Thread: Stargazing

Yep am an amateur astronomer. Celebrating my 45th year of serious observing this year.

Used to be one, had a Newtonian Relector Telescope (200mm) on an Equatorial Mount. Still interested but mainly do my stargazing on the internet nowadays. I get regular updates from this site......

http://www.oneminuteastronomer.com/art-of-stargazing/

What got me interested was watching Sputnik 1 fly over in 1957 when I was a mere lad!!!

years agohad a 76mm X 910 focal leangth refractor on a equatorial mount. Today I have 11X 80mm binoculars, and use them once every few years for astronomy. Ocassionally look at objects on web--for example, Keith, the father of the guy who discovered "Comet Lovejoy" was telling me about his son's discovery, etc., and so I looked that up, etc. He discovered that comet,and others with a small home made Newtonian Telescope.

Astronomy is an interesting hobbie, and amaters can still make very import and discoveries --comets, Nova, Supernova, etc.

Sometimes Ameteur Astronomical Society would have a open day and it was always worth attending-- I have not been to one of these since moving out of Sydney in 1990. But I assume they still do these occasionally.

Do not try to look at the sun withyour scope,etc.

I've got a newtonian reflector and a couple of reflectors - mainly into solar observing of late ... a mate of mine has made me the offer of his "back paddock" to build an observatory in - it'll happen in the coming months I hope and I will get back into some "serious" night observing... but really all you need is a good pair of binocs and some "dark sky" - it's a great hobby (albeit expensive).
cheers

i used to be when i was at uni doing astrophysics.
the universe is a wonderful place and we can only see a bit of it

I'll have my binoculars out when we're out in the "never nevers" coming home from Melrose.
It's amazing how many stars we "can't" see living in or near a town.

For a real time on line star guide picture for your location download a free program called "stellarium"..

Stellarium

the program can be adjusted for any location and to any past or future date & time

also get the free heavens above

Heavens-Above Home Page

adjust it for your location and identify satellites, see comets , meteor showers, get all planetry rise and set times etc etc... (for your location)

their page on "iridium flashes" will give a lead to some of the more interesting satellite observations

the site tells us for instance that Tonight (11Mar) from abt 2008 to 2012 EDST the ISS will be visible as it transits across the southern part of the sky

there are also a couple of comets arouond that will brighten up considerably this year

If you are in Sydney you will find that travelling away from there to past Peats Ridge or west of Lithgow will overcome some of the light pollution