Astronomy goals for the coming year?

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by RobF

1. Image lots more DSOs
2. Develop a decent portfolio of image processing skills
3. Have a go at some Saturn webcam imaging
4. Get out of the backyard as regularly as possible - maybe attend Astrofest or the like for a couple of days for the first time
5. Continue to use IIS to suck as much valuable knowledge as possible out of the helpful brains of that post here!...
6. Get up one or two of my Astro pics on the wall
7. Continue having fun...

Sigh. I may have to move Alice Springs too if this blasted cloudy weather doesn't go away. Got autoguiding and light box going and seems its been cloudy ever since....

Some Great aspirations there RobI hope you manage to even obtain 50% of them
But just remember this is the WET Season, so eventually it will get better

[monoxide]

great thread and some great goals to strive for

im going to try my hand at grinding a few mirrors and hopefully by mid way through next year build my own high quality astrograph.

also i'll be trying to educate myself more on astronomy through the masses of information and lectures on the internet

[xelasnave]

I love setting goals...I have a book and draw stuff and when you find these books years later and recall when something was only a dream and now a reality it makes me feel as though it has been worthwhile...sence of achievenment whatever but if you write it down draw it cost it and plan it it usually happens...

alex

[kinetic (Steve)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

LOL for me it will be erect an observatory and get everything working!!!

You do realise, Houghy, that an observatory is a work in progress...
You will NEVER get it finished, it will always need something added
to it

Steve

[ngcles]

Hi All,

Originally Posted by Rodstar

Refine my observing skills by spending more time noting the details of each object I observe. Two particular ways I plan to achieve this is through the use of a dictaphone, and making observing drawings with black sketch paper and white pencil.

For myself, I've got four goals:

(1) To pass a particular mile-stone in my observing log which should happen sometime mid to late 2009.

(2) To successfully observe the July Total Eclipse in China.

(3) To assemble an imaging setup for use from home -- probably later next year once I'm back from China.

(4) To make a contribution toward the IYA 2009 through my Society (SASI), Sydney Observatory and AS&T.

Hope you all can make your goals a reality too.


Best,

Les D

[astro_nutt]

Hi everyone!
My goals are to have a few sidewalk viewing sessions ( as per I.Y.O.A.)..when conditions allow..maybe even try grinding a mirror..(I hope Mum doesn't mind me trying it out on her 400mm pyrex baking dish lid!!!)...and lots more observing from the backyard of course!!!
Cheers!

[KenGee (Kenith Gee)]

My goal is to finish some (any one will do) projects I start but didn't finish this year......and the year before that.

[astroron (Ron)]

My one gripe for 2009, lets stop calling a "Footpath" a "Sidewalk"

[ngcles]

Hi Astroron & All,

Originally Posted by astroron

My one gripe for 2009, lets stop calling a "Footpath" a "Sidewalk"

Couldn't agree more !!




Best,

Les D

[RobF (Rob)]

Originally Posted by astroron

But just remember this is the WET Season, so eventually it will get better

I know Ron, and a bit of rain might stop the crazy Brisbanites wanting to dam your river - but can't it rain during the day and leave the odd night to us!!!

[g__day (Matthew)]

This year I think I nailed pointing and tracking on my mount - good enough to serve my ends. The Bhatinov mask I made has made short work of perfecting focus and the switch to a Meade DSI II Pro mono means autoguiding is now very, very accurate.

So for me its going to be improve my image processing skills - maybe follow a bit in Jase's footsteps a bit before I get anymore gear. I'd like to get colour fidelity nailed and learn how to tweak my shots to get all I can out of a plain and simple Canon 400D.

I'm also thinking of adding a C-angle finder to the camera and or a flip Mirror so I can do some visual through my C9.25 (I've largely missed that this year). I'd love to be able to do visual then with a flip of a mirror be able to instantly do photography.

After that if the funds are there maybe a decent apo and/or better camera than the DSLR.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by RobF

I know Ron, and a bit of rain might stop the crazy Brisbanites wanting to dam your river - but can't it rain during the day and leave the odd night to us!!!

I was going to set up this afternoon,but bowed to my better judgment
We just had a nice storm through here and Dumped 18mm in 15 minutes
It looks like we will get another tomorrow afternoon/evening
cheers