What's YOUR astro THING

[Robert_T]

Hi All, I'm curious (indulge me) and wondered what the mix of astro interests is out there, so thought I'd try out a poll. Guess many of you have a range of interests, but what is that special one, closest to your heart (and most damaging to your wallet or purse)?

[h0ughy]

I WILL ANSWER - have you a poll to post.

mine is eyepieces , scopes and gadgets, deep space and nebulae
I doo love the larger planets too

[Robert_T]

whoa Houghy, your keen - got the reply in before I finished typing out the POLL:lol:

[Chrissyo]

I picked Lunar/Planetary astrophotograhy and Space Exploration/Astro-science. I must say, my 'special' one (closest to my heart) would be space exploration. I don't think its normal for people my age (teenagers :nerd: ) to be reading books about american and russian space history, the thoughts and construction behind the Ranger and Voyager probes etc and other such things. Go space :thumbsup:

[mickoking]

Visual deep sky, the king of Astronomy ;) I also like checking out double stars and looking at Jupiter and Saturn when there up.


The moon is too bright, maybe I should email GW Bush and tell him to newk it :lol:

[Greg Bryant]

Tough one.

Comets has always been my special interest - for more than 20 years I've been following and observing them.

But Astro science and space exploration is always a big favourite.

I'd add that my first "astro experience" was watching the 1976 solar eclipse on TV.

[Striker]

Deep Sky Imaging...is their any other way....atleast you put it in Italic....lol

[mickoking]

Same here, living in Mt Druitt at the age of 7.

[ving]

i'd like to say eclipses....

i have voted :)

[Robert_T]

hmmm, didn't think of eclipses... or occultations for that matter :confuse3:


I could add them, but don't seem able to edit the poll - "other" looks good for these:)

[asimov]

Better seeing conditions than what I'm getting at the moment would be nice! GRRRR!!!!

[asimov]

Ok, I'll now answer your question: Pics of planets!! No visual.

[janoskiss]

What? you just have engravings made and you run your fingers across them in the dark??

[AstroJunk]

17th to 19th century Astronomy. I'm as much interested in the reaction of "the establishment" to the implications of the observations as I am in the observations themselves.

I suppose the same is true today - but I can't understand the physics anymore!

[Robert_T]

hmmm, deep sky out in front, where are all my planetary imaging pals... even comets are pipping us out ;)

[wavelandscott]

I voted for the visual(s) Deep Sky and Lunar/planets and other too...jack of all trades master of none...

I like a bunch of "things"...the night sky is like a "smorgasboard" of delights...it is too hard to pick just one "thing"...it is one of he things that I most like about this hobby...

[Rodstar]

Doubles, without hesitation.

[Starkler]

Definately deep sky for me, as the seeing is all too rarely good enough to give me satisfying planetary viewing.
Fave objects are galaxies and planetary nebs. I need more aperture *sigh*

[danielsun]

Definately deep sky , Galaxy's,NO 1 then globulars,nebula open clusters, then planets when there up and when its clouded over reading astronomy science, but saying that i'm still interested in every aspect of astronomy!!!

[33South]

Summary of my Other
Mainly IIS now. Used to be a range of yahoo groups
Also images,articles and adverts in the astronomy magazines

Although not really amateur astronomy anything to do with space travel including SF books and films.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I love stars!!!!

big clear ones, small fuzzy ones, little bundles of fuzz on their own, doubles, triples, nebulas, hell even close ones when they eclipse - like old Sol... far away galaxies that look like spiders of dust, to just following what I read in techno-mags....

I just love Space and everything in it...

what am I good at, basicly just my eclipse work...lol.. the rest I'm a jack of all trades and master of none...I just enjoy myself with my scopes.

Tony

[Robert_T]

OK, looks like the Deep Sky Visual folk have it - and an admirable pursuit it is too - followed closely by the Lunar/Planetary Visual crowd.

hmmm will be interesting to see what changes another 5 years of light polution, technical advancement and hopefully greater affordability in tracking/imaging makes to this...:confuse3:

[fringe_dweller]

I would of included asteroids as a seperate field too (and they cant be lumped with comets - two different camps mostly - althought there are crossover area's) it has pretty big following especially amongst the orbital mechanics crew - who compete who can derive the orbit from as little initial info first - these also include the comet camp as well a crossover point there. Orbital mechanics is a big 'thing' I have found from the net - that also branches into the sport of matching old orbits of comets/asteroids from history too new discoveries.

[fringe_dweller]

thought of another field 'meteor showers' - great thread Robert :) good to see the comet ppl did pretty well - but that could be broken down too - there is the bright comet mob and there is the dimmest possible comet mob (they dont like bright ones coz ordinary folk like 'em :P they bring the riff raff in)

[Robert_T]

Thanks Kearn... damn you're right, asteroids and meteor showers deserved a place (along with eclispses and occultations)... ah well "other" for now... just thought of a couple others, amateur radio astronomy and atmospherics effects such as Aurora and Green Flashes etc... so much to do and know, so little time :P

[rumples riot]

Just the one, you know what it is. Good poll Robert.

[fringe_dweller]

=Robert_T
a couple others, amateur radio astronomy and atmospherics effects such as Aurora and Green Flashes etc... so much to do and know, so little time :P

Robert, with respect (and i dont want to sully this superb thread/poll) I have to say, being both a 'sometimes' pedant and an aurorae observer, that re the classification of aurorae as coming under the 'atmospheric optical phenomena' banner is a sometimes contentious one. Without going into to it fully, it actually is technically under both the astronomy and atmospheric optical phenomena banners, it seems. As you know the aurora is of course caused by the solar winds interaction with earths magnetic field, and happens at the edge of space, and they have been used to study the sun and the solar wind and still are.

