IceInSpace Market Research

[iceman]

Hey guys.

Just doing a bit of market research, trying to find out how you found out about the site/forums.

The results are for my interests sake mainly, but also might help determine the best method of getting the site noticed.

If you choose one of the "Other" categories, it would be great if you could please post the details.
Feel free to post your comments about where you found out about the site, even if you choose a specific option.

Thanks

[coxellis]

http://www.ukastroimaging.co.uk/forums/index.php - from Robby and David.

Andy

[ving]

a person called iceinspace on the AO forum conned me into coming here promising free pron!

[acropolite]

Ving, Funny thing that, iceman also poached me from the same forum. I have my suspicions that Iceman is a forumophile. :face:

[Starkler]

Gamearena forum.
Clicked the link in your signature.

edit: oops i clicked other forum as i didnt see the GA option.

[Striker]

A member named VING mentioned this forum in the Astronomy online forums...so here I am....so any problems BLAME VING....hehe...Mooooooo

You should have made a vote for "I Follow Striker" that would have been 90%......lol.

[ving]

hey don't blame me!!! :P

[gaa_ian]

Got my link from the Astronomy & Telescope Email Newsletter /Advitorial

[[1ponders]]

Rumples or was it hawkeye, might have been hawkeye now that I think about it subconded me from either CN or Astronomy.com

[Vermin]

I followed iceman from the AO forum (that I very rarely visit now).

It's not looking good for all that advertising you did in S&S Mike.

[RAJAH235]

Mike, Our club Pres. rec'd an email from you. He forwarded it on to all our members. :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Andrew, Astro-South, told me about this forum.
This place is sooo good that I have deleted 2 of the other Astronomical forums that I belonged to.
Jeanette

[RAJAH235]

Easy Jeanette, These guys have big enough egos now. Don't encourage them. :love:

[iceman]

Thanks astro_south for spreading the word, and thanks so much to Jeanette for the nice nice comment! :2thumbs: :eyepop:

C'mon everynoe, only 29 votes so far! What about the rest of you that I poached from around the place? :)

[ving]

still waiting for my free telescope pron! :P

[Comet Hunter]

The relentless spamming on CN

[silvinator]

I clicked on your link in one of your posts from AO Mike...I was curious...

[rmcpb]

Followed Mike's link from CN

[De-Gen]

Through iceman's signature at AO...hahaha. i voted 'other forum' oops

[astro_south]

Iceman

I found this place while seraching for a review on 42mm Superviews (so you and I can thank Mark Hodson for me being here). I pass the word far and wide :-)

[Mombat]

Lol i clicked a link from Mike in AO best choice i've ever made.

2 From Sky and space thats not too bad concidering that you actually have to be reading it in the first place and second reading it carefully.

[iceman]

You legend, thanks :)

I was hoping for some more.. perhaps there are a few more that just haven't voted yet, or signed up yet.

[MiG]

I definitely came here from Google and I think I was looking for reviews on the GS Dobsonians. Or maybe it was the eyepieces? Hmm, can't remember. I was very happy when I found this place.

[Brendan]

I would give it time Ice, S&S haven't been to regular on the news stand of late so some readers may have jumped ship to other mags.

[Mick]

Been here from day one, Ice invitation from AO forum. Wonderful to see the forum growing stronger every day, the three of you are doing a great job thanks.
:D

[janoskiss]

Same here; iceman dropped an invitation on one of the AO forums. I must admit I was skeptical at first; did not think much of iceman trying to lure all the AO members over to his site. :P

I probably would not have had this negative initial reaction had iceinspace.com not been a .com. Had it been a .org, .org.au, or even .net.au, I would have thought nothing of iceman promoting his forums at AO. The .com suffix implies a profit motive. Pity about the bureaucracy around the issue of domain names.

[ving]

and they have to be reading the adverts too!

[iceman]

Just offering an alternative.. the AO forums were fine when they were the only ones in Australia, but they were always up and down (server problems), and there was very little in the way of active posters and no moderation or activity from an admin or anyone else.

I was simply offering another place to visit to get their amateur astronomy advice or discussions :) Somewhere active and not stale.

I'm a bit surprised by this comment. I've never thought of .com as a profit-seeking domain-name suffix, long before I started a website of my own. There's literally hundreds of thousands of .com suffixes, and a stack of them are just the average joe starting his own website, because .com is so cheap and easy to register. $15 for a 2-year subscription.

Agree with that, but I can understand why Australia has taken the hard line, given the problems, law suits etc that happen in America as a result of domain name registrations.

[ballaratdragons]

Hey, this thing is rigged so I can't vote twice!

I'm another from AO. Jeez that site gets boring. I was Dragon over there but that name was taken in here.

