How long have you been observing?

[Starkler]

Yes folks another silly poll just for the fun of it.

So just how long have you been observing in your current phase?
I ask current phase as I suspect some might be like me. I had a cheapy Tasco 60mm as a boy and picked up stargazing again many years later.

edit : damn I could have phrased the choices better and I cant edit it now. You all know what I mean anyway :P

[asimov]

I picked less than 10 years. In this current phase I reckon its 7-8 years. Started when I was 12 but dropped astronomy like a hot rock when I discovered girls/cars/etc at age 16. ;) Picked it up again at about 25 ? Then dropped it again for a few years. Did that a few more times until I got to this current phase :D

[OneOfOne]

Hey, I think I had the same 60mm Tasco! Still have it, but it is in a box and never gets used as the eyepieces have grown a bit of a beard over the last 30 years or so....haven't we all.

[33South]

Scary stuff - real close to what I was going to say, assuming beer features somewhere in the list of distractions.:eyepop:

[Starkler]

I would have thought that a large proportion of members are newbies but maybe they dont want to click that button :shrug:

[Striker]

Whats observing....???????

Is that when an eyepiece is used...????:whistle:

[wavelandscott]

Like many, I was "into" Astronomy as a boy (especially High School where I helped run my school's planetarium) but drifted away during university (having found beer and other diversions) and early working life (lack of money)...

I've always been interested in space and space science since watching the Apollo program as a child...and have always read everything I could on the subject...just not much chance for any "hands on" (eyes on) stuff

A couple of years back I got the opportunity to be "hands on" again (having a bit of time and a lot more money) and that brings us to now...but I am still trying to get used to looking at the "Southern Sky"...now I have more and better equipment than actual experience or knowledge but it is still fun anyway!

[iceman]

Coming up to 2 years in July. Still a newbie, but have learnt heaps!

Great hobby, meeting great people and have made some great friends.

Have had some great nights out under the stars.

[Starkler]

Its kind of weird now how passing of years gets flagged in my mind with milestones like Scorpio or Orion returning to the evening sky .

Theres another year gone :screwy:

[ving]

well i put a couple of years, but i had a lil' telescope when i was a kid.... some might argue that i still am a kid. :rolleyes:

[hogly52]

Less than a year, with a scope that is. Years of wonder before that...

:drink: Cheers,

Graeme

[sheeny]

I answered 10-20 years as my first entry in my observing log was on 28/3/85, however, not all of that time has been that serious. I would say I was serious for 4-5 years, had 14 years really, really casual, and now another 1 and a bit years serious.

BTW my definition od serious is actually writing something in my observing log...:P

Al.

[Striker]

Year and a half for me.

Does that still class me as a noob....how about experienced noob.

I still blame Ving for my lifes current course.

[rogerg]

Since Christmas of 1998 for me, when I bought myself (with my dad's money of course - christmas and all) a 4.5" newtonian.

I got hooked when I saw Haleys Comet in 86 (think it was 86) when I was 7. Then got hooked even more so when my uncle bought a 8" LX200 sometime in the mid 90's.

It's been continuous upgrades since 1998 so all the one phase. I'm too young to have had more than one "phase" I guess. I suppose if I were given a telescope back in 86 I would've, but that didn't happen much to my disgust at the time!

Roger.

[ving]

hey i didnt tell ya to go and get a buzz-click scope :P

but, you are welcome :)

[Lester]

Well at almost 49 and interested in the night sky since 10. Got my first telescope at 14 = 8" Newtonian. I enjoyed looking at moon, planets and deep sky then and still do; although now am attempting digital photography, which is a great challenge.

Was interested how short a time many of you have been involved, but I am learning heaps from you. Thanks.

[JohnG]

Had to put down since Galileo was a boy, when I added it all up there was never really an end to the current phase. I can still remember catching a bus to ASNSW meeting when they were at Belfield in Sydney, now I am showing my age. I still have and use my old 14th Edition of Norton's, the pages are faded and bent but it still is one of my favourites Star Atlas's. My interest stayed strong because I needed to navigate at night in adverse conditions with my job. Belfield, geez that was soooooo long ago.

JohnG

[Dave47tuc]

Back in the early 70's.:P I started.

Around 34 years and still love it.

[Yuzza]

started for me in 97 all thanks to a school project in year 4, researching a planet of our choice

[fringe_dweller]

10-20 - around the latter part of '94 I started using/owning scopes (inspired by a mate's tales of his views of SL9's effects after crashing into Jupe).
Ive had my slacker years and busier ones tho - does reading/viewing forums, emails, webpages ect., related to astronomy for sometimes several hours a day count as busy and active? hehe

[Sonia]

I started when i was 7 when i started with a little tasco telescope for the moon.
Have been observing for near enough 13 years.

