When I started getting into astronomy, it took me a while to figure out which way I wanted to go. It’s like there are two main roads you can take. One is visual astronomy and the other is astrophotography.
Let’s be real. Astrophotography is what gets all the attention. It’s flashier and you see those amazing colorful pictures all over the internet. But it’s also a much more expensive hobby. The thing is, when you actually put your eye to a telescope, whether it’s a small one or a decent one that costs a few hundred euros, what you see is nothing like those photos.
Note: The Orion Nebula sketch is courtesy of deepskywatch.com, while the Orion Nebula astrophotography is sourced from Wikipedia. This comparison highlights the drastic difference between what you actually see through the eyepiece and what long-exposure astrophotography reveals.
The Real Hobby Killer
If you go to Reddit and read the first thread about telescopes, everyone will tell you that the "hobby killer" is a cheap 100 euro telescope. I don’t think that’s true.
To me, the real hobby killer is when someone jumps in without researching and has the wrong expectations. They buy a telescope for 100 or 400 euros and expect to see deep sky objects exactly like they look in professional astrophotography. When they don't see those colors and details, they quit.
I didn’t have that problem because I spent about six months just educating myself before I bought my first telescope. I knew what to expect. And I have to say, I actually prefer visual astronomy and sketching. That is the direction I want to follow.
Why I'm Staying Visual
I’m sure there will come a time when I’ll try some smartphone astrophotography or maybe buy one of those smart telescopes. They are definitely interesting pieces of tech. But that won’t be my main thing. I am a visual guy at heart.
In my opinion, smart telescopes are actually better for experienced amateur astronomers. People who have been in the hobby for years and want a different experience. For a beginner, using a smart telescope feels like you don't even have to look at the night sky. And looking at the sky is the whole point of stargazing. That’s where the magic is.
So, you can expect some astro sketches from me in the future. I’m sticking to the eyepiece for now because that raw view of the universe is enough for me.