[janoskiss]

Don't worry Mike, I think you deserve an Order of Australia for what you've achieved.

[ving]

would you like coke and fries with that?

[ballaratdragons]

No, just the toy!

[ving]

an australia order happy meal? :lol:

[mch62]

I was shang highed by Ice from CN.

[blackpearl]

I came via a Google search probably looking for further information on dobsonian telescopes
Stayed because of the great information and humour and sense of community

[acropolite]

I see there's no "Poached By Ice" in the How did you find out about IceInSpace stats. :whistle:

[silvinator]

lol phil. i think the first three choices would definitely cover that anyway!

[iceman]

haha too true, if you came from one of those other forums, it's probably because I pimped the site or PM'd you inviting you here :)

[Starkler]

Now how would we handle any little upstarts who try to pimp people here to another new forum ?

Tar and feather them ? :D

[ving]

boot thier scrawny lil' butts off the forum I say
< subliminal message>
www.vingsforumaboutspaceandthings.o rg.au
< /subliminal message>
:P

[rowena]

hahahaah i love all your answers! sooo funny!! mmm good to have some humour on a Cloudy friday evening :)

rowena

[iceman]

Only 47 votes to this poll! C'mon guys, if you haven't voted, please do so! :)

[toetoe]

G`day Mike.
For me it was Sky & Space mag March/April page 88 & 89.

[Moonman]

I think I somehow stumbled onto it when I was serching for Moonphase software. Your moonphase website thumbnail somehow got thrown into the search parameters and the rest is history.

[trufflehunter]

Definitely got directed here from a Google search. Can't remember what it was, probably reviews on either LX90 or eyepieces. And if Ving gets any 'free telescope pron' I want some too.

[astroron]

ARGO NAVIS plus your flyer at SPSP it's quite a cool site. regards.Ron

[Swamp Fox]

If I remember right I picked up a link on Universe Today Forum. Have no recollection of who posted it.
dan

[astro_nutt]

Hi everyone!...yeah, came over from the AO site...Glad I did!...and I'll spread the word!!
Cheers! ...astro_nutt

[robin]

Hey Vingmeister...is that 'Telescope pron' or 'telescope porn'?!

[iceman]

It's pr0n, that's gamers 1337 sp34k.. (leet speak). Ving (like myself, striker and a few others) is from an online gaming background..

Once you pick up bad habits from online gaming communities they're hard to get rid of :)

[robin]

Yes Iceman, that was just a lighthearted post, I'm aware of pron....

[h0ughy]

I found out through our astronomical society meeting, and then SPSP 2005.

Houghy

[ausastronomer]

Gary Kopff from Argo Navis introduced me to Mike, Rod and Robbie at SPSP.

CS-John B

[Dennis]

Argonavis (the BAS man) introduced me to this most exquisite and finest of all forums in the Galaxy, via e-mail.

Cheers

Dennis

[iceman]

Added AS&T (June) to the poll, so if you found out about IceInSpace from Greg's SPSP article, choose that option! :D

If you haven't yet voted in this poll, please do so! :poke: :P

[videoguy]

Invitation from Ice

[cahullian]

AO forum was where ice poached me from. I was using that forum for ages and never felt like buying a scope but a few days here and I was whipping out my credit card so much it got friction burns. Love the forum here and my new scope and my new optics ect ect he he he . Keep up the good work guys.

[elusiver]

austech :)

el :)

[cometcatcher]

Welcome Elusiver. I thought there would be more from Austech by now.

I came through AO (Adults Only) hahah I mean Astronomy Online. :D

This one's the best Aussie forum.

[Dave47tuc]

If I remember it Was Mick In mackay you refered me from the
AstroAustralis Yahoo Group. :D

I was looking for a more active forum. I found it :2thumbs:

[Librarian64]

I found it via Google but can't remember the exact search string. However, I found the Iceinspace home page first and saw the forum. I was pleased to find a local forum and joined immediately.

[NickandRebecca]

I found you when attempting to gain information on Optrons reflectors. A forum was in the search list with a link back to you

[iceman]

Another from the Newcastle area, welcome Nick and Rebecca!

You'll have to come to one of our local meets on the central coast, or head along to the NAS and meet up with some other local amateurs!

[Ganymede]

Found you in last issue of AS&T :2thumbs:

[elusiver]

austechs forum really only has a handful of regulars in the astronomy forum :(

el :)

[Supa Acsum]

I did a google search which took me to a forum (I think something to do with ebay). Iceinspace answered a query and I click on his link. That same week I read about IceinSpace in a magazine in the events page, I think Sky and Telescope Australia...cant remember name...but it was either this months or last months.

Great site.