[yagon]

1 month with a telescope. 3 months with binoculars. 34 years with my eyes.

I guess that makes me a newbie.

[Rodstar]

Since January 2005, so less than 2 years for me. Great hobby, love it more and more as my bank balance gets less and less.

[RAJAH235]

Like a few others, I got interested in 1986 when 'Halley's' comet was a really big event. Bought Tasco 114 EQ soon afterwards for a starter & managed to see the impact sites of 'Shoemaker-Levy 9' on Jupiter in '94. Been observing & learning ever since. Joined a local Society in '95, left after a while, n started the W.A.A.C.ers with a few other interested folk in April '99.
A great experience in 'learning & teaching' in this fascinating hobby. :D L.

[astroron]

I had my first view of Saturn through a 50mm spotting scope in Malaya in 1966,then along with watching a recording of man landing on the moon on TV, (I did not see it live as I was listening to it on radio from a jungle dropping zone) in 1969, I had lots of interest in astronomy but did not follow up.
Bought my first scope in july 1986 and have been an active observer ever since.:eyepop: :astron:

[[1ponders]]

man that must have been some 50 mm scope Ron :poke: :P :lol: and three years before it actually happened. wow they don't make scopes like that anymore. :D

I've had a little 60mm scope for probably 35 years for casual viewing and I'm still surprise by the night sights I saw through it. I learnt where Jupiter and Saturn were from a very young age and used to look forward to finding them when they reappeared each year. i think I was about 14 when I first saw a crescent Venus. But I really lost it about two and a half years ago.:screwy: That was when I realized my bank account had a terminal disease. :sad:

[avandonk]

My first memory is standing next to my father watching Sputnick pass over Melbourne, He explained to me the physics behind it's ability to move as it did. I did not quite understand (OK I did not at all understand). He gave me his WW2 binocularrangefinder (you could see over your cover without getting your head blown off type) They were marginally better than the naked eye at night. I soon moved on to a pair of 'modern' binoculars.
In the seventies finally got around to building an 8" F7 Newtonian.All was built by my own hand!
So all in all about fifty years. I am still trying to get better and understand a bit better.
I still dont need a go to. I need a cloud go away!
Bert

[toetoe]

Been observing for just over twelve months but have wanted to do this for many many years.

[mickoking]

I have been observing since late 1980 ( I am currently 36 years old) My first telescope was a Tasco 60mm refractor with a variable x15-x60 eyepiece. It was a piece of crap. It had no finder. The focuser was broken with in days of purchase and the tripod with in months. But with that scope I had my first views of M42, Jupiter and Saturn and it got me hooked on this great hobby for life.

I didn't start making a log of my observations until the 20 May 1995 when with my trusty Meade 200mm Starfinder 'carboard' Dob observed NGC 4755, Jewel Box in Crux.

[Robert_T]

off and on since I was 15.... that would be "since Galileo was a boy" on the rating scheme above:P

[Terry B]

Dear All
I am new here but have been interested in Astronomy for about 10 years. I moved to Moree from Newcastle about then and was dazzled by the beautiful dark skies. I decided to buy a scope and bought an ETX90. I then wanted to learn more so enrolled in the Master in Astronomy(AIM) that was being offered at UWS. This gave me lots of exposure to the more professional side of astronomy. I learnt how to reduce data from the ATCA and helped produce a paper published in MNRAS. Since then I have bought a vixen VC200L and built a Genesis CCD and have taken quite a few pretty photos.
My interest has waxed and waned with work commitments since then. I have recently moved to Armidale and joined the local astronomical society (UNENTAS). This has given me my first contact with other amateur astronomers and I encourage others to do the same.

[EzyStyles]

2 months ago (74 days to ge exact) at the end of January 2006. I've fast pace a little with the help from users here and plenty of reading :) . I'm proud to be a newbie. I think I'm the newest here in the hobby itself.

Funny I just searched my first post here asking alot of newbie questions and it was just 2 months ago.

Always passionate about astronomy since I was a kid. Before then, don't even know the difference between a refractor/reflector and collimate what? :) The current telescope i'm using is my first never had one previously.

You guys can't really compare my knowledge with your 20-30 years experience now can we lol.

