Suzy:
Wow, what a great, informative and passionate post - thanks for the welcome and for sharing your story. I just read your daughters diary entry from when she was 8, very sweet! Has she kept up her interest in astronomy? If not, she will pick it up again one day.
My eldest daughter is only 3 and a half, but she can name all of the planets - and pluto "not a planet anymore daddy". She knows about nebulas and galaxies and can even tell you what Saturn's rings are made from. We observed the partial eclipse together the other week, a special moment.
Yes, I've followed Mike Salway's blog on night-sky imaging, looking forward to the next instalment.
Looks like a clever rig you and hubby have made yourselves there with the DSLR, dob and counterweight. Definately given me some food for thought. Nice pix too. Was that the eclipse from the other week or the one last year?
My youngest daughter, only 6 months, was born just days after last years total solar eclispe up north. If it were any other time, i'd have been there in a flash. It's near the top of my "things-to-do-before-I-die" list. I'll travel anywhere to see one. If I never get around to it, at least I know there's one due to pass over Sydney in 2028
ZeroID:
Stellarium - does it work on Mac? I'm a Mac dude, though I've gathered that some software is only produced for Windows. I use an app called Star Walk which I've found very helpful so far.
Thanks for the welcome, and the warning! Don't worry, I plan to spend as much time as possible at the steep end of the slope before free-falling
Kunama:
Isn't it funny that being in awe with the skies makes us seem geeky. I only wish there was an obsevatory (or two) in every suburb, free for all to use and enjoy. Astronomy should be a mainstream interest, not a niche hobby. But that's the way it is I spoze. Fortunately for me, my wife shares my passion for the sky - though both of us are so time poor these days with the arrival of our new family. It's another reason I won't be rushing into anything - I can't really justify too many evenings or weekends away at this point.
I'm located south of the Royal National Park in the Illawarra. The sky down here is pretty spectacular compared to the city, but there's still a prominent city glow to the north.
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Great to meet you all!