So, you're an Astronomer now?

[@AstroBackyard]

A lot of great (relatable) insight in this one man. I take beer for space fatigue, too :D

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks Trevor 🙂🍻

[@ryanmichaelhaley]

Tea for me, sometimes coffee, for space fatigue. I tend to mess things up if I drink.

[@marcosjpinto8450]

My ex-wife laughed at me when I bought a book on telescope making, then stopped laughing when I showed her Saturn through my weird looking Dobsonian.

[@shayneoneill1506]

Old school. I was so impressed when I realised my grandfather had ground the lenses/mirror on his own homemade newtonian, right back in the 1960s. I'd like to think he'd have been proud of my mad-lad Hydrogen line radio telescope

[@kishascape]

That's pretty OG. That's how John Dobson did it, he would stand on the streets with a big pipe that had and eyepiece out the side and invite passerby to look at the moon or certain planet depending on the time. Was it his book on scope making that you got perchance?

[@book3100]

All good points, I agree. All I'd add is this: Get your old eyepieces out from time to time and just look at stuff. Just go back to square one and have fun star hopping and looking at planets and stuff.

[@antonvietrov2852]

Dylan, as tempting as click baits can be, thank you for not calling this video “10 tips for beginners”. I have a fatigue on those.

[@DylanODonnell]

Haha I know right.

[@nathanet100]

"Your first scope is the wrong scope." So true.....great video for those starting out. And space fatigue is a thing......some times I'm thankful for clouds.

[@UNSCPILOT]

Got a Celestron Nexstar 130SLT as my first scope, while it's not perfect for everything it's been versatile enough for me to really grow attached to it, and at least all the gear I get for it now can migrate to the next one later... still, I do sometimes wish I got the 127SLT Mak' vertion rather than the newtonian as the higher focal length would be great for planetary... might see if I can retrofit something else on it's mount later

[@PilotPhteven]

"you're well on your way on becoming your family's crazy space person" uh.. yea.. so.. that happened.

[@DylanODonnell]

Haha yup

[@GHP15300]

@@DylanODonnell that happened to me as well

[@denispol79]

Hehe, same here ) Became "the local astro dude"

[@sdy30]

I live in the UK and get little opportunity to practice astronomy. I admire British astronomer’s ability to maintain a spirit of unending optimism whilst knowing they’re fated to almost perpetual disappointment. Not too dissimilar to my wife’s disposition. Apparently, there was a clear night in the UK in 1682. A chap called Halley wrote about seeing something in the sky. Not convinced that’ll come around again.

[@DylanODonnell]

Hahahaha

[@marinaamgad5781]

The thing is that I opened the video right after my first try ever today on astrophotography!

[@DylanODonnell]

Welcome to the club :)

[@mobsterduck8315]

How did it go?

[@UNSCPILOT]

Welcome to the hobby! And may your wallet rest in peace...

[@Killbayne]

3:21 Very true. I'm the only person in the house who's an astronomy enthusiast and does astrophotography, and then people always ask things like _points at star_ "what planet is that??" or freak out when they see a satellite.

[@cierraarmijo]

Ever since I started astrophotography, 95% of my vocabulary now consists of the phrase "stupid moon!" Love the video Dylan!!

[@DylanODonnell]

You are one of us :)

[@jeffmarston8586]

I learned to swear while playing golf. Astrophotography is kind of like graduate school of profanity for me. I guess it’s a good thing I am usually out in he desert, by myself, with my telescopes. I am not a big fan of the moon either.

[@michael.a.covington]

Wise words. Especially about not being competitive. I have never submitted a picture to APOD. I figure there's always somebody who can get a better picture, but I like my own pictures. And also about taking time off -- This month is a "time off from astronomy" month, partly because of the bad weather, and partly because I did so very much in November and December.

[@DylanODonnell]

Enjoy the break mate :)

[@kalgecin]

with every next point the arecibo telescope collapse feels like a dagger in the chest

[@DylanODonnell]

Painful isn’t it?