[Starkler]

Very impressive considering that you're our resident DSI imaging expert :D

[EzyStyles]

Thanks for your comment Geoff. Just trying my best and learning heaps. More like my second job :P

[danielsun]

Hey Eazy, I agree, you have come a long way in such a short time!!!
Well done! ;)

[ausastronomer]

Well Ron,

An old timer like you will be one of the few around that remember that magnificent naked eye comet of 1970, Bennett's Comet. This is what got me started as an 11yr old. Been in and out of the hobby many times since that wonderful comet of 1970, some returns have been more serious than others.

Fortunately even during my periods of inactivity, I took note of what was going on in the astronomical world, so I have seen all the memorable events since 1970. These include Haley's Comet in 1986, Supernova 1987A in the LMC, Comet Shoemaker Levy 9 impacting Jupiter in 1994 and a couple of others less significant.

CS-John B

[fringe_dweller]

does less significant include, ..Comet Hyakutake at its best, from very dark skies, in 1996, and the last aussie total solar eclipse in dec 2002 in SA, the awesome long duration total lunar eclipse of july 2000, the peak of the leonids fireball shower in 1998 (under dark skies), the leonids meteor storm in 2001 (under dark skies), the last solar maximum and resulting auroral activity? if so, I am impressed that these didnt impress you?
I saw Halleys in '86 and i didnt find it that impressive to be honest.

[ausastronomer]

I used the term "less significant" as a generalisation and listed only 3 items that quickly came to mind and items that newcomers may be able to assocaite with. I didn't "prioritise" my observing highlights. If I listed everything I looked at naked eye and with optical aid since 1970 that impressed me greatly, I would be here typing for a long time.

FWIW, I didn't find Haley's comet that impressive either, a lot of a letdown IMO. It was certainly not in the class of Bennett's comet in 1970, or Hyakutake or Hale Bopp in 1997. The only reason I listed Haley's Comet was that several prior posts indicated it was the thing that got them started in the hobby. In addition newbies and non astronomers can all associate with Haley's comet and know what it is/was. Ask a newb what was "Hyakutake" and the answers will range from a world war II weapon, to a modern computer game, some may even get it right :)

CS-John B

[astroron]

You would be right John, a lot of people have never seen Halley's comet, and a few on this site will be alive to see it come around next time (count me out ,unless there is some form of elixer of life in the next few years) but they all know about it.
As you say if one was to count all the highlights of ones astronomical lifetime, we would be typing all night.:thumbsup: :)
An idea for a poll!

[astroron]

Have you noticed that us Old boys are leading the poll by a country mile:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[janoskiss]

quite a mix. I'm in the under 2 yrs pile. 1.5 yrs since I bought my 4.5" junk newt, and the Dob shortly after. First view of Saturn through the 4.5" was the hook.

[leon]

Loved the night sky since, forever, and still do now. When Halley was about 3 years away i figured that i better get ready.
Built my 8 inch reflector, and curved bolt astro drive, which are still firmly planted in the back yard, although the back yards have been in different locations over the years.
love the cold frosty nights the best, there so clear.
My dear wife (god love her) still hasn't got used to those cold feet after a nights viewing.

[iceman]

Quite an even mix of newbies and experienced people, good to see!

[AstroBug]

Got my binoculars for fathers day 2004. Built a parallel arm for some steady viewing while saving for a scope. Got my dob in Feb 2006..yay!

[chunkylad]

Hi everyone.

16 months for me. I had been eyeing off those camera store reflectors for a couple of years now. However, my wife is to blame for finally getting me started. Dina bought me my 114mm newt/eq combo for Cristmas 2004. This is now my dedicated solar 'scope.

August last year saw the delivery of my pride and joy - my 12" Dob. I've been adding bits and bobs to my collection ever since.:D

With having fairly good local observing conditions, absorbing every bit of written info I can get my hands on (btw, my Hartungs has become my closest companion.), and reading/sometimes contributing to discussions on this very forum, I have enjoyed one of the steepest learning curves of my life. What a ride!:thumbsup:

Cheers

[ballaratdragons]

21 years at this current phase. So that just pushes me over the 10 - 20 limit.

Really been at it since I was a grasshopper but didn't get to see thru a telescope until I made one 21 years ago and haven't stopped since. And I still know practically nothing except that it all looks fantastico.

[danielsun]

I remember when i was probably about 7 yrs old looking inside the cover of my older brothers world atlas, a picture of the solar system which i would often gaze at wondering what it was all about and how these planets got there.
My dad gave me a 60mm zoom refractor when i was about 16 which i've just given to my 5 yr old son.
Moved to Brisbane at 25 for 5 yrs bought a tasco 114mm newt from cash coverters and always got up at odd hrs in the morning to observe lunar eclipse's and stuff. Then at 36 got my first serious scope, an 8" dob and the view blew me away.
I'm 38 now and in the last 2.5 yrs have spent a fortune on more gear and loving it.
So overall i've all been into astronomy from a young age but serious observing the last 2.5 yrs.