[Ratman]

I was looking at scopes on ebay for about 2 months, and not knowing exactly what I was looking for, I googled and I looked at alot of different sites. I can remember that there was another forum site, and I think it had a referral to Iceinspace. I looked at a few sites and after reading some of the posts in here, I wanted to get signed up.

Cheeers rats :)

[mickal555]

I heard about IIS at QLD astofest, I can't remeber who it was...

About 3am sunday...

[RB]

Read about IIS in AS&T.

Also Don from BINTEL told me about the Kulnura meetings.

[dsturnbull]

I'm not sure where I found out about this site, I suspect an insidious campaign conducted through my dreams.

[hiro]

:stupid:

[dsturnbull]

hiro m'lad, how ye be?

[netwolf]

From posts like this one on the Austech forums.
http://www.austech.info/showthread.php?t=97508&highlight=iceinspace

I wonder if Leerjet one of the starters of the Astronomy section over there has moved accros to these forums, he had some really cool home made stuff.

[iceman]

Leerjet (from austech) = cometcatcher here :)

[netwolf]

Thanks Iceman.. Its good to see some of the good folk from Austech have miagrated accros. I am sure many more could be moved accros, thos who have an intrest in Satelites would perhaps be also intrested in the stars.

Hello to Elusiver and Commetcatcher, i though i was the only Austechie here..

[danielsun]

I found IIS in the august sky and telescope mag advertising the ice in space star camp at snake valley!

[Neilzstar]

Referred by Dave47Tuc. Well Done, David

[iceman]

I've edited the poll options to remove the issue dates for the magazine referrals.

If you haven't voted in this poll yet, please do so!

[Harlequin]

G'day, how are you all doing?

I found this active and helpful community when I was searching for local astronomy groups for advice on beginning a lifetime hobby of astronomy. I was searching only Australian websites via google.com.au for: "Gold Coast" astronomy forum.

Hope you all have a merry Xmas and wonderful new year.

Best regards


Harlequin

[Orion]

Hello Harlequin
Welcome to the IIS and may I wish you merry Christmas and a happy new year also.

[icemanswife]

I was told something like "you never look at IIS" and I didn't so now I do.

[NightOwl]

I was searching the net for information about Dobs, and IIS was mentioned on another site, but I can't remember which one.

[Rodstar]

I am another AO forum sourced convert. I actually had a problem with the AO forums in that at the time that I visited them, what I really wanted to talk about what how annoyed I was with the poor service I had received from the AO store. I saw a post of Mike's, so checked out IIS, and I have NEVER visited the AO forum since! Why would you need to, or want to!?

[mickoking]

How I found IIS ?

It was during my trip in China after I explored the eastern reaches of the Himalayas, I went to a town called Dali to rest and chill out. Here at the hotel (pictured below) I was staying at there was free internet. So I grabbed a cheap chinese beer and started viewing Astronomy sites as I was interested in purchasing some gear. I stumbled across a few forums but a certain Iceman kept recommending the forum's members to vist IIS for info, the rest as they say is history. :)

[Kyecat]

I found IIS thru a google search for telescope reviews. I have since spent many hours reading the forums and learning form others questions.



graeme

[ThunderChild]

I was searching Google for information about choosing telescopes.
I was suddenly overwhelmed with options and opinions.
Refractor vs relector, aperture sizes etc etc etc.

I ended up making my decision (6" dob) based on advise from this forum.

[ving]

welcome aboard kyecat :)
hope you found the reviews you wanted here :)

[C.]

I googled Australian sites for Astrophotography and landed here. I've been reading all your terrific advice for beginners and am now suffering from information overload. I'm just an old lady who wants to take photos of the moon and planets. Great site BTW.

[mickoking]

Welcome C, enjoy your stay :)

[newbie]

I was googling to find out info on buying a first telescope mid last year. I came across a thread about a scope for sale on ebay which was apparantly a terrible deal. I was very interested because I had been looking at the scopes on ebay!!:scared: So I was very glad I found the site - I posted a question about which would be a good first time scope and got lots of replies (most suggesting an 8" dob). Proud to say I am now the owner of an 8" SkyWatcher and I got a bit of a deal because I told Steve from MyAstroShop I was referred there from IIS!!

Beth (another IIS success story!!):D

[BobsYourUncle]

I googled .au for "astronomy forum" looking for info and advice on my first telescope. 10" Bintel/GS dob arrives Monday :D

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I googled .au for "astronomy association queensland" looking for local people and groups. Found this forum, saw thread offering advice to newbies re scopes, posted my own questions ..... 10" GS dob has been in solid use nearly 3 weeks. Also found local people and a "group".

