When I bought my scope a few years ago to get back into it, I was all setup to start again from where I left off from astronomy back in the mid 80s.
Living remote from anywhere that has an astro society or club, my learning curve would've been very slow and difficult. I think that's the biggest advantage I've gotten from IIS, help and knowledge that's now available even if you can't get to club. No doubt that help, and seeing what others are doing, has provided ideas and motivation
.
Specifically how has IIS helped me?
- Learned how to use webcams and CCD cameras for astro work
- Learned how to process CCD astro photos in Registax, DSS, PS CS3 (still in progress)
- Learned how to use K3ccdtools for both image capture, some processing and optimising drift alignment
- Learned how to capture spectra with a Staranalyser and to process them with Visual Spec, and I'm learning how to interpret them
- I've got no end of help with IT and astro problems
- I get appreciate some fantastic photographic work of others on IIs and learn from what they are doing.
- I got a 16" lightbridge
and an observatory!
- I enjoy some laughs and online debates
- I like being able to help others.
Thanks guys! (that means everyone... couldn't do it without you!)
Al.