Just a Gi'Day from a bloke in the US

[Tawhano]

My interest in astronomy began back in 1986 when I lived in New Zealand. I am an unpaid member of the Auckland Astronomical Society. Apparently you are a life time member unless you request to have your name stricken from the books. I have since moved back to the USA early 1999. I had a 80mm Jason Refractor but it didn’t fair very well on the boat trip when I had my household stuff shipped back here. It was more a toy than a serious scope anyways. Although it was expensive at the time I bought it (around $1000) it never really performed very well. I used it mainly to take photos of the moon and planets.

I now live in northern Indiana and haven’t sought out any astronomical clubs since I don’t have a decent scope. I’ve kept up my interest using a pair of binoculars and Starry Sky software. My passion has returned but my financial status is shaky so I haven’t purchased another scope yet. I got my heart set on an Orion SkyQuest XT10 or XT12. I’ve been seeing positive comments on this equipment from members on this forum as well as other forums. Hopefully I will be able to buy a scope and find myself back under the night sky where my heart is at home.

Any Kiwis on this forum? Gi’Day mates. I was wondering if anybody from New Zealand remembers a guy named Graham Lofty (sp?) who was famous for his homemade 22” mirror (built in 1953 I think) and home built newtronian scope make from scrap plywood. I have fond memories of climbing his 12’ ladder to gaze into the huge EP. It was like I was flying in space.

[CoombellKid]

Hey Tawhano,

Welcome to IIS! I have also heard good reports of XT10 & XT12. So I dont
think you'll go wrong with either.

Btw, in NZ it's Hey Bro in Oz it's G'day Mate lol

regards,CS

[iceman]

Hi there and :welcome: to IIS! There are a few NZ'ers here.

The Orion intelliscopes seem very good, with built in DSC's it saves a lot of hassle trying to find what you want to observe. It'll be a huge difference from a 70mm refractor. You won't know yourself!

Thanks for saying g'day and I look forward to more contributions and questions from you in the future!

[[1ponders]]

:gday: Tawhano.

Welcome to the club.

Yep we do have a few Kiwis here but they have been keeping their heads low for a week or so after the Aussies beat the Kiwis in the Rubgy ;) :lol:

[astroron]

:gday:and :welcome: Tawhano, there are quite a few KIWI'S on this site.
I started with a 60mm Jason Refractor 21 years ago which I still have and use occasionally, but being the proud owner of a 16" Dob that one gets the most use.
Hope to see you around on these forums in the future:thumbsup: Ron

[DeanoNZL]

Hi Tawhano, :welcome:
Do you mean this Graham Loftus?
http://www.was.org.nz/GrahamLoftus.htm

Good to see you still pursue the heavens.
Yes, Kiwi's have been a bit quiet lately, could have something to do with the 170kph winds we had up north Tuesday.
As for the rugby, he who laughs last, laughs longest!
Kia Kaha (Stand Strong)

[wavelandscott]

Indiana!

Them is my old stomping grounds!...

While I now live in(near) Sydney, I grew up south of Crawfordsville, IN and attended Purdue University...

Good to hear from a "Midwesterner"...

Clear Skies!

[jjjnettie]

Glad to have you aboard Tawhano.

Didn't Australia beat NZ in Lawn bowls the other day as well?

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

[acropolite]

Welcome to IIS Tawhano. Feel free to post some pics of your surroundings etc. :D

[Ric]

Hi Tawhano and welcome to the forum and IIS. I hopr you have a great time here.

Cheers

[Tawhano]

Thanks for the warm greetings people.



Funny story that. Although I lived in New Zealand 16 years I never quite got the G’Day down pat and it always came out as Gi’Day. I could do a good imitation of Billy T. James or Fred Dagg though. Alas I have lost the knack and gone back to being a full fledge yank. Have a good day!;)



I’m stuck in Bristol, two towns east of South Bend. Light pollution maximum even though I live in a “rural” township.



That’s the man, funny seeing a picture of him without his stocking cap. There was also another Graham (Willson?) who was a student of Graham Loftus that was in the process of making and selling a dobsonian he called Collapse-a-star or something like that. Being a rookie he let me test it out. It came apart in several pieces and fit in the back of the trunk (boot). You could set the scope up in 5 minutes from the several pieces it broke down into and be viewing right away. Both the Grahams had a knack for being able to point their scopes at will into the sky without using the finder scope and with a couple of nudges find just about anything.