(I wasn't really trying to copy you Bobs - I had to change it a little bit to suit my specific details, AND I didn't want you sueing me for plagiarism!)

[BN]

I just kind of found it accidental like one cloudy night when the skies denied me a fix :sadeyes: , no referers just got lucky.
BN

[BobsYourUncle]

Way to copy me Steve :p

I actually know who Iceman is from gamearena, but didn't realise this was his site at first.

[drmorbius]

I was searching google for "choosing a telescope" and found that great article by Miaplacidus.

Wow, my 5th post... Woohoo!

[MakMan]

Hitchhiker's enthusiastic ramblings:D

[Hitchhiker]

...or is that Hitchhiker's rambling enthusiasms?

[MakMan]

:confuse3:

[Jupiter]

Googled Astronomy forums and found IIS, stuck with it cos it was Australian, and now it sits at number 3 on my bookmarks list, a fount of information and whats best is no trolls.

[iceman]

209 voters is pretty good, but it'd be great if anyone who hasn't voted in this poll yet, to cast your vote!

Thanks


Only number 3!?!? :P

[sheeny]

G'Day Mike...

I thought I voted a long time ago but the system tells me I haven't. I would vote again but I honestly can't remmber how I found the site. I was probably googling something astro and stumbled on a thread...

It seems so long ago!;)

Al.

EDIT: Just voted other to reflect the google approach...

[Blue Fire]

I have such a terrible memory sometimes, but I'm reasonably sure that I found this site by clicking on somebody's signature link in the Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum.

[Alderney]

Google

When i first lost my 8" dob, I googled for scope shops in Aus, saw the GSO 12" at Bintel & Andrews did a search for reviews and IIS was one of the first hits.

[astromark]

Like so many before ( b 4 ) me, I was invited from universe today by that Ice man falla...:welcome:
I sort of drifted away until the site emailed me. . .and now I'm back. Sorry.:doh:

[Jared]

Only just signed up.

Heard about it from York Optical (Brisbane) when I put a pair of binoculars on lay-by.

[danielsun]

Welcome Jared!!:welcome:

[spacezebra]

Welcome Jared

Enjoy.

Cheers Petra

[stephenmcnelley]

From memory i was googling for research into the next scope purchase, and i think because i was looking at 25 cm Newts one of icemans early article pages came up, it was some time ago but i think it was the solar filter or the trolley one.

[DaveR]

Long time ago but I think I was googling for info on HEQ5s

[paninaro]

Mike,

If your considering spending ad $ to lift your users then you really have 2 options Google Adwords and Overture (yahoo.com, msn etc). You should be getting a lot of external links back to iceinspace.com.au as your popularity is growing which should lift your page ranking in most search engines regardless of $ spent.

Be aware that you can throw alot of money at these services and get little but rubbish traffic back, it all depends on how you fine tune your promotion with them.

If you want free, independent, qualified advice PM me and I would be pleased to help.

My real job is web development (programming PHP, C#, SQL), my unreal job is gazing at stars. Alex

[leon]

I found it by pure accident, didnt know how to use the internet until 12 months ago, :screwy: then i Googled in Astronomy, and took pot luck, looked through some astronomy sites and came across IIS, :eyepop: i think that's how it happened, any now i'm stuck here, night after night. :whistle:

Cheers leon :thumbsup:

[Harb]

Andrews Comms

[dugnsuz]

Found IIS through a search for GSO Dob reviews when getting back into the hobby. Glad I did - this is the best place to be for help and encouragement.
Cheers
Doug:thumbsup:

[erick]

Searching on "20x80 binoculars" - Malcolm Shackleton's review of AOE's 20x80s came up and I followed back to the home page. Jumped to the forum and was hooked!

[Thbrowns]

Was doing the Google for homemade equatorial mounts and pulled one of the threads from the DIY Forum section. I've already done some of the mods listed in the projects section to my Bintel (GSO) 10" Dob (kudos :thumbsup: to Mike Salway for sharing his info). Hope I can contribute something back to the site in the future.

[huckabuck]

hello all,
i'm kinda new to your forum as i just joined this month. i really enjoy all the content here.i came across this site through ask.com. i was searching for ideas to build a eyepiece case/observing table. i came upon an idea posted by Ian Ogilvie (stringscope (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=213)). i am working on that plus several other projects including a equateral mount for wide field photo's. when finished i'll send along some pic's.

[DobDobDob]

I was searching Google for info on binoculars and came to IIS. Apart from having some considerably good information on that subject I was immediately taken by the quality of the site, especially the forum. The site loads very fast so it's on a really good server which is important to me, I am one of those '15 seconds is long enough for any page to load' type people.