[@osrictentaqclesmin]

Dylan firstly thank you for what I believe is the most intelligible, direct, amusing and personable astrophotography channel I've encountered. I'll be honest and say I was not prepared for the degree of complexity involved and yet I am already halfway down the rabbit hole and rather enjoying the prospect of 'atroland'. Thus far I've only undertaken visual astronomy. I'm rurally based in the UK with very good seeing. I've been researching how to enter astrophotography as I can see that, with modern technology one can actually contribute to the scientific community, however humbly. This former realisation is rather profound, as having taken a formal interruption from a geochemistry degree, which unfortunately I did not return to complete means I can still practice science and in quite a fabulous way. It's a steep learning curve though, especially having done no computing or photography to soesk of 😉. I've a good grip on telescopes, cameras and mounts now and these feel like the 'organs' of the system. However, the cabling, the 'arteries and nervous system' connecting them together is still a mystery. The brain, the computer I'm sure I'll work out but it would be super to a see a fully comprehensive video of what cable types are used and to which ports and why they are connected. I believe it to be an area that to many tech savvy is obvious but to myself not do much. Looking forward to all the future projects dude

[@jeffmarston8586]

I totally agree with the burnout concept. I spent a lot of time screwing up my astrophotos and a little bit of time getting good images, this last year. A few months ago when the temp got below 0, I gave up astronomy, partly because I am a wimp and partly because I was tired of imaging. I am starting to get the astronomy bug again but it’s still cold, damn it! I don’t knoif Dylan gets to experience the joys of freezing temps where he lives. Lucky him!

[@DylanODonnell]

Sometimes it gets to 10°C/50°F and I have to put on sweatpants and a jumper. It's brutal.

[@jeffmarston8586]

@@DylanODonnell I feel your pain!!!!

[@robsbackyardastrophotograp8885]

Definitely need to stress space fatigue. After being so stressed from a round of college applications, I didn't have time for astro. I'm still sitting on some data from 9 months ago, and it's been hella long since I've posted. Trying to ease my way back in, but it's a rough start. The main thing to keep in mind is, yes, I want to get my money's worth out of my equipment. But am I getting my money's worth if I'm not having fun? I'll be back and addicted soon enough, but taking a step back is important too.

[@DylanODonnell]

Yes, and patience is key too. I have the patience of an ascended master at this point.

[@AurumGermany]

I got into astrophotography a year ago and everything you said is absolutely true. But there's one thing that's not quite right for me. There's a competition, a competition with myself. To get better. To take better pictures and to get more people excited about this great hobby. Thank you.

[@DylanODonnell]

That’s true too! 👊🏼

[@swftwlly]

You're absolutely right about the rare nights. I'm retired now, but when I was driving a big truck around the western US, I carried an 8" dob in the sleeper. I got to use it only once or twice a month. Besides the weather, seeing conditions and lunar phase, I needed to be traveling through a dark area (plenty of them as the western US is a bit like the Outback), find a safe place to park the truck, and have enough time in my schedule to be able to stop. Rare nights indeed.

[@AstroB.R.]

how can you name a beer “stone wood”?😂😂😂😂thas why i love dylan more then trevor, i watch his videos with excitment,not expecting at the end of the video the need to buy an 2000 euro filter....with dylan i need to buy a beer!

[@necrotaur]

You are right, all the telescope questions, life on other planets, "what is this?" are all coming my way....

[@iandobbin8068]

I'm finding the support in this community awesome. No matter what I've stuffed up, someone else has been there and helped. Great video 👍 again.

[@jerrymccaleb4452]

Loyal subscriber. This was one of my favorite videos. Good advice for every "astronomer".

[@DylanODonnell]

Thx Jerry! 🍺

[@No_no83]

This video is by far the best video I've ever watched in my journey as an astrophotographes. You're so humble and make me feel great, even as a beginner. I remember the day I got my first acceptable image.

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Awesome video Dylan I realize how many people will connect to those points at least one of those points in their aspiration towards becoming a perfect or maybe an amateur astronomer or Astro photographer awesome work like always

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks Ray :)

[@sjgonline]

Number 6 made it for me. That sums it all just perfectly. Thank you. Thanks for another excellent video! Greetings from Brazil

[@vanmyaf9119]

Loved the TwoSett reference there😁 Fan of both you and Twosett. Love from South Africa!🇿🇦

[@scuba5k]

Ive been a fan of space but randomly my wife bought me a star blast 4.5 table top for Christmas 2020. I looked at the moon for the first time without a filter and went blind. I then looked at the moon again with the filter she bought and I was amazed. After a few weeks of obsessive researching, I respectfully ask if I could return the scope and put in some extra cash for a Orion XT12G. I think I’ll be able to handle the weight and cool down. Still in back order 🤷‍♂️

[@davesouza6079]

I live in New England, USA. Right now I’m suffering from cloud fatigue.

