Marvelous & Inspiring Night.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Sometimes you have a night showing someone the night sky that rekindles that wide eyed awe.

Tonight my wife's uncle who has just turned 80 and recently lost his wife rolled up.
He excitedly explained his kids had bought him a telescope, and was wondering if I could show him how to find objects.
I said my pleasure Laurie!:)
Well his sense of wonder and awe of what he was seeing through the telescope is just inspiring.

It was extra special being able to show him comet Lovejoy and image it at the same time.
I've given him some books and magazines to go on with and he's coming back in a couple of weeks for another session.

Looking forward to it!:):).

Cheers,

Justin.

[cometcatcher]

Great story!

While out the backyard the other night I saw an iridium flare and a meteor streak by near the comet. I had flashbacks to late 1985/6 photographing Haley's comet. My goodness that was 29 years ago.

[strongmanmike]

Ahhhh sigh..it feels like yesterday (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/halleys_comet_1986) :)

Great story Justin, 80 years old huh? wonder what his eyes are like?

I recently opened Terroux Observatory to 28 visitors attending a christmas party at the property...it was after BBQ/dinner and drinks so they were a loud and jovial bunch by then, with a couple'a swaying staggerers :lol:, although I opened the door and shone the torch in for a look-see, I didn't let anyone inside the dome and just used the 12" Dob outisde, perfect clear moonless and mild night too. Varying interest from just wanting to contuinue the laugh and drink wine :nerd: to several first time keen observeres including an older gentleman who stuck to me and the scope and sky like glue until everyone had gradually gone back to the house and it was midnight and just he an I...a very rewarding evening :)

Mike

[LewisM]

I too had a rekindle of the spark...

Picked my sister and family up at the airport (they had Xmas in Spain), and driving home (2am), we all heard the call of nature. So, I pull off and along Roy's Road (anyone from around the Sunhine Coast area will know) and it is surrounded by pine plantation. Well, as you do in the dark, talking to nature, I looked up (expecting to see nothing but cloud, seeing it had rained all day and most of the night), and was absolutely gob-smacked to see the Milky Way swathe in all it's beauty, including naked eye nebulosity in the usual places.

I hadn't been able to see that for a LONG time. a LONG LONG time.

It certainly re-inspired me, considering imaging has been out of the question in over 4 months.

[xelasnave]

Justin it is a wonderful thing when you open the door to astronomy for someone.
I feel you have also given him a new lease on life.
Thank you for sharing such a great experience.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks Chaps!:thumbsup:

Mike, Lauries eye's are better than mine, he only has a mild prescription reading glasses.
He had no trouble discerning small crater in crater views.

Sometimes obsession takes over and the wonder disappears, it was nice to have the wonder rekindled.

Cheers,

Justin.