Introduce Myself

[inline_online]

Hi all,

I've been lurking around this site for a while now so thought i'd better join up so I can hopefully contribute to some of the interesting discussions that i've read.

My name is Dan Gardiner and I live in Perth. I've been into astronomy for 16 years now and have owned a variety of telescopes in that time. My current stable includes a Takahashi FS-128 and a Skywatcher Flextube 12".

My interests in astronomy have changed a lot over the years and I now get most of my pleasure from public outreach sessions that I hold at the South Perth foreshore. I get a wide variety of people looking through the scope and the feedback I get is amazing. It keeps me going. I also started some spectroscopy projects a few years ago and am now looking at purchasing my first CCD camera so I can record my observations.

Outside of astronomy I am completing a MSc in Renewable Energy. I work as an energy and environmental advisor for a large construction/manufacturing company. I am also into inline skating and skate approx 100km each week around the cyclepaths of Perth.

Well, it's good to finally be on board and I look forward to chatting with you soon.

Cheers,
Dan
:)

[jjjnettie]

Hi Dan, Welcome to IIS. :D
Looking forward to your input on the forum. :)

[vanwonky]

Welcome Dan. Always good to see another Perthite or Sandgroper (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sandgroper) join the forum.
Cheers
Dave

[brian nordstrom]

Hi Dan and :welcome: , you have a nice couple of scope's there , any chance of a few photos ? :thumbsup: .
Brian.

[Joshua Bunn]

Hi Dan,

you have some interesting things going on there, Welcome to IIS.

[peter_4059]

Welcome to IIS Dan. Your user ID caught my attention - very clever. I'm also interested in inline and spend about 8 hrs a week in my skates trying to keep pace with the kids.

Peter

[alocky]

Hi Dan,
As others have said, always good to see someone else from Perth popping up. Look forward to hearing from you and maybe sharing a dark sky sometime. There's a few Perth based forum members here into public outreach as well - Jacquie and Roger both do a great job hosting public viewing nights up at Perth observatory.
cheers,
Andrew

[inline_online]

Hi All, thanks for the replies.

Brian- i'll try and post some photos tonight. I'm not very experienced with internet forums so it may take me some time to figure it out.

Peter - I live for astronomy and inline skating (oh, and also my wife and kids:lol:). I've been skating now for about 16 years and don't like days when I can't skate.

Andrew - I have been under one dark sky in the past 11 years. Before I got married and had kids, I used to work casually at Golden Grove observatory. I was good mates with Dave and Meg and used their observatory and C14 every chance I got. I was out there probably 5-6 times a month, maybe more. I then started in the mining industry and got married. Life has got in the way of dark skies and telescopes unfortunately in the past 11 years. A friend has a farm at Yerecoin and we all went there for a night of drinking and fun a couple of years ago. I passed on the drinking and took my 12" dob instead and stayed up all night remembering the old days.
I would love the chance to get under a dark sky again. Maybe send me a message next time you go somewhere and i'll see if I can get a leave pass.

Cheers,
Dan

[ballaratdragons]

Welcome Dan, enjoy your stay here :thumbsup:

[bmitchell82]

There are a few of us that get together in the back yard, though we are more into the dark art of astrophotography. :) That said we also do go out into the woods quite regularly! :)

Welcome once again!

Brendan