[@SunJao]

I've had cloud fatigue for over 3 months now, which prevents any space fatigue.

[@rohitnair2360]

Great video!! But every time I see Arecibo collapsing, it breaks my heart :(

[@DylanODonnell]

Amazing footage isn’t it

[@davepastern]

same...such a shame that Arecibo didn't get the funding it needed to properly maintain it. If it was a heritage building, it'd have gotten funding...go figure.

[@TurboFryer1337]

Aww, thanks, I wasn’t quite ready to label myself like that, but I’ll take your word for it - I am an astronomer now :)

[@DylanODonnell]

I knight you, astronomer.

[@ikbenvoetbal]

I have successfully climbed mount stupid and im on my way down now! See you all at the bottom!!!

[@fluphybunny930]

"A bit of a renaissance" 3 months of clouds. Yeah, ok.

[@philkidd]

Great stuff Dylan! Keep up the great work, hope your mount is repaired soon!

[@anthonyquintile1718]

Not a competition but, since I started ~3 years ago, I have been kicking the James Webb Space Telescope’s ass.

[@abood-2639]

He's back! I started astrophotography in December of 2019, hopefully I'm gonna keep doing it. Your content has been a great help, thank you :)

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks !

[@mgmcd1]

Yeah, planetary visual astronomer here. DSO Visual Astronomer: “Look at it, but don’t look at it!” DSO Astrophotographer: “Ta-da!”

[@DylanODonnell]

Hehe

[@davepastern]

planetary, DSO, lunar and solar astronomer here...explains why I've spent so much on the hobby lol...

[@gooner9038]

Brilliant!

[@lklmmedia4715]

Hmmm yeah I am a DSO AstroP - I still sit in the "Look at it, but don't look at it!" category though - but mainly in the sense that when you spend hours taking Subs, then only put maybe 10-20 mins into Post Processing, then post the image saying "Yeah this is just a test of...blah blah...so don't look too hard at it..." just so that when you know someone is the background saying "SH@# image!" it covers them...but when someone replies to the post and says "That is awesome...I can never get NGC1763 to pop like that...what did you do...?!?!" It's not even False Modesty really - it's just covering your bases for the hundreds of images where you think - "yeah that could go on the fridge" - but you definitely wouldn't be submitting them for the cover of any Astro Journals, and also where it is simply about that sharing journey, and maybe hoping you can get discussions going, and even help out people with particular aspects of objects, equipment, software or processing.

[@mgmcd1]

@@lklmmedia4715 I was referring to the averted vision technique that visual astronomers use to see faint objects.

[@majestikkal8603]

03:04 - Kindred Spirits 03:21 - He's talking about me. 06:41 - Yeah, yeah, I know...Sheesh. 11:15 - No, it isn't. It's really is a thing. Trust me. 11:52 - Medication LOL... let's call it Holy Water from now on...Mmkay. 12:07 - He's obviously speaking about me. Awesome video. Thought we lost you there for a bit. Welcome back.

[@DylanODonnell]

Thx mate :)

[@robertstuck3214]

Great advise. I started out last year and it took me 6 months buying a piece at a time before I could take my first image. I am not that good yet, but I am taking images and I love my images.

[@DylanODonnell]

Good strategy !

[@HydrogenAlpha]

"The rabbit hole is deep" - yup, this definitely checks out. Yesterday I just installed my TEC180 in the new observatory I've been building since April in my garden in Ireland. Sometimes I think of the amount of money this hobby costs, but usually I just think I'll be a long time dead. Love the channel - you could easily host an astronomy TV show.

[@sodakastronut]

"I'm a master of making mistakes." ROFLMAO. 'Nuff said.

[@JemCruz]

I was looking for a celestron (not the high end ones) at Bintel since last year. Always out of stock.

[@DylanODonnell]

I blame the virus !