The fact that IIS is Australian is significant because as a beginner when I read someone else's description of an event or object, I can relate because I am somewhat close in proximity.

All up, the Google results that lead me here have made me very happy, in Oz, this is the only place I ever want to be from here on it.

[kitty]

I got my first scope for xmas, realised I knew absoloutley nothing so Googled Astronomy and found an Australian site, IIS. I looked at the Beginners forum and thought it was great, so joined. Such a friendly bunch of Iceinspacers!
I don't log on as much as I'd like, tired after work, only been in new house 3 months and sadly I do watch a bit of tv.

[Bobj]

Just did a 'google' for astronomy forums in order to check out which type of scope to buy. Always best to get the blokes at the 'coalface' to give their valuable info.:thumbsup:

[Ingo]

I saw iceman advertising it on bautforums.com and decided to join even though im not in australia :D

[Grinz]

I was doing some research for a talk for our astronomy club. Cannot even remember what I was looking for exactly but it had to do with comets because of McNaught and the threads about McNaught were found. I saw how nice and informed the people here seem to be and joined immediately. My initial perception about this being a great site has since been confirmed through numerous visits even though I don't post as often as others do.


Oh and I did not vote "Google" simply because I don't use Google as a rule: I prefer Copernic, which is a meta search engine that works very well indeed.

[hookedonsaturn]

Was just searching net for astronomy software and related links and clicked on this site.saw is was mainly southern hemisphere and figured givge it a good lookover.Best thing i have done for a long time.Help from people has been super

[Paddy]

I was looking for telescope reviews

[G.J.Shepherd]

Got a massive energy rush for buying a telescope after a saw an image from a home user, I first was introduced to astronomy when my dad spent up big on a scope and bino's when Haley's comet came to town, since then I've had different average scopes over the years. Since I saw that pic though and realized what my cheap scopes have been making me miss, I started googleing like a mad man and when I choose results from Australia, IIS was the first 4 or 5 results, I think I typed telescope reviews or something like that.

[ice9481]

Looking for an answer to a question. Yahoo search for australia astronomy forum.

[little col]

was looking on google for astro forums around the world for a bit of variety and knowledge:D

[radu5er]

Searched google.com.au using 'amateur astronomy'

Sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you.:)

[Sgtfretsurfer]

made a thread asking for Australian astronomers on cloudy nights (i was getting sick of talking to the yanks, they dont use the same brands). anyway i got posted here, and iv never looked back. this site rules

[erick]

Hi Sgtfretsurfer. So it's lucky you cannot hear the accents in the postings! You'll be surprised the diversity of folks on IIS!

[Sgtfretsurfer]

My apologies, i hadn't intended that to come across as derogatory. I think its fortunate that not many people in the US use 'skywatcher', otherwise i may have never stumbled across this community

[shootin' star]

I came across this forum while I was googling 'outer space' or 'telescopes' or the like.

[Alchemy]

Found via the google, and i might note i still use google to dig up subjects discussed long ago but still are relevant, interestingly ice in space tops out the google often.

[joshman]

i found ISS from a search result in google. i was looking up information for the lunar eclipse on august 28.

[akritc]

I found out bout da site through google, waz searching 4 da eclipse on the 28th of august:D

[mib]

I was looking for reviews/information on eyepieces and googled to you equipment reviews.

[eseeljag]

typed in my town an a them like space,telescopes , astronomy and this was the first site to appear in the search engine

[akritc]

yup

[Meadehead]

Googled info for Meade ETX125 or LX90 when I was having problems and stumbled upon IIS. :thumbsup:

[kljucd1]

was looking for telescope relate stuff in google, don't remember the exact search word.

[Dez]

I read an article in the Central Coast Express Advocate while at work a few months back now. I have many interests but this forum has to be the best set up, friendliest I have seen. Great stuff!!

[dannat]

found IIS in search engine - you do come very high up the list - you could make heaps of dough telling other companies how to rank at thetop of serach engine lists

[SkySearcher]

I was googling for advice on buying a dob.

[varmint]

Asked a question on CloudyNights and was sent to an article on this one. Decided it might be nice to make some friends on a different continent. :thumbsup:

--Jim,

Pacifica, CA, USA

[Jazza]

Google is your friend ;)
Searched for:
Southern Hemisphere Astronomy Forum

[edwardsdj]

I'm sure I found this through Google. It was so long ago I can't remember what I was searching for :(

[caleb]

google results, i think i searched "southern hemisphere sky events"

[Valmir]

Google: Australian Astronomy

[omnivorr]

...I think it started something like "I wonder what telescopes cost these days?" .."mmm try Googling... site: au " ...one thing lead to another :)

[Michele Oestrei]

My google search to find you was on 'light pollution australia'. Preparation for a talk next week.

