Well, hello to all! let me introduce myself. My name is Dave Reneke and I'm the News editor at SKY & SPACE Magazine. i know some of you may have heard what I'm about to say before, but this is directed to those who haven't ,so bear with me just for awhile OK? Thanks for that.
I teach astronomy at college here where I live on the mid-north coast of NSW, work for SKY & SPACE, I'm a science correspondent on radio conducting dozens of radio interviews each week across Oz, publish a weekly astronomy/space email newsletter for the press and general public, produce my own astronomy CD Roms, I'm also a science writer for the Herald/Sun newspaper group, and I run a program called 'Astronomy Outreach' which takes astronomy into the school system.... we travel a lot and donate a telescope and software package to each school to help them start up an astronomy club. .. (sometimes I eat food!!) It's good though to be getting paid to do a job which is really a hobby.
I'd like to congratulate you Mike Salway for putting together this amazing forum. A great job, well done! I'll be keeping in touch with Mike throughout 2005 and we hope to see him regularly as part of the S&S team.
At SKY & SPACE we especially appreciate your support as the transitionary period passes and the magazine evolves more into the reason it started in the first place - to address the wants and needs of you guys (and gals!), the interested Aussie amateurs who just want to pick up a copy of a magazine and read articles of interest to YOU... ones that you can understand!
We've discussed the format of the magazine many times and one thing keeps surfacing - you all want to see popular subject material, scope and equipment reviews, 'how/what to observe' articles and readers pics. Well, this magazine and the management want to bring it to you so tell us, repeatedly, if there's something bugging you OK?
Tell us what YOU want to see.. maybe a future article that hasn't been touched on before... we'll listen to you, promise!
Rest assured that SKY & SPACE Magazine is continuing to support you guys 100%. It's an all Aussie publication run for, and by, Australians.
The past problems have been rectifiied and now, with an entirely new team at the helm, you can look forward to a regular magazine of now 100 pages FULL of interesting stories, reviews, latest news, readers pics, affordable astronomy CD Roms, etc. etc. AND the best quality astronomical images available in any magazine.
If you are a newcomer to astronomy you'll find the mag a bonus. There are a swag of new storylines and features earmarked for 2005, written in a language you can understand.
We will also be starting up a free email newsletter service so, if you want the latest astronomy and space stories sent directly to your inbox (it's secure- no giving out your address to anyone) then send us a message at
NewsUpdate@SkyandSpace.com.au
Believe me, I have the greatest respect for you all who post to this forum. After reading your posts I sometimes sit back and feel so relieved that the future of our hobby is in great hands. The young generation (I'm just passed that one) are such an inspiration and want to learn. If I can help you I will! If I can't I'll pass it on to someone who can!
Take care, and keep up your interest. Persevere with your hobby and don't give up OK? If it bugs you CONTACT ME, or someone else who can help. We're all here for you. Remember, where you might be now I and my colleagues were 30 years ago ... nothins' changed