[@OlliesSpace]

Great video Dylan, the best part is how family members now believe my intelligence has tripled as they listen to just how many syllables Astrophotographer has in it. Hope you're going ok with that rain up there, don't drive your Tesla into any flood water!!

[@DylanODonnell]

Hehe thx mate

[@Gekiko7167]

It has been cloudy where I live for the past 3 months. Its a weird thing for Greece but not a weird thing for my city which is located on western Greece... Its like living on the British isles. While the other half of the country is all sunshine and nice weather. But finally clear skies came over my area and I was planning to photograph the winter nebulae and then... Temperature fell almost 8 degrees. Its now -5C° at night. My poor lil lens almost froze to death. 😢

[@TheflickerofMotion]

Great vid man, yeah I unfortunately don't get enough clear skies to get space fatigue, although that might actually not be true come to think of it, as when the weather does cop itself on here in Ireland it may bring 2 or 3 good nights in a row and I end up not sleeping on all those, and kind of secretly hope for a cloudy night so I have no choice but to sleep.. doesn't happen often

[@Sabre912]

In that case Dylan thank you verfy much for that site for Bintel im not an aussie but i use the crap out of the calculators to figure out which gear i need!!

[@frackcenturion]

you qualify as an astronomer when your new astro gear arrives, then the weather turns crap for the next couple of weeks 🤧😉🔭👍

[@UNSCPILOT]

Yup, that's the surest sign you've joined the hobby, the weather will now conspire against you as much as it can. I have an app on my phone called "nightshift" which provides nighttime weather and other useful astronomy info for a given night which has helped me plan around our mortal [cloud] enemy.

[@kishascape]

@@UNSCPILOT Interesting I have something called that on my iPad but it just makes the screen red at night.

[@kenobi1873]

Excellent video. I'm just going down the rabbit hole like many others, and this is the perfect reassuring video for newbs who don't have a huge budget. Dylan is one of the best content creators out there.

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks Chris!

[@rtpman1953]

So true, Dylan. I get space fatigue more than burn out. Once a quarter I travel out in the desert of Arizona from North Carolina and set up to image for a whole month. I image from a location with almost no light pollution and provides at least 70 - 80% decent to great nights for the month. By my third week, I'm too lethargic to read, process images or want to interact with people. I'm reduced to drinking more beer and listening to my music way louder than my RV sound system should stand lol.

[@Desertskyobservatoy1925]

Dylan, I'm 56 now and dreamed of a particular "wrong" first scope...a CPC-800...lol. I didn't know a lot about astronomy except that I kept my eyes on the stars since I was a kid in the 1960's. It did help that I am a Meteorologist by trade and always had my head in the troposphere looking for more. I do like the medication you exhibit toward the end...yes a nice glass of wine for me while listening to the classics, like Beethoven while scanning my favorite objects overhead. I started my own FB site since I was tired of the dorks/nerds that thought they new better or talked down to those of us learning about what was above our heads. Your videos do bring out the "norm" and the reason along with encouragement to look up without getting into deep, heavy terminology which doesn't do much to impress. When I feel impelled, we turn on the heavy metal and scan the skies for an outstanding nebula while shooting it with a Hyperstar...posting (because I don't have patience) my lights for friends and fans to see. It's for those that can't afford or phantom what's above one's head, especially in a light polluted world. I, am blessed to live in a Dark Sky community with the ability with my limited knowledge of space to share with my followers the vastness of our universe. Thank you my friend, you are me some 25 plus years ago.

[@DylanODonnell]

Sounds like you are doing great work for the right reasons 👌🏼

[@s3cr3tsqrl64]

Haha! Just got into the hobby about 2 months ago, and the family questions are real! I keep telling them I'm still trying to figure out where the moon is LOL!

[@Astrogator1]

Beat the curve by a bit, bought first “proper” telescope January 2020, after years of binoculars or lying on the ground watching the sky. Been a great year of observing... almost compensates for the other stuff going.

[@piotrjakuc6357]

YO OMG. Those phases of twilight on your watch is something I never knew I needed!!!

[@DylanODonnell]

It's cool eh! There are a few astronomy centric watch apps and faces!

