Happy 600!

iceman (Mike) · #1 03-12-2005, 02:39 PM

We've hit another small milestone, 600 members!

We'd been sitting in the high 590's for a while, and an influx of new members in the last 2 days and we're 604 now!

Thanks to the IIS community for making this place great. We've got something special here, and we're really making a difference to amateur astronomy in Australia.

Who knows how long till we hit the 1000 mark!??! I'd never dreamed that in just over a year we'd be at 600 members.. 1000 just seems unbelievable but we could be there sometime next year. An amazing thought.

Let's keep this place great.. with astro camps, local observing sessions and some great friends made, we're giving people opportunities to live and breath astronomy. With competitions, giveaways and prizes, great discussions and many people giving great advice, we're making this place fun and interesting and hopefully giving you all a reason to come back every day.

Here's to 600 more!

h0ughy (David) · #2 03-12-2005, 02:51 PM

well done Mike, so who was the lucky member!

EDIT

Don't worry about answering this i just saw Pauls Posting. LOL.

rumples riot · #3 03-12-2005, 02:54 PM

Even with us resident crazies. Just to liven the place up a bit.

matt · #4 03-12-2005, 03:06 PM

Wouldn't be the same without the crazies, Paul.

Someone (I forget, who ... but they were onto something) once said you need a little madness to be free

Congrats Mike ...and everyone involved with IIS ... on yet another milestone.

You don't get to reach numbers like that without doing something right.

I'm grateful everyday for having a place like this to have questions answered or just generally shoot the breeze over anything and everything astro ... or not, as is sometimes the case

Who knows what's in store for our great little community? These are interesting and exciting days.

h0ughy (David) · #5 03-12-2005, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumples riot

Even with us resident crazies. Just to liven the place up a bit.

True, and some states more than others. Must be that standard deviation thingy and law of averages that only the misfits will survive

Just the fact that Mike's site is being beamed live to over 100 countries worldwide, there would have to be a few people out there like us! But then it does go overseas to far off countries like Tasmania and that 8th Australian state, New Zealand!

Now there are some prospective candidates there!!!

Hitchhiker · #6 03-12-2005, 03:41 PM

Congratulations Mike on the success of IIS.

Congratulations, also, to all those IIS regulars (and irregulars!) who make this a great astro place to hang out.

Rodstar (Rod) · #7 04-12-2005, 04:10 PM

I would have thought that with over 600 members we might now rate as the largest astronomical community in Australia?!

We also have a huge number members visit every day, and a larger number (perhaps 200), who would visit at least every week. We also have a large number of motivated participants: note the many informal observing sessions that have evolved from the forum. On this second measure, I would have thought IIS is also the most active astronomical community in Australia.

Let's keep up the community spirit, so that we do not become the shortest lived astronomical community! Here's to many years of mutual encouragement and astronomical chit chat!

gaa_ian (Ian) · #8 04-12-2005, 04:19 PM

Here, here ... well done to all

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #9 05-12-2005, 12:00 AM

I suppose the majority of the 600 members are from Australia-say 500 to be conservative probably more. Now some time ago Roger Davis (now of Bintel Melbourne) estimated the number of amateur astronomers in Australia to be of the order of magnitude of a couple of thousand

This community can then claim to speak for around 25 % of the Australian Amateur Astronomy community..that should represent a significant voice

RB (Andrew) · #10 05-12-2005, 12:02 AM

Congratulations Mike and to all involved.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 05-12-2005, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

Someone (I forget, who ... but they were onto something) once said you need a little madness to be free

haha! Reminds me of one of my favourite sayings I made up!

"If you don't act Mad, you go Mad".

ving (David) · #12 05-12-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker372011

I suppose the majority of the 600 members are from Australia-say 500 to be conservative probably more. Now some time ago Roger Davis (now of Bintel Melbourne) estimated the number of amateur astronomers in Australia to be of the order of magnitude of a couple of thousand

This community can then claim to speak for around 25 % of the Australian Amateur Astronomy community..that should represent a significant voice

is this where we mention the debate of amateur astronomer vs casual star gazer?

congrats to mike and ken

Muddy Diver · #13 08-12-2005, 01:01 PM

Congratulations Mike and to the rest of the willing volunteers who have devoted their time and effort into making IIS what it is.

I noticed some remarks earlier in the thread about the debate, regarding casual star gazer versus amateur astronomer. I could so easily have become bored looking at the same familiar objects had I not stumbeld across you guys. So many have helped me to broaden my awareness of the skies that it may prevent me from remaining a casual forever.

Keep up the great work !