After years with just a general interest in space, I'm beginning my journey towards a more active interest in astronomy. I picked up a good pair of binoculars last weekend, as well as some books on the subject. And this week I'll be starting the SASPAC course at Sutherland.
Looking forward to getting deeper into my new hobby!
Hi I'M new to the iceinspace community though i have been looking at the site for a few months now. Its really cool that there is somewhere I can go for advice and info on a hobby I have only recently discovered. I seem to have become obsessed with astronomy actually, much to the annoyance of my family. I do hope I haven't posted this in the wrong place and if I have I am very sorry.
Any way, cheers everyone and keep up the good work!
[FONT=Comic Sans MS] I do hope I haven't posted this in the wrong place and if I have I am very sorry.
Any way, cheers everyone and keep up the good work!
Hi Jo,
to the family . The people on IIS are really good and very helpful. No question is a stupid question, they answer any questions you have. If you don't already have it Stellarium is a good program to download. I'd be lost without it. We use it as a guide to find things when we are out playing with the telescope.
You probably should of started a new thread to introduce yourself, but hey, doesn't matter .
gday Jo to IIS Welocme to the dark side i drive my family crazy with my astro obsession too so i know how you feel At least the IIS members here put up with me
Hi, another newbie here. logged in tonight in the hope that someone may be able to point me in the direction of some information on why the moon is setting in the south west tonight, please. I had noticed it setting in the north west a while ago then the west, where i thought it should. Now the south west and this is freaking me out? Especially since the earth axis wobble theories started after the indonesian tsunami. Any one able to help please?
And we hoped no-one would notice,Jenn, that we were adjusting the Earth's axis! Just joking. If you watch every night, Jenn, you'll see everything is as it should be. The Moon is where it has been predicted to be from well before any recent earthquake or tsunami. Huge masses in motion will follow well understood physical laws for as long as you and I are here.
If you download and run this prediction program and you'll see that the Moon, Sun and planets are just where the laws of motion predict them to be.
Hi, another newbie here. logged in tonight in the hope that someone may be able to point me in the direction of some information on why the moon is setting in the south west tonight, please. I had noticed it setting in the north west a while ago then the west, where i thought it should. Now the south west and this is freaking me out? Especially since the earth axis wobble theories started after the indonesian tsunami. Any one able to help please?
Hi Jenn and a big to IIS.
It is true that the moon appears to traverse the sky in varying locations as it orbits the Earth, but the moon doesn't just orbit directly over and in line with the equator, so its position varies from day to day.
The moon's gravitational effect on the Earth actually helps to stabilize the rotational axis.
If the moon wasn't there, our existence here on Earth would be quite chaotic.
Hope this helps?
Hi Ric,
I am a bit embarrassed about my equipment actually. I Have a 60mm refractor that i seem to be getting good results with, especially since i got some better lenses, and a great pair of 10 x 50 binoculars that i would be lost without. I am in the process of working out what sort of telescope I should get next, the bigger the better I reckon but I just can't make up my mind. I start looking at them all in the shop and just think "WOW" I'd love em all!
Hi Ric,
I am a bit embarrassed about my equipment actually. I Have a 60mm refractor that i seem to be getting good results with, especially since i got some better lenses, and a great pair of 10 x 50 binoculars that i would be lost without. I am in the process of working out what sort of telescope I should get next, the bigger the better I reckon but I just can't make up my mind. I start looking at them all in the shop and just think "WOW" I'd love em all!
Hi Jo and Dont be embarrassed about your 60mm refractor ,
I started of with the same sized scope 26 years ago and still have it, but it's main use now seems to be as a a hat rack
but does still get dragged out now and again just to bring me down to earth sort of thing.
I have gratuated to over the years to a 20cm (8") SCT and and now have a 40cm (16") dob to keep me off the streets and under a dark sky
So as you can see most of us start small and gradualy get to the size scope we want after learning where we want to go in Astronomy.
So if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask, as there is sure to be some one who will answer it for you
Cheers
PS welcome to all the Newbies I haven't greeted
Im new here, Got a meade LX90 8" last week and I snapped some pics of Jupiter and 4 moons for the first time! I'm from South Australia, not much luck with clouds this week though :/
Im new here, Got a meade LX90 8" last week and I snapped some pics of Jupiter and 4 moons for the first time! I'm from South Australia, not much luck with clouds this week though :/
Great fun
new huh? or just a very naughty boy? so can we see the pickies?