[@Sheldon.Williams]

2-set shoutout!!! I didnt know astronomy was booming recently, thats pretty interesting... I myself have recently got into astronomy (I've always been into it as a child but only now taken any real initiative) and this explains why when I was hunting for a telescope there was sooooo limited stock here in Aus - I thought because it wasn't that popular that there was limited stock but apparnlty the opposite. Had to hunt for 6+ months for a choice of 12 different scopes I was interested in which were all out of stock until this jan (also some suppliers said covid thats why) But yea been using bintel too for some eyepieces which are ordered but now "backordered"... I have a theory that the boom is also bc of the youtube algorithm -- only decided to take action after learning so much more about it from youtube recomendations lol started with astrobackyard I think

[@DylanODonnell]

Yeh google searches are up for telescopes and stock is low everywhere, but particularly Aus !

[@gwzapo]

Very well said!!! Great comments on this wonderful hobby! Thank you!

[@patricke776]

My first scope - wrong scope, a 4" Nexstar SCT . Took it back the next day and upgraded to the 8", LOL. 18 years later the renaissance has led me to a CPC 1100 EHD, and STILL making mistakes sorting my way through the endless rabbit hole. Thanks for this vid Dylan.

[@DylanODonnell]

That was my first wrong scope too :) And not the last.

[@Westlake]

Thanks Dylan! Great information and as always, packed with lots of humour! All the best!

[@oupwo7468]

Hello, I am a beginner in astronomy and had my first "true" telescope for now 7 years. ("true" because I had a wallmart refractor and now, my finder is better to watch objects that this telescope was) and here are my things: 1. It is hard to admit but true. I struggle a lot just to do the collimation of my 10" dobsonian right but maybe it is me. It is totally possible that I still suck at collimating my telescope right. However, I can find it frustrating. First of all, aiming at objects that are close to the zenith maybe hurt your back at the end. Then, the dust cover I put at the entry of the OTA. It just make black particles fall on the mirror. Then, there are some small rust points inside the tube but it's subtle. Then, I know it is the goal of Dobsons but it doesn't have brakes and when I ajust my finder during winter while wearing thick jackets, I end up to accidentally push the scope slightly. Then, of course, I know this but the things that hold the tube at both sides. The should be the sice of the diameter of the mirror to make the telescope really easy to ballance and it is not the case but I don't see it as a problem for the moment. Also I still suck at finding object so a telrad or something like this instead of this optic finder maybe could be better. However I still like this telescope a lot. It's a 10" dobsonian and it offers me nice views! I am seeking for a mak or something like this.

[@AstroDenny]

Oh no! I hope the repairs are quick (and inexpensive!) These are really good points, especially number 2! You're also spot on about the insurgence in interest which is good for a few reasons. 1) Our club here is getting a big influx of members. Some are really getting it, some are dropping a ton of cash on gear that they won't use. That brings me to point 2) There is going to be a big boom in the used gear market soon! (Sorry, Bintel, Optcorp, HPS, etc...)

[@DylanODonnell]

I agree!

[@williamwalters3796]

Another thing to add to my list of being “that guy” in the family. The list so far: Camera Guy The Baby whisperer Tech Guy Math Guy Pizza Guy Space Guy

[@alineradventureswithsimons79]

Oh yeah, that stuff too.

[@AstroExploring]

"The first telescope you buy is not going to be the right one". Yep, been there :) great video, Dylan! I made a similar one myself a few days ago and it's great to hear a different take on things, especially when you've been in the hobby longer than I have

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks mate.. looks like you're doing well!

[@getawaydance]

I took a break from astronomy for 6 years. The comet last year brought the passion back. Got a bunch of new stuff 6" f/6 newton, Baader steeltrack II focuser (what a dream), QHY-290. All paid with astro stuff i sold off. Love this hobby and community. You can upgrade and others can enjoy your "old" stuff. Sold a bunch of oculars i wasn't using anyway. Nagler, Sawn, takahasi. Don't do visual at all. So i let them go for others to expand their collection and they were very happy :)

[@DylanODonnell]

Welcome back :)

[@getawaydance]

@@DylanODonnell Thank you :) It is amazing to see how much software has developed in that time. Also how much CMOS chips have gained in on CCDs.

[@ohwell2790]

When you prefer to drink beer in your dome looking at your telescope then you have made it.

