Those thousands of stars, many larger than our own Sun, can make us feel small indeed. It seems possible to see to infinity, though we cannot reach beyond arm's length. The beauty of the universe defies description. Imagine that the fuzzy patch at the threshold of visibility is really a trillion suns - a galaxy larger than our own, in which our Sun is but a tiny speck. Seeing that galaxy first-hand, even through a small telescope, is much more inspiring than the large, beautiful photograph in the astronomy book back indoors.
Nothing can compare to viewing the universe directly.
Tom Lorenzin, North Carolina amateur and author. The pleasures of amateur astronomy are deeply personal. Our fondness for the stars has touched our souls. We all share the feeling of discovery, whether the object we have found is new to all or new only to us. It satisfies human needs.