[madbadgalaxyman (Robert)]

Murphy,

your photos are very interesting and enjoyable to look at.

Welcome to iceinspace.
There are all kinds of people in the IIS community, ranging from beginners through to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced amateur astronomers on the planet.....for instance:
- people who are absolute masters of telescope making
- people who have mastered the art and science of astro-imaging
- people who have spent decades observing galaxies and nebulae with massive telescopes and who know the visual appearance of the universe "like the back of my hand"
- people who discover multiple supernovae
- people who know the intricate details of the structures and properties of galaxies
- people who know so much about the solar system that what they don't know can be written on a postage stamp.

etc. etc...etc.....

For me personally, Iceinspace is a whole lot more valuable than my local astronomical society.

What we all have in common is that this is a friendly community and we all share an absolute enthusiasm and fanaticism about astronomy.

cheers, madbadgalaxyman

Further note added in edit:
I guess one of the best things about being an amateur is the fact that we are all in it for the enjoyment. We don't really have anything to prove;
but all the same, my list of some of the types of advanced amateur astronomers that we have withinn our community is a good illustration of just how very far some people have taken their hobby, just for the sake of their own interest and curiosity and enjoyment.