[@sonnyedmonds2212]

Well, no Dylan, I'm not an Astronomer. I'm just an old guy who got interested in space, and decided I like Nebula. I didn't want to just look, I wanted to bring back proof there are some of the most fantastic things most people never saw before. So 6 years ago I started. And I still occasionally take some Picturds, but I'm improving and occasionally get some actual Pictures. But mostly, I have a lot of fun. I've taken my first choices and honed them into some razor sharp pieces. But I don't flip and flop about buying equipment. I prefer to see what I can do with what I have. But on nights like tonight, I enjoy watching your videos, and reviews.

[@DylanODonnell]

You're an astronomer :) Thanks for the kind words.. more videos to come!

[@Scoffslaphead72]

I think its too easy to think 'what can I do if I get this?' Or 'what can I get to do this?' When we should be thinking 'what can I do with what I have?'

[@catchingphotons]

Every - word - is - true! I love this video ;-) Thanks a lot mate!

[@scottrk4930]

Excellent Dylan , we've all been waiting for another of your Videos . Question...at the 6:29 Mark you show your watch . What is it ? Can you provide a Link please ? BTW , you can add Wildfire Smoke to the list of visual annoyances . Also , your Dome has never looked so clean . LOL .Cheers ./SRK

[@DylanODonnell]

Apple Watch 6 ... it has quite a few astro watch faces built in!

[@scottrk4930]

@@DylanODonnell Thanks Dylan ! You're up early ? It's 7:15am Tuesday right ? It's still 15:15pm here and I'm redoing some Jupiter Images from the Summer using something new...AstroSurface Proxima . Interesting Software . /SRK

[@frankbraker]

Happiness is driving 3 hours to the darkest skies ever thought possible, in -15 C cold, having none of the equipment work due to didn't know better, spending the next 2 nights closer to home figuring things out, never making it back to that lovely site as time off work was done, and knowing the moon will be blasting the smithereens out of the sky for another month to take time off again to hopefully get it right next time. Just knowing such a heartbreakingly beautiful place exists is enough. Sooner or later success is bound to happen. Also... still wondering how do they get so much better photos with exactly the same equipment...

[@NebuloCity]

We should all take guidance from this Master of Failure. He speaks the truth! Thanks Dylan for the great advice.

[@orionm4268]

Really the one thing and only reason why I got into this was when I was taking a photography class, I wanted to understand light a bit more and a bunch of other stuff regarding the secret formula of the krusty krab what makes astronomy such a delicious hobby : )

[@johndoiron9615]

The good thing for me is that I know I don't have the patience it would take to do all the processing needed for good astrophotography. This will keep me from buying that kind of equipment. But it does make me appreciate how good the work others do really is.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

Equatorial mounts. My ultimate mid-price used to be there HEQ5 Pro. Then I discovered the AZ-EQ6 Pro... ALT-AZ and EQ options on one mount, with a camera/small scope mount on the counterweight arm. Best of both worlds.

[@VideoOneMedia]

My own path started by using my existing photo equipment and adding the skyguider pro. With that, I solidified my need to go deeper to be able to capture images comparable to what I see posted by others... not a competition but more as a goal to my own improvement. weighing the options I own a SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro and Meade LX85 Eq mount, comparable in load but the LX85 is lighter (travel rig). The EQ6-R carries the Ioptron Photron RC8 (FL-1624) and the LX85 carries the William optics ZenithStar 103 refractor (FL-711). Yes, I've purchased enough equipment to keep the skies cloudy for the next 2 years :( No regrets :)

[@lolathedog3108]

very nicely done. Solid information well presented. thank you.

[@marcosjpinto8450]

I built my first telescope back in 1999. A 180mm reflector on a wood dobsonian mount. Good for travelling through the stars but useless for AP. Now I'm starting on AP with small refractors and entry level dslrs. There's a lot to cover before I finally die.

[@markn3586]

Nice video Dylan. I've been into astronomy all my life. Im at a point where I want to get into citizen science and I think I'm going to focus on variable star observations. My next rig will be to support that type of activity. I might try some astrophotography on the side. There's some options for doing both visual observing as well as photometry with just a DSLR that makes it an interesting area of science that you can contribute to.

[@DennisCarmody]

One thing I’ve found is that the effort is worth more than the equipment. Also, astronomy equipment has high resell value so it’s easy to step into higher cost gear over the years.

