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Old 09-04-2013, 10:22 PM
louie_the_fly (Stew)
Astronewbie

louie_the_fly is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Littlehampton, SA
Posts: 240
Wow, long story.

1. Christmas / New Year 1969/70 we had a family holiday to Vic, ACT & NSW. While over there we visited Mt Stromlo. I remember my older brother poking a stick in a hole in the ground & a big spider came running out. Our uncle said it was a funnel web. I think we also went to the Sydney Observatory. Long time ago so not 100% sure. Another trip highlight was when we also drove across the Sydney harbour Bridge - I thought I was Sonny Hammond!

2. I grew up in the city, about 2 miles NW of the Adelaide CBD. Dad & I used to "camp out" on the back lawn. It was really dark in Adelaide back then. Dad showed me the more common constellations and told me the names of the brighter stars. He obviously had an underlying interest himself.

3. I went to an observing night at my brother's high school when I was about 8 or 9. I was hooked from there. I went to the same school years later, & had the same science teacher, who was a passionate amateur astronomer and geologist, and he got me really interested in both. I even did a massive year 11 science project on astronomy in Australia. It was really to satisfy my own curiosity I'm sure. I still have the books they sent me from Mt Stromlo & Siding Spring.

The rest is history. Now I'm 40 something (47 or 48, I can't remember) and I've become somewhat obsessed. I've only ever had 2 real interests. Fast cars & boats, and astronomy. The second has come back with a vengeance over the last few years.
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