[gman]

I found IIS whilst trying to track down info on purchasing a scope.
Forums usually take you deeper into equipment than the usual sales pitch.

[Dog Star]

Bought a computer about 6 months ago and started surfing the web merrily (as you do) I think the link to IIS came up when I Googled for star maps. As soon as I realised that it was an Australian site I homed straight in. Wouldn't have kept visiting though if the quality and breadth of information hadn't been so high. Ironically, my brother Steve (already a member) put me on to it about a week later.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

What can I say - you do what you can to help!

:whistle:

[bones]

I found out about Ice in Space searching the web for information on looking for a telescope & accessories. Soon after that IIS got a bit of a plug in the local paper when Iceman was interviewed prior to the lunar eclipse last year. As I recall this plug gave a few locals the knowledge of this site on the web.

[Protiotype]

Ian Musgrave's Astroblog (http://astroblogger.blogspot.com) - of which I found after being a long-time subscriber to his Southern Skywatch (http://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/ssky.htm) updates via the ABC.

[WeeGraeme]

I did a Google search for "telescope" and "forum". I hadn't thought of the word astronomy.

[Cerberus]

same here, did a search on google for telescopes and stargazing, then found link to IIS

[mabsj2]

found IIS when i made a search on Space Forums at google. i was given very many options but i chose IIS because it met my criteria.:)

[garyp]

Found it on a google search. I can't remember exactly the what I typed but it had the words' astrophography" and "dob" which brought me to an article about it called "Astrophotography with a dob" Liked the site and have stayed eversince.

[Craig.a.c]

Stumbled on to it while looking for reviews of the dobs from Andrews.

[Chippy]

Telescope stuff ;)

[RichardL]

I came across IceinSpace when searching for astronomy sites.

[leinad]

Google Australia: Amateur Astronomy

[dsscse]

a search on google Australia for "telescopes 12" Dobsonian Jupiter images"

[TrevorW]

Found via web search using "Amatuer astronomy" as the text in Google

[kiseek]

I was searching everywhere for an adapter for a MAK-CASS. Went to "Yahoo Answers", posted the question, then was referred to this site as a possible source for an answer.

[HelenC]

found site when "googling" astronomy

[JR1560]

I came here on the infamous 127mm APO Triplet thread. Very impressed. You guys know your stuff. I received my e mail from Gilman and will soon place an order.
:thumbsup: from up above.

[fwhong]

Found you guys when I searched for telescope reviews in Google

[muthu]

Hai,
I found out about Ice in Space searching the web for information on looking for a telescope & accessories. IIS came up when I Googled for star maps.This is an Australian site I homed straight in. :eyepop:
----------------------
Muthu


business for sale (http://www.savvybusiness.com.au)

[BerrieK]

Discovers IIS when googling telescope reviews when trying to fathom the plethora of scopes and deciding on who to buy from and which scope was for me.

[Maxim]

I googled for dosbonian telescope australia

[Clarry]

I was searching for advice on buying a cheap scope from Aldi. The members here soon put me straight.

[june]

I too was searching for a telescope to purchase and still searching, so much info, fingers crossed I get sorted out here....cheers everyone:help:

[lesbehrens]

York optical brisbane.:thumbsup:

[Inmykombi]

I voted other.

I found out about Ice In Space from the MacQuarie University open night in Sydney in 2007 from a person I spoke to on the night.

[Robert9]

I was just looking to buy a telescope - my first.

[Jay-qu]

I found you in google when searching what eyepieces to buy, I read some very helpful post that contributed to my decision :)

[lacad01]

Think I was Googling Australian astronomy resources or help sites.

[-SF-]

I was googling amateur-made images of Saturn and transits of its satellites and a link of the phorum was the second which I have found.

[Baddad]

Googoling for reviews on EPs. "What's this Ice In Space?"

Hmm Looks interesting, seem to know a lot about what I want to know too.

[Enrique]

Referred by a friend,


Enrique

[Tommy Camp]

I found out about you guys when i was looking for an explanation to a random flash in the sky.
lucky for me aswell because i've learnt a fair bit from here.

[Kat5e]

I was looking for a 2nd hand telescope and found this site!

[Chillie]

This is a great thread to use as my first post.

I Googled "Orion SkyQuest XX12" and the thread that came up was:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=407499

darkskybondi (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=6124) included some great info and link for a newbie such as me. I'm slowly working throgh them. Thanks mate!

Cheers,
Henry.

[Analog6]

It was a while ago now but it was Google and some type of telescope/astrophotography query from memory. I was very excited to find you!

