Hey.

[oxygen-sarah (Sarah)]

Hey everyone

My name is Sarah and I'm a fourteen year old teenager from south-east Queensland. Ever since primary school, I've wanted to be an astronomer or just study the stars. Since being in high school, that dream has only become more of a reality for me. Every night I look outside and see the Milky Way I sometimes use my Dad's Big Eye Australia telescope but I need some direction on identifying constellations and understanding the celestial sphere. Sadly there is no astronomical society near where I live, so I looked to the internet and thought why not?

Sarah

[duncan]

Hi Sarah and welcome to IIS. Download one of these two programs
"Cartes du Ciel" or "Stellarium" both are free and once you put in your location are great star and planetarium software. Also check out libraries in your area including school for planetariums. A pair of 10x50 binoculars will be helpful as well.
Lastly don't be afraid to ask questions here as there is an enormous amount of talent and helpful people on here.
Cheers,
Duncan

[astroron (Ron)]

Sarah, and I was in the past the president of the Sunshine coast Astronomical Society (SCAS) unfortunetly it closed down about 8 years ago.
If you can get your dad to bring you out to our dark sky nights at Cambroon Between Conondale and Kenilworth in the Mary Valley, held on the Saturday closest to New Moon.
Watch for posts as to the next one to be held in the forum http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/f...splay.php?f=16
We have a number of telescopes of various sizes, and a lot of very knowledgeable people to answer any questions.
You can get directions from here,http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ead.php?t=8808 or my Cambroon Observatory website http://cambroon.gtbastrowise.com.au/
There is also an Observatory which has Public Star Night's website can be found here http://www.mapletonss.eq.edu.au/mapletonobservatory/
I hope this helps

Regards

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi,

Welcome, keep posting and asking any questions. This is a very knowledgable forum, and people will pitch their answers at a good level. It is great that you have such a clear ambition.

Cheers

[that_guy (Tony)]

hmm it seems by the days more and more budding young astronomers are getting hooked!! second one this week!!

BTW.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi,

I reckon the more young folk join in the better off we are. It's the future.

Cheers

[Robh (Rob)]

Sarah,
Welcome to IIS and the wonders of the sky.
I would suggest you get a planisphere to help you identify the constellations, as the sky changes each hour and month of the year due to the Earth's motion.
Australian Sky & Telescope have a nice one for $14.95 plus a few dollars delivery. See the Star Disc ...
http://www.austskyandtel.com.au/Book...S/Default.aspx

Regards, Rob.

[Suzy]

Sarah!

I highly recommend the book "A Walk Through The Southern Sky"- A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends, by Milton D. Heifetz and Wil Tirion. The price varies considerably on this book; Angus & Robertson sell for $33, Borders $60, Booktopia $27.

Here is the link for Booktopia, you also get to preview the book here

http://www.booktopia.com.au/search.e...&submit=search

I also recommend a Planisphere.

Fantastic to see young enthusiasm in Astronomy. Do you own binoculars? I agree with Duncan, on a pair of 10 x 50 binos, even a 7x50 which a lot of us own will see you through very nicely.

For the future of Austronomy, We will be relying on your generation to give us more answers of what we so desperately seek to know. With your enthusiasm combined with the fact that you know exactly what you want to do while you're in high school, you are a prime canditate for that reality.

[PeterM]

Welcome Sarah,

A Planisphere is a must. But also look, learn, ask lots of questions and don't be afraid to ask if you can have a look through someones telescope at star nights (star parties, field nights, Astrofest etc), most are obliging. Learn what you can, but most of all enjoy.

May your astronomical journey be as wonderful and event filled as mine has been. From seeing Saturn as a teenager, through Comet Halley to a Supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud to Shoemaker-Levy impacts on Jupiter, to the Leonid Meteor shower, to The Great Comet McNaught of 2007, to a few Supernova of my own, I now look forward to the Solar Eclipse near Cairns in 2012.

A great hobby, nice people of all ages.

I am sure the sights you will see in Astronomy will not disappoint you.

PeterM.

[orestis]

Hi Sarah and to IIS,it is a wonderfull community of people all ages all wishing to help.like you i am also 14 yrs old and absolutely love astronomy whether it'll be the practical side of it or the theoretical side of it,though unlike you , i have been hooked for about 2 yrs .i'll recomend you get a pair of good binoculars and just scan the milky way you'll be amazed at just how much you can see with binos .

Regards Orestis
Ps- oh and if you have any questions just ask.