You've constructed a neat scenario, with a few false assumptions, that bolsters your reticence to learn. Once you learn a handful of constellations, star-hopping isn't really a necessary part of finding objects. If you can identify a handful of geometric shapes (I'm betting dyslexia doesn't prevent anyone from recognizing triangles, rectangles, etc.), you're halfway there. Up/down/left/right is all you need to concern yourself with, at least to start. You'll put the red dot on the right spot in the sky, and BAM! There's your object. I know precious little stellar mythology, myself. It's not required for learning a few dozen patterns. I'm going to keep pushing you to learn, Joe, because I think it will ultimately enhance your enjoyment of the hobby. Think of me as an "annoying" friend, lol. I only push you because I know for a fact that your intellect is FAR above average. One day you'll have that "Aha" moment and realize you've been unnecessarily hesitant. It can be a gradual process and not detract from other activities at all. Man, what a pain in the @ss I am, eh? ;-) On 9/6/11, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote:
Well, I do know my way around the heavens a bit, but not with such tremendous detail as the rest of you do. There are a few reasons for that: first, I'm mildly dyslexic and all my life I've had trouble with ordinary directions, like just driving around the city. Then, philosophically, I don't care much about labeling parts of the sky as the water monster, etc., though the history of this interesting. Finally, here is what I do to practice my favorite form of astronomy: take about an hour to pack the Jeep with all my gear, an hour or longer to drive to a dark site, an hour or more to unpack and do a preliminary setting up, sometimes two more hours to get everything operating correctly such as securing the guide scope and balancing the rig. Then I have a few hours of astrophotography, during which I'm usually busy fixing glitches and working on focus. Then half an hour's nap. Then an hour to repack everything. An hour to drive home (make it three and a half hours each way if I'm visiting the Wedge Overlook.) Back home, most of the day to rest. When recovered I like to spend time writing a blog. I'm just too busy to bother with the details of exactly how to find a particular planetary by star hopping. -- Thanks, Joe