[chrisc]

I was using Google... searching for reviews of Baader filters. Someone in one of the forums here had commented on one, so it popped up. :-)

Chris

[Gallifreyboy]

Google looking for reviews of large SCT

[evad2009]

I had just purchased my first telescope and was looking for any information on astronomy. I always use Google, it's fast and I usually find hat I'm looking for.:eyepop:

[M54]

:DYep. Me too.
Wandering around the internet looking for newby info, stumbled across IIS.
Exactly what I was looking for.:thumbsup:
It did exactly what I hoped it would, i.e. rekindle my youthful love of all the stuff in the night sky and boot my disillusionment :sad:(with my difficulty in understanding some of the technical stuff) to kingdom come.:violin:
Got a warm :welcome:, I learn something each time I log on, found out about the ASV star party, AND WENT:), (would have been too chicken to go before), and had one of the best times of my life.:stargaze:
:thanks: IIS.

[AussieAaron]

Hey Guys, I was looking for Observatories around NSW and came across IIC, I googled it and then came up a page that had links to Astronomy groups and then a link to this forum, I was glad i found this because its exactly what i been looking for and im sure ill make some great friends

[ian]

living overseas for a few years, i was looking for an Australian community that i could join upon my return home. i've been lurking on the site for years but now with my return on the next few months i thought it about time to join in.

[AussieAaron]

G'day Mate,
Wisconsin ay?? Wow you must be missing this great southern land, I remember last year when i went to North Carolina for 6 months to work in a summer camp, I got bad home sick because everywhere i looked there were Yank flags, no pie shops, no VB and no beach..lol..like dorothy once said, There is no place like home

[ian]

g'day Aaron,
yep, certainly homesick, more especially now that we are homeward bound as soon as our house sells. i know everyone says it, but its true that theres nothing like being away for while to make you really appreciate just how amazing Australia is. the climate, the lifestyle, the ocean, the people. i've been fortunate enough to have traveled widely but - without wanting to sound like a mindless patriot - we just dont know how lucky we are with our unique spot on the globe. for my money there truly is no better place, no greater natural beauty, no better beaches, no better lifestlye. no more roaming for me :)

[Sarge]

Like most, searching Google for advice (on collimation) and found IIS. Never looked back, great advice and great information.:rofl::rofl:

Rod

[Pat]

Hello Iceman,

Just read this thread. Hope it helps your research.

I googled "astronomy forums". (pages from Australia)

I came here because IIS has a beginners forum, I like this forum software and the pages are easier to read than other forums. Easier on the eye or something.

[Benno85]

Howdy,

I was googling "Sydney astronomy", and up popped this gem of a site.

[Esseth]

The answer to everything is Google.

I was researching guides to basic astronomy binoculars, leaning as much as i could before making any purchases.

Decided to stick around.

[Fossil]

I did a Google search for Australian astronomy sites.

[iceman]

:welcome: Jonathan! Another from Murrumbateman! You have a famous neighbour in Mr Anthony Wesley!

[Fossil]

Correct. He lives just around the corner from me, but I haven't met him yet.
I'm a complete beginner at this and got my first scope only last week (a 10" GSO Dob). Just got to work out how to use it now :help:.
I try to read this forum (and I look at a couple of others) each day - so much to learn. I'm thinking of attending the Canberra Astronomical Society meeting later this week for a look-see.

[seanliddelow]

A friend (TJD) refered this site to me.

[Jeffkop]

Geeeeeze Mike .. to look THAT far back .. yer gonna need a telescope !!!!

But it would have been somehow connected with looking for information on a scope I would think ... hope that helps :)

[Jeff]

Googling for telescopes & astro clubs. :eyepop:

[dpastern]

Photography forum, but I also heard about it around the same time from Troy Piggins, and also had come across a post from IIS as a result of a google search when researching my new scope at the end of last year or thereabouts.

Dave

[TheoHE]

I googled "Telescopes" I think, ticking Aus search about a year ago. Joined IIS with one newby post. Been popping back and learning from IIS every now and then and FINALLY ordered my first proper scope two days ago. :) Ended up deciding on a 10" Lightbridge Dob and really looking forward to it arriving in a few weeks. You guys (and girls) do a wonderful job on this site, no doubt I will stay with it for a long time to come.

[bartman]

I think it was a google for "skywatcher eq6pro AND australia AND shop"
Somehow found IIS and never looked back.
Very informative, very local and easy to navigate!
Bartman

[poppasmurf]

I became aware if ISS from a sticker I got at vendors stalls at first ASAW star party. I often come back to check reviews and articles and generally browse with occasional question which is ALWAYS answered most admirably.:thumbsup::thanx:

[toryglen-boy]

found this place by accident

:)

[that_guy]

Searched for Australian astronomy forum in google... (of course)

[CarlJoseph]

Linked from: http://www.mpas.asn.au/Links.htm

[Rainingstar]

from...Southern Sky Watch

[WadeH]

Hi all, I just loooove this site and all of the great folks here!

