How has Astronomy changed you?

Intergage (Matt) · #1 25-05-2012, 08:45 AM

Hey all,

I woke up today and saw it was raining and I died a little on the inside. I NORMALLY LOVE RAIN! It used to make me happy, and I used to love listening to it basically everything about it and quite frankly, I blame you guys for that!

I have also noticed I have matured a lot faster and a lot more from my 20 year old self to my 21 year old self and I also blame that on the astronomy community!

Some of you might not remember how it changed you as it's been so long but try and remember!

How has Astronomy changed you as a person, for good or bad?

supernova1965 (Warren) · #2 25-05-2012, 08:51 AM

I used want it to rain at night only now I want it to rain in the day time if it has to and clear up at night. Plus astronomy has turned me into a night owl I used to go to bed early and wake up early that has changed now I stay up late but I still wake up before dawn so I tend to be sleepy in the day a lot more and only wake up around 5pm.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 25-05-2012, 09:06 AM

I've been a "square peg" all my life, and since taking up the "square hole" that IS astronomy, I've finally found a group of people, a world wide community, where I fit in.

Intergage (Matt) · #4 25-05-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I've been a "square peg" all my life, and since taking up the "square hole" that IS astronomy, I've finally found a group of people, a world wide community, where I fit in.

I'm quite the same but completely different!

I was hanging around the wrong people, digging myself into a dead end hole like my mates are and I found I love the knowledge I gain from astronomy and just from removing myself from one scene and basically being accepted into a world wide community has made me change my life and instead of being 20k in debt at the age of 20 and going no where, 5 months of Astronomy and good people I'm 9k in debt and starting Applied science on my way to my Astronomy Masters in 3 days!

cybereye (Mario) · #5 25-05-2012, 09:24 AM

I'm not sure it's changed my life but it certainly has added another dimension to it.

I used to play Golden Oldies Rugby but had to stop because of cataract operations. So another love of mine, Astronomy, quickly filled the void as I looked for something to keep me active. And I think I exert as much energy lugging my rig in and out at night as I did standing on the wing in Rugby!!

Cheers,
Mario

Allan_L (Allan) · #6 25-05-2012, 09:36 AM

I am a lot poorer, Financially.
But I am also a lot richer, in an appreciation of What Is.
And possibly a little humbler in my concept of my place in the Universe, Time and Space.

Intergage (Matt) · #7 25-05-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybereye

I'm not sure it's changed my life but it certainly has added another dimension to it.

I used to play Golden Oldies Rugby but had to stop because of cataract operations. So another love of mine, Astronomy, quickly filled the void as I looked for something to keep me active. And I think I exert as much energy lugging my rig in and out at night as I did standing on the wing in Rugby!!

Cheers,
Mario

Woe, I'd hate to see your scope if it's as much energy as a winner in rugby haha

Intergage (Matt) · #8 25-05-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan_L

I am a lot poorer, Financially.
But I am also a lot richer, in an appreciation of What Is.
And possibly a little humbler in my concept of my place in the Universe, Time and Space.

Can I please quote this?

Logieberra (Logan) · #9 25-05-2012, 09:46 AM

I used to think that the moon was pretty cool, especially a full moon. I hate that sucker now, stinking moon!

Allan_L (Allan) · #10 25-05-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intergage

Can I please quote this?

Be my guest.
Its just something that came to mind in consideration of your question.

cybereye (Mario) · #11 25-05-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intergage

Woe, I'd hate to see your scope if it's as much energy as a winner in rugby haha

No, it just means it can get cold and lonely standing out on the wing in Rugby Union waiting for the ball to come your way... please pass it me Mr. Forward....

pgc hunter · #12 25-05-2012, 09:54 AM

It has enhanced my disgust towards Melbourne's climate.

Intergage (Matt) · #13 25-05-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybereye

No, it just means it can get cold and lonely standing out on the wing in Rugby Union waiting for the ball to come your way... please pass it me Mr. Forward....

Meat head forwards!

Intergage (Matt) · #14 25-05-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

It has enhanced my disgust towards Melbourne's climate.

Hahahahaha. Nice!

Ric · #15 25-05-2012, 11:58 AM

I'm so far gone I don't even worry anymore.

Intergage (Matt) · #16 25-05-2012, 01:56 PM

Very interesting responses.

bojan · #17 25-05-2012, 02:05 PM

I don't know, I am into astronomy since I remember myself

mat,v · #18 25-05-2012, 02:20 PM

How has it changed me in the last 24hrs. Pocket full of cash=Happy,,Bought a telescope=Even happier,,Raining and broke=Bugger

. Too many emotions for 1 day,This was supposed to be a relaxing hobby

.

PeterM · #19 25-05-2012, 02:24 PM

Matt you are 21, wow with so much maturity already you can be and do anything you want in astronomy. I am now 54 and started my astronomy at age 8, I gave it away at age 19 for wine, women and song until I was 24. Like many do I then "refound" my astronomy from my younger age.

I couldn't imagine the changes that have happened in amateur astronomy 30 years hence nor how my passion for it has grown. But one major change has been from being a visual observer to an imager and really only working in the one area of amateur astronomy. I never for a minute thought the visual side would be right on the back burner. When much younger myself, Comet Guy, Greg Bock, Gregg Thompson and several others used to sit around and chat about where we thought amateur astronomy, equipment etc would go, and what we would be doing astronomy wise, well even our best predictions have been found wanting. But one thing I was sure of in the 80s & 90s was that I wanted to find my own supernova..now history for me.

Certainly there has been a financial cost but that has been to some degree lessened by money made (note to imagers and visual observers - set up at your local markets and pay for some of your gear) from Hally's Comet posters and from astronomical busking in the mall of Surfers Paradise in the 90s. It was there I realised how much the general public were starving for a little astronomical knowledge i.e comments like "oh wow I have always wanted to look at the Moon, Saturn etc through a telescope" to "the best and only educational attraction on the gold Coast". From here went on to present astronomy to 1000s of school kids and I know of one who went on to become a professional astronomer.

I now look at BOM weather maps, Skippy Sky, SOI index far more often than I think I do. But I do still love to sit out under a dark Moonless sky (ie Leyburn - where I am heading tomorrow) with nothing more than a glass of wine (ok several) some cheese and bickies and think .... what else do I need (cross out need replace with want) to buy? - so I am older maybe not wiser.

Oh and this is my 900th post on something I would have never thought would have existed 30 years ago! How fitting.

erick (Eric) · #20 25-05-2012, 02:38 PM

Congrats on 900 posts Peter. And great to hear your story, thanks.

In my case, I got a real hobby for the first time in my life! And something to keep me sane from the extremely busy life I have been leading for some 35+ years now and was becoming very overwhelming. I managed to get last Tuesday night under a clear sky with my scope. I crashed at 2am, I was so tired, just as the mirror was approaching ambient after tracking 2-3 deg above through the evening, had "iffy" seeing all night before that, it was several degrees colder than I had planned - but I was so content.