[@StargazerFS128]

Thanks Dylan!! I now realize I have 5 wrong telescopes! tomorrow I’ll go out and get the right one once and for all .

[@DylanODonnell]

You get it 😆

[@Guido_XL]

As a beginner, I feel quite happy with my 190/1000 Mak-Newt. It seems to be the almost perfect allrounder. At least for a beginner, I guess, for what it's worth...

[@StargazerFS128]

@@Guido_XL The fact that you can explain why it’s a good scope means you’re not a beginner anymore, it is a great all round scope, you’re right.

[@Guido_XL]

@@StargazerFS128 Well, I started with a 90/1250 Mak-Cas on an EQ1 mount, because I just wanted to see Jupiter and Saturn. Then I realised that this little scope offered a nice magnification in theory, but that was not that great for anything else than bright planets. So, I bought a 120/600 refractor (not an apo, that would have been way too expensive) and an EQ5 mount. No tracking yet though. With that scope, the views on DSOs improved, but I felt that something was lacking: a scope to set me for the next couple of years and offer really nice specs to start astrophotography. Something with optical speed, as well as magnification and lack of distortion. On a sudden brainwave, I decided to buy the Sky-Watcher 190/1000 Mak-Newt. It now sits on my EQ5, still without tracking. The 120/600 has moved to the EQ1 and the poor little 90/1250 is holding on to a normal camera-mount for the time being. It is now a period of waiting for building up new financial capacity before the tracking issue and auto-guiding stuff is going to be settled. Somewhere next year, I guess. This is a hobby for the patient ones, I keep telling myself...

[@StargazerFS128]

@@Guido_XL I’ve been in this hobby about 30 years, had more scopes than I can remember, really, after all this time I find I’m settled with a 10” dobsonian for deep sky and, a triplet APO for planets and the rest. Goto and tracking I’ve done before and find I enjoy searching thing out myself a lot more. If you’re into astrophotography then you need tracking and a good equatorial mount but, astrophotography gets expensive quick.

[@rgs559]

My greatest astronomy-related mistake: I live a few miles south of Vancouver, B.C. (your opening shot of Byron Bay resembles MOST of the winter days/nights here). My hat's off to you for another "reality-based" video. BTW, have you read "The Last Stargazers" by astronomer Emily Levesque? Good read for cloudy nights. Cheers!

[@davidskybrody]

Space fatigue/burn-out is absolutely a thing. And those of us who have accidentally stumbled into doing space as a gig - we takers of another Red Pill with each paycheck - can sometimes find ourselves wondering: "Where the Fornax did all the joy go?!" [That, IMO, is the time to temporarily divert into some activity centered around a different set of neurons... if you can afford to.]

[@DylanODonnell]

Exactly !

[@firebearva]

I have been trying to play student astronomer for a year now and just hope to learn how to master the processing software before I die; hopefully not from the tRump Virus. Oh and I was surprised how rare a clear night sky can be; I can compensate to a degree for my 8 Bortle scale. Why did I decide to join AA and then decide to take up astronomy...relapse here I come.

[@DavidTremblay]

Space fatigue: I train as much as I can. It gives a great reserve of energy. And sometimes a little bit of cardio during the night helps me to keep warm and fight off fatigue.

[@DylanODonnell]

Great tip!

[@gaylemccrorie]

Brilliant vid again, D-Dawg. HNY to ya. My neighbour saw me a few weeks back in my back garden taking pics of the moon, all through my little 130EQ, and yup, I’m now my local expert LOL. Are we really all gonna die?

[@lttnono2379]

Space Fatigue is real!!!! It can lead to Space Divorce or Space Bankruptcy. The Space domestic cat gnawing at some cable after achieving sub arc-second/pixel guiding can exacerbate Space Fatigue (God I hate it when my cat starts gnawing at my cables...). Warding off Space Fatigue : solar astronomy on a cool summer day while drinking ice-cold beer.

[@birreboi]

Very good tips here, in between the funny humour, for the new budding space person. I will have to argue about your statement about being "the master of mistakes". I think that title can easily be shared between you, me and hundreds of others space people! ;-)

[@BhojinderpalSingh]

Great pieces of advice! Hope your observatory quickly gets ready for its night outs.