"as·tron·o·my (-strn-m)
n. pl. as·tron·o·mies
1. The scientific study of matter in outer space, especially the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial bodies and phenomena."

Secondly I am also guilty of using the term 'atmospherics' to decribe the same things you are - I just used that term incorrectly in here recently - I think it fits the bill too - but it is already being used unfortunately

'at·mos·pher·ics (tm-sfrks, -sfîr-)
n.
1. (used with a sing. verb)
a. Electromagnetic radiation produced by natural phenomena such as lightning.
b. Radio interference produced by electromagnetic radiation. Also called sferics.
2. (used with a pl. verb)
a. Features, events, or statements intended to create a particular mood or attitude: "[This book] is full of fiction unconcerned with spooky atmospherics or suspense; most of the collection's stories are about cruel humans and the violence they commit" Ken Tucker.
b. The mood or attitude so created.'

some references to support my points and help with possible future classification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_phenomenon
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/atoptics/phenom.htm

note in the second site they dont have aurora listed under aop's, and that is a more authoritive site

cheers, and sorry for being a sad pedant and a touchy aurora observer, but i cant help myself it seems :( LOL

[Stu]

pmsl...:rofl: I found that so funny...

Go the planetary visualists!

[cometcatcher]

Comets. :P

[Roger Davis]

Walking the barrel, as they used to say. Mirror Making as you know it. Had the passion for years. An interest in all things equipment oriented. That's why I took on the profession as well as the hobby. My greatest kick was when I was asked to become an Associate Editor for the Amateur Telescope Makers Journal by Bill Cook. Never thought I would enjoy doing that so much!
Strange to think that this now comes under OTHER where there used to be a specific heading: Telescope Making

[fringe_dweller]

Roger, ATM is given its own category there :-)

[jjjnettie]

I'm still so new to this hobby that I haven't had time to decide what branch is for me. So I'm just tasting a little bit of everything.
I started off with DSO's, then doubles, planetary visual now I'm having a go at imaging. When the next bright comet comes along I'll be out there trying to track it, and the Mercury transit will be one of this years highlights.
Give me another couple of years and then maybe I'll be able to tell you what branch I prefer.

[deanm]

2012 Transit of Venus.

Not to be repeated until 2117...!

Dean

[astroron]

Amazing, someone has posted something on this thread for the first time in seven and a half years:eyepop:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

Maybe his next reply will be in 2117!

7.5 years later mine is still comets, although I like shooting any deep sky.

[JB80]

That is a pretty good bump, the thread is still relevant though.
I still consider myself fairly fresh at all this even after a few years now I am constantly learning and experiencing new things but somehow it seems I have landed in the Solar camp.
I'm imaging the Sun daily when weather and circumstance provide, I haven't got a count at hand but I'm bound to be close to 130 to150 full disc white light images for the year so far plus a load of Ha stuff as well.

I make do with the equipment I have and no doubt I could optimise it and upgrade but I had other plans which I still want to explore.
Either way I'm enjoying myself and that is all that matters.

[mental4astro]

Sketching!

What else is there... :D

[astroron]

At least someone is posting other than just voting.;)
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Merlin66]

Amateur Spectroscopy - The final frontier - To boldly go were few have gone before....
No problems with light pollution and a great combination of science and astronomy.

[FlashDrive]

Wide Field Viewing . . . with Large Refractor and Bino's . . . . :thumbsup:

Flash . . . .

[ZeroID]

Deep sky imaging is my main area of interest but ATM and solving problems associated with it is all part of the equation. I get a lot of satisfaction in building stuff to solve technical issues with imaging. And it saves me money , .. or wastes my time :D

Mind you, I dabble in all the other areas as well, weather and situation dependent.

[Octane]

Nowadays, automation. :D

H

[rustigsmed]

that is a great bump!

i'd like to see what jjjnettie has to say now - not so 'new' to the hobby anymore :lol:

I like to dabble in a bit of photography and visual. its great to produce an image you're happy with but its also just as nice to see saturn at the eyepiece.

[pgc hunter]

Visual, galaxies and planetary nebulae

[xelasnave]

I have gone back to 80 mm binos and just travel around

[hobbit]

I'm quite interested in exoplanets, although i don't think there is much i can do with it.

[ixian]

I love looking at the planets, Jupiter and Saturn are just amazing but the bright stars and deep space objects just do my head in. The distance that light has traveled and the beauty, just incredible and here we are, on this tiny little spec of dust, rotating, just so that we can be slowly turned day to day to face these wonders. Most of the population doesn't even care, the sky is boring to them, it's tragic.

[Redshift13]

At the moment, imaging wide field nightscapes seems to have most of my attention.

[rustigsmed]

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/nasa-funded-program-helps-amateur-astronomers-detect-alien-worlds/

http://www.aaa.org/node/294

[Kugelblitz]

I'm currently studying a bachelor of science with the major in astrophysics.

Still fairly new to imaging. I've found globular clusters and the planets/moon to be quite fun.

[multiweb]

There should be another entry: "clear skies". :stargaze:

[Suzy]

:lol::lol::lol:

Comets & supernovae !!!!!!! :prey2:
Bless you sky with your surprises of visitors from woop woop and kaboom events :D.

I enjoyed reading Nettie's response just starting out. What a treasure.

[JB80]

That is one area I hope to explore further in the future. I await more aperture and a better mount first though. :)

[dannat]

where's the binocular option:shrug: