What's YOUR astro THING

[Ziggy Stardust]

I love stars!!!!

big clear ones, small fuzzy ones, little bundles of fuzz on their own, doubles, triples, nebulas, hell even close ones when they eclipse - like old Sol... far away galaxies that look like spiders of dust, to just following what I read in techno-mags....

I just love Space and everything in it...

what am I good at, basicly just my eclipse work...lol.. the rest I'm a jack of all trades and master of none...I just enjoy myself with my scopes.

Tony

[Robert_T]

OK, looks like the Deep Sky Visual folk have it - and an admirable pursuit it is too - followed closely by the Lunar/Planetary Visual crowd.

hmmm will be interesting to see what changes another 5 years of light polution, technical advancement and hopefully greater affordability in tracking/imaging makes to this...

[fringe_dweller]

I would of included asteroids as a seperate field too (and they cant be lumped with comets - two different camps mostly - althought there are crossover area's) it has pretty big following especially amongst the orbital mechanics crew - who compete who can derive the orbit from as little initial info first - these also include the comet camp as well a crossover point there. Orbital mechanics is a big 'thing' I have found from the net - that also branches into the sport of matching old orbits of comets/asteroids from history too new discoveries.

[fringe_dweller]

thought of another field 'meteor showers' - great thread Robert good to see the comet ppl did pretty well - but that could be broken down too - there is the bright comet mob and there is the dimmest possible comet mob (they dont like bright ones coz ordinary folk like 'em they bring the riff raff in)

[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

thought of another field 'meteor showers' - great thread Robert good to see the comet ppl did pretty well - but that could be broken down too - there is the bright comet mob and there is the dimmest possible comet mob (they dont like bright ones coz ordinary folk like 'em they bring the riff raff in)

Thanks Kearn... damn you're right, asteroids and meteor showers deserved a place (along with eclispses and occultations)... ah well "other" for now... just thought of a couple others, amateur radio astronomy and atmospherics effects such as Aurora and Green Flashes etc... so much to do and know, so little time

[rumples riot]

Just the one, you know what it is. Good poll Robert.

[fringe_dweller]

[QUOTE/] =Robert_T
a couple others, amateur radio astronomy and atmospherics effects such as Aurora and Green Flashes etc... so much to do and know, so little time [/QUOTE]

Robert, with respect (and i dont want to sully this superb thread/poll) I have to say, being both a 'sometimes' pedant and an aurorae observer, that re the classification of aurorae as coming under the 'atmospheric optical phenomena' banner is a sometimes contentious one. Without going into to it fully, it actually is technically under both the astronomy and atmospheric optical phenomena banners, it seems. As you know the aurora is of course caused by the solar winds interaction with earths magnetic field, and happens at the edge of space, and they have been used to study the sun and the solar wind and still are.

"as·tron·o·my (-strn-m)
n. pl. as·tron·o·mies
1. The scientific study of matter in outer space, especially the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial bodies and phenomena."

Secondly I am also guilty of using the term 'atmospherics' to decribe the same things you are - I just used that term incorrectly in here recently - I think it fits the bill too - but it is already being used unfortunately

'at·mos·pher·ics (tm-sfrks, -sfîr-)
n.
1. (used with a sing. verb)
a. Electromagnetic radiation produced by natural phenomena such as lightning.
b. Radio interference produced by electromagnetic radiation. Also called sferics.
2. (used with a pl. verb)
a. Features, events, or statements intended to create a particular mood or attitude: "[This book] is full of fiction unconcerned with spooky atmospherics or suspense; most of the collection's stories are about cruel humans and the violence they commit" Ken Tucker.
b. The mood or attitude so created.'

some references to support my points and help with possible future classification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_phenomenon
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/atoptics/phenom.htm

note in the second site they dont have aurora listed under aop's, and that is a more authoritive site

cheers, and sorry for being a sad pedant and a touchy aurora observer, but i cant help myself it seems LOL

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Striker

Deep Sky Imaging...is their any other way....atleast you put it in Italic....lol

pmsl... I found that so funny...

Go the planetary visualists!

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Comets.

[Roger Davis]

Walking the barrel, as they used to say. Mirror Making as you know it. Had the passion for years. An interest in all things equipment oriented. That's why I took on the profession as well as the hobby. My greatest kick was when I was asked to become an Associate Editor for the Amateur Telescope Makers Journal by Bill Cook. Never thought I would enjoy doing that so much!
Strange to think that this now comes under OTHER where there used to be a specific heading: Telescope Making

[fringe_dweller]

Roger, ATM is given its own category there :-)

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm still so new to this hobby that I haven't had time to decide what branch is for me. So I'm just tasting a little bit of everything.
I started off with DSO's, then doubles, planetary visual now I'm having a go at imaging. When the next bright comet comes along I'll be out there trying to track it, and the Mercury transit will be one of this years highlights.
Give me another couple of years and then maybe I'll be able to tell you what branch I prefer.

[deanm (Dean)]

2012 Transit of Venus.

Not to be repeated until 2117...!

Dean

[astroron (Ron)]

Amazing, someone has posted something on this thread for the first time in seven and a half years
Cheers

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Maybe his next reply will be in 2117!

7.5 years later mine is still comets, although I like shooting any deep sky.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

That is a pretty good bump, the thread is still relevant though.
I still consider myself fairly fresh at all this even after a few years now I am constantly learning and experiencing new things but somehow it seems I have landed in the Solar camp.
I'm imaging the Sun daily when weather and circumstance provide, I haven't got a count at hand but I'm bound to be close to 130 to150 full disc white light images for the year so far plus a load of Ha stuff as well.

I make do with the equipment I have and no doubt I could optimise it and upgrade but I had other plans which I still want to explore.
Either way I'm enjoying myself and that is all that matters.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Sketching!

What else is there...

[astroron (Ron)]

At least someone is posting other than just voting.
Cheers

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Amateur Spectroscopy - The final frontier - To boldly go were few have gone before....
No problems with light pollution and a great combination of science and astronomy.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Wide Field Viewing . . . with Large Refractor and Bino's . . . .

Flash . . . .