[@trevorgordon5530]

Got abit of space fatigue at the moment, but am looking forward to getting stuck into the rabbit hole further. Just need to take a break for a couple of weeks

[@parva777]

Oh you put a Electronic focuser on you scope Dylan. Will you make a review ?

[@dr8964]

I'm in the "I'll never get this" point on the curve, but I'll stick with it. In fact, I just bought something to help ;)

[@cliffjb1]

Thank you Dylan for this and so much more. I've wanted a telescope for years and always thought it too extravagant. Then, I caught Covid and I thought, "What the hell am I waiting for"? I spent the last 20 years looking at the opposite scale with secondary ion mass spectrometry, and have a good job, so, I have a few dollars to spend. But... Before I did I did a lot of research and watched your and Trevor's videos and googled my brains out. I settled on a 9.25 edge, monochrome cooled camera, 0.7x reducer, and Hyperstar. Here's the thing, the only thing I would do differently is that I might have bought the 11" and the heavier mount. I have a street light 30m away from where I set up, so I'm stuck with planets and emission nebulae from my front yard. Not a bad place to be really. But because of folks like you, I have a few pictures worth framing and putting on the wall in my first 6 months. I joke that, "I'll tell you when they cost less than $1000 apiece', but at least, because of the internet, I didn't have to make all of the mistakes that my forefathers did--at least not more than once or twice. Again, thanks. Chop Per

[@DylanODonnell]

Sounds like we took a similar path .. and once you get the C11 .. you'll start thinking about the C14 ... :)

[@TheHemiphil81]

Hello mate, I just found your channel looking for backyard observatories. I currently have a pair of 100mm apocromatic binoculars and a 6 inch apm doublet refractor. I really like your channel and considering buying a skyshed or a dome like yours. Great job mate 👍.

[@DylanODonnell]

Welcome to the gang Phil :)

[@dazlar39]

This channel should have waaaay more subs than it has.....Dylans content and quality of video is outstanding!

[@DylanODonnell]

Haha thanks .. tell your friends :)

[@dazlar39]

@@DylanODonnell Good morning Dylan....I always do! Stay safe 🙏

[@TheUrbanAstronomer]

The title made me nervous 😁 great video Dylan!

[@joeniemeyer8874]

I loved your point #6 that this is not a competition. I see Hubble images and images from astrophotographers who have spent 10's of thousands of dollars on their rig and imaged for many, many hours to produce their outstanding images. I can't compete with that and I do not want to. I take great pleasure in getting a good image of something from my own simple rig and that's what it's all about. Love your video's!

[@DylanODonnell]

Agree.. and thanks!

[@GHP15300]

I'm an All around visual astronomer and a beginner astrophotographer many of this are really true

[@LoneWolf-sh1ph]

Ohhh if your neighbors see this they're going to leave the light on just to piss you off...

[@Mistr_A]

Geez that lunar image looks remarkably similar to mine right down to the detail and phase. Great minds!! Loved your video as always

[@DylanODonnell]

Cheers Nick! Took that one same night as the conjunction .. was a test shot for focus but was a nice test!

[@Luminous_cosmos]

So much good stuff here! And the music at the beginning.. epic 😜

[@DylanODonnell]

Thx Amanda :)

[@chlrsnj326]

Every technically difficult hobby I've ever had, has had "Burnout". It's my honesty filter. If I keep coming back to it, it must be worth my time and effort. 1st Life time hobby, Motorcycles. Pop's got me an early start at 3yrs old. Second was Photography around 12ish yrs old. A Camera given to me by my GrandFather started that one. Still doing both.

[@Luftbubblan]

"I'm a master of making mistakes." Not a bad thing :) Nice setup btw!

[@NOLASkaGuitarist]

I think another contributing factor for the rise in popularity was the recent great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. If you're reading this and you are a newcomer, welcome to one great hobby! The advice in this vid is solid.

[@BSm2919]

As a relative newcomer I'm interested in your opinion(or anyone who has more experience than me) in the eVscope. I keep seeing ads for it and it just seems like cheating, or possibly not real. I don't have the money for it by any means, but it seems pretty incredible.

[@DylanODonnell]

More bang for buck if you buy the parts separately and build your own rig :)