Ralph wrote :

> I have seen people with an astromaster type capability who knew none of
> the above
> and only stayed interested in astronomy because they could find objects
> (learning
> came later).
>
But Ralph - surely such a capability _gets_ people into the hobby and more
to the point, _keeps_ them here.

Years ago, I started my interest in astronomy, but because of both my age
then and a lot of cloud cover, it remained a background hobby, not a serious
one. I recently was able to get an LX200 (I am now also studying part-time
both astronomy and cosmology - my interest has blossomed), and bless the
capability to send the scope to objects I once would only have seen in my
dreams. Remember - you have to know _some_ of the sky before you can align
the scope!

While not the be-all and end-all of telescope functions, I agree with those
who say that it is an essential part of retaining people in our hobby. Once
hooked, they _do_ learn. How many out there had the patience (and the
chance) as a child to learn the sky? I would bet far fewer than are now
coming into astronomy courtesy of a goto facility. People have to start
somewhere - goto gives the "common" person the chance to see objects only
the most hardened amateur could have.

Mike

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