian W" wrote in message
. ..

True, boats are in my books about on par with kids and wives and
observatories ...

Why did you include observatories?