[mickoking]

Very similar start to me. I was investigating my parents atlas when I was 7 and in the back it had a small section on Astronomy. One of diagrams was of the solar system and its origin. That moment I was hooked, it was 1976. In 1980 I got my first 'scope (previous post in this thread) and the rest is history.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

As per the original intent of this thread - how long have I been observing "in my current phase" - I have to say about 2 months since I bought my dob :thumbsup: so I'm in the under 1 year category.

However .... I have always, since a child, loved the night skies and have sepnt so much time looking up there.....

I remember the later Apollo missions (was 5 when Neil Armstrong made that "one step") .... I remember riding my pushbike to the local school oval to see "the space shuttle" fly over, I mean "The" Shuttle, first mission! (Orbit times were listed in the local paper). I remember Skylab, I remember Viking and Voyager and how excited I was to know man was truly exploring other planets, I followed Mir's dramas and the efforts to repair her, I passionately followed Project Stardust (http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html)well before she ever launched, and was much pleased to finally see her return to earth just this year after almost 7 years and 4.5 billion kilometres of travel (I submitted my name and it was engraved on the silicon wafers attached to the probe).

I remember a couple of great lunar eclipses, I remember at the age of 10 or so seeing a spectacularly bright "fireball" meteor that illuminated our yard like day - for about 2 to 3 seconds! I remember Halley's in 1986 ..... so many memories over the years.

While travelling central Oz in 1999 I walked inside Gosse Bluff - the world's largest comet impact crater, and a few days later my 2 brothers and I flew over it in a small helicopter, camera's running overtime. On the same trip I visited the Henbury Meteroite craters in NT and I now own a couple of small fragments (purchased legit, not taken from the site).

Is it possible to imagine what any of us might be remembering 20 years from now?? I can't wait to find out!

[Tamtarn]

It all started last July when David bought me a Skywatcher 70mm for my 62nd birthday. This was our first ever telescope.

I had always been a Stargazer and David thought I would be able to see more with the scope. WELL ! One look at Saturn and we were hooked.

Six months later we went to Bintel in Melbourne to upgrade to a better Barlow and ended up with a Meade ETX125 PE. This type of scope with a Go To for beginners like us was just what we needed having no idea of how to find deep sky objects. It has taught us a lot.

We then purchased a Bintel 12" Dob 4 weeks ago. We had hoped to use the Meade in conjunction with the Dob to make it easier to find things but with the freezing cold Melb nights we haven't botherd to use the Meade with the Dob yet. So it's back to search and find.

We have been in the hobby for less than 12 months now and we love every minute of it. And being a member of IIS is an added bonus

Does that make us the OLDEST NEWBIES !! :cool:

Barb & David

[chunkylad]

Power to you Barb

I'm sure you'll gets lots of enjoyment tracking down those DSOs with your 12" dob.

Cheers

David

[Dujon]

I haven't entered an entry as I don't know where to put myself. I have had an interest in astronomy for probably 50 years. In those early times of my life it was restricted to reading anything and everything that I could find on the subject.

My parents bought me a 2" Tasco refractor sometime in the late '50s which brought me a lot of pleasure (I've still got it - see my sig) and with which I managed, courtesy of a couple of brilliant nights of perfect seeing, to introduce my son to the game. With family commitments and the like I've never been able to buy a decent 'scope - and certainly don't have the skills to make my own, though I've thought of it from time to time. I have however spent quite a few nights outside with binoculars or simply sitting back watching meteors do their thing whilst fighting off the inescapable buzzing insects, shooing away the huntsmen and resisting the effects produced by the inevitable can of beer or glass of wine.

Recently I purchased my Newt. I guess that's my first serious telescope and, even though we've had many cloudy nights since then, I've probably done more observing in that short period than I've done in the last couple of years.

My greatest pleasure since this purchase was my son unexpectedly arriving on my doorstep with the sole intent of using the 'scope (apart from bludging a free meal of course). To be able to share the joy of gazing at Jupiter (we both saw the GRS for the first time) and the delights of Crux and adjacent areas brought back memories of the time we gazed into the Orion complex on a wonderfully clear night when, through the little 2", it looked like peering into a green opening blossom.

So, pigeon hole me as you will.