I first found reference to IIS buried amongst the adds in SKY & Space magazine. :thumbsup:

[austinstkong]

I was looking for some advice for telescopes (can't remember exact thing I googled) and discovered this treasure trove :D about a week ago.

[Max Vondel]

I was searching for some Heavenly Bodies..................
Well I never find those, but I did find IceInSpace!!!!
:thumbsup:

[jenchris]

My Local Astro Club SAS website, (Event Horizon Magazine) had recommend for this site.

[torana68]

Google, searching for something or other?

[keni]

From the SEQAS web site in their Links.
http://www.seqas.org/

Ken

[mangrovedutch]

Was adviced to check out this site from a Kiwi on POTN (Photography On the Net)

Regards, Dutch

[scagman]

I was Googling reviews on LX200 and found this site. started reading the forums and liked what I saw.

[TinyBlueDot]

Looking up comet Garradd; started reading through the forums, and am still going........:) LOVE the site

John

[Mliss]

I was looking for information on telescopes. from memory i came arcoss an article on how to pick your first scope. it was really helpful and lead me to a review on the 10" GSO DOB's.

After that, most things i searched for brought me back to IIS :thumbsup: !!!
and there it was, the start of something beautiful :love:

[dj gravelrash]

found ice link from southern sky watch

[deejayvee]

I can't remember the exact search I did. It was either about how to pick your first scope, or searching for amateur astronomy forums. Either way, I was looking for an Australian site.

[AndyK]

Answered "other" as I was told about the site by some of the guys I met at Bretti when they were having a bit of a star party and we lobbed in to camp for the weekend.

[rainwatcher]

Trying to find out if a Celestron 50AZ would make a good guide scope for my C8

[Huginn]

I had a similar experience to Mel (#221), I came across this website a few times looking for information on which telescope to buy. However I didn't realise this was an Australian website until I was with the Macarthur Astronomical Society last month.

[Mliss]

:thumbsup:

same Aaron, i was so pleased when i realised this was an Aussie site :D it makes it so much easier when everything is relevant!!

[Karls48]

Search from Google . I don't remember what was I searching for - it was long time ago.

[Beano]

I found the site from a search in google. It was a while ago but I believe it was to do with what scope would be best for a beginner.

[mishku]

I think I was doing a google search for Australian Astronomy :)

[Finite]

Hunting internet-wide extensively for info on my telescope. And up came Iceinspace! Yay! love it, and the people here are really helpful, friendly folk. I'm truly impressed.

[kitty]

I was researching a telescope to buy on internet and saw IIS advertised in telescope store.

[DonB]

Not sure, think I was searching for Astronomy Forum.

[Carlz]

Was searching for Australian Astronomy within the central coast

[ddougan]

Was told by a helpful man at BinTel Glebe

[purplebottles]

A passerby at Siding Spring Observatory Open Day 2009. Went over there again last week for "Lighting Information Day" with our Shire Councillor. Prof Fred Watson lead a team of astronomers in a sales pitch to the local Local Government officers to preserve the dark skies asset they depend on so much. I'm going to rejoin International Dark Skies Association. We just had new street lights installed in Gulargambone, within sight of AAT dome. They are not good design, poorly shielded and mounted, fluorescents !:(

[Varangian]

I used google to search for a southern hemisphere astronomy forum Mike:thumbsup:

[Larryp]

Searching Google for astronomy info.:)

[slowflow]

Google search for Australian astronomy forums

[Vegeta]

I did a google search for scope reviews on the scope I was about to buy when I came across IIS. I liked the site so much that I signed up

[AG Hybrid]

Mental4astro (Alex) directed me here.

[Regulus]

I was searching for reviews in Google.

[04Stefan07]

Through Whirlpool.

[Geoff66]

I found the site googling for beginner's astrophotography.

[Nikolas]

Looking for australian astronomy site and this was first up on google

[skytry]

hi all,
searching for Astronomy items,
along with information, thank you too all the great entries,

Google is the link,

regards,
Peter.

[CJ]

I was after southern sky objects to observe.

[ThinBlueLine]

Was looking for Astronomy Forums on Google and found this amazing site! :D

[el_hefe]

I was looking for Astrophotography forums and images in Australia and bingo! Found this cool site ;)

[bigjoe]

Mike, hi first of all.
The guys at bintel a few years back, told me about this site,as i wanted to sell some astro gear I no longer needed as I wanted to upgrade, and that its a great site to meet like minded people.Cheers from bigjoe.