[EzyStyles]

very interesting seeing how long everyone has been observing . Some before when I was born. A few oldies :)

[Davelrkn]

Hi All
My fathers interest got me started in the late 60's and while he went to meetings and was not allowed to attend(still at school) them used to make do with reading the club newsletters and any other books I could get my hands on.Started work 1970 and brought my first scope and think it was a 6'' Tasco (have been told they made one then) for grand total of $145 those were the days.My interest went astray no club activity and did not pick it up again until the famous Comet in 1986.Since then have not looked back have been foundation member of two Brisbane clubs, so this is my 20th straight year.

Regards
Dave

[bird]

You were lucky... I used to *dream* of the 60mm tasco, I only had the 40mm on the wobbletronic mount what had about 30 minutes of blacklash...

Phase one - the abovementioned 40mm tasco (long gone) when I was about 9
Phase 2 - the schools 4.5" reflector (wow!) at about age 15
Phase 3 - the schools shiny new C8 when I was about 18 (in, err, 1983)
Phase 4 - from 1990 to now after buying a 10" dob and doing a few small upgrades along the way :-)

cheers, Bird

[UniPol]

Since I was 15, that makes it :whistle:........, 42 years :scared:.

[Glenhuon]

I've had an interest in astronomy since I was a boy, but didn't really get into it till I scored a 60mm refractor and GEM from the local tip about 20 years ago. Still got it and it has the occasional outing. It got trotted all over midwest WA in my work ute and gave me some great nights out in the dark skys. Since I retired last year the scope family has grown a bit (as the bank balance decreased in proportion :)) and I'm looking forward to many more enjoyable nights.

Bill

[Satchmo]

Aside from casual stargazing as a young boy growing up in Normanhurst in the 60's, the first astronomical event I purposely went out to observe was a lunar eclipse in 1971. I discoved on trying to observe it that I was allready shortsighted, having tried on my Mums glasses to see it better.

From the moment I got my new specs I've been watching the skies regularly ever since, so thats ..36 years :) I remember being facinated by that first set of optics which sat on my nose, and my first attempt at a telescope used specatacle lenses ( a dismal failure !). I 've been fascinated by all things optical ever since.

[Hagar]

About 10 years now but most was with an old pair of 10 X 50 binocs. Still know nothing about it and still changing scopes at a rediculous rate to get the scope that really suits my true interest.(Imaging). I think divorce will be my next step in astro imaging if I dont settle down and stop buying new gear. One thing about having an observatory in the backyard is I can lock the door and get some peace and quiet.

[Ric]

I've been observing for about 37 years now and that has all mainly been visual.

As for imaging I have been doing this side of thing for the last 20 months.

Cheers

[higginsdj]

I did a fair few years of Astro navigation during my Navy days (pre GPS navigation systems) but as far as serious observing goes, just 6 years for me.

Cheers

[§AB]

started off when I was 9 about 9 years ago with a 60mm Tasco refractor. When I saw that it could magnify 525x I was spell-bound and just had to have it lol

Then got a 4.5" newtonian about 7 years ago and recently got me a 10" dob.

[edwardsdj]

My parents got me a pair of 6x30 binoculars for Christmas when I was about 7 or 8. I went on a school camp near the Somerset dam near Brisbane in 1982 when I was about 9 where we looked at the Moon through binoculars and saw Jupiter and Saturn though what I assume was a C8. I was hooked :)

I bought my fist telescope (a 40mm zoom refractor) from Kmart when I was about 10. It cost $20. I observed the Moon often with this one and saw the satellites of Jupiter on a few occasions.

My next telescope (an equatorially mounted 114mm reflector), also from Kmart, was purchased in 1985 when I was 12. It cost around $250 and I had to save my pocket money for over a year. Saw much with this and used it for over a decade before spending $2700 on a "Celestar 8" in 1999.

[duncan]

Hi All,
I've said less than a year because i live in the tropics. If i added all the clear nights over the last 10 years i'd still be under one year. Sheesh! must be time to move,LOL:shrug:

[DJVege]

Although I picked the hobby up around 6 or so months ago, I've only really had a few days of actual observing!! Thank those *&$&# *#&*#&# *#&#*#& clouds for that!!!! :)

[Lyra]

Going on 11 years. :)

[Bunker9603]

I was just a small boy (6 years old) when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. He instantly became my new Super Hero and in December of that year my parents bought me my first telescope. I thought I was going to be able to see them walking on the surface. I remember that I had to wait a few days to use it because of the clouds. During that time I would drive my parents nuts asking questions about what else we could see besides the moon. I think I even asked my dad if I was going to be able to see god....lol.Finally the sky cleared and even though I could not see anyone walking on the moon, (or god for that matter) I was absolutely amazed by all the craters and the bumps that I later found out to be mountains.I have been hooked ever since.