About time!!!

kate_b (Australia) · #1 19-01-2013, 06:40 PM

Hi everyone - just wanted to introduce myself. I've been an avid star gazer without having much of a clue what I was looking at since I was a child. Finally, this year, I've decided to do something about getting to know the stars I can see, and learning more about and getting to see into (imagine me doing a highland jig in excitement) deep space.

I'm starting slowly by learning about what I can see already and soon I will be joining the society here in SA to chat with and learn from other members. I'm really pleased to find this site too - it looks great!

Looking forward to meeting you!

Varangian (John) · #2 19-01-2013, 07:08 PM

Well done Kate, and all the best with your journey. It sounds like you're taking a level-headed approach to amateur astronomy which is a great way to get a good introduction and also learn what you do and don't like in terms of telescopes and eyepieces. A society is a great way to get exposure to many different opinions in the hobby and also an opportunity to meet some really great people.

All the best and clear skies.

Larryp (Laurie) · #3 19-01-2013, 07:10 PM

Welcome, Kate. You will find all the advice and help you need here

Kunama · #4 19-01-2013, 07:27 PM

Welcome Kate, I too had a passion for stargazing from when I was 6 or 7, I remember we would lie down on the snow in -20C and watch the Northern Lights (in central Finland) dancing above us for sometimes hours. Then, frozen solid, would begrudgingly go inside when called by mum.

You will find lots of advice here, especially how to spend your $$$$

Mark_Heli (Mark) · #5 19-01-2013, 08:13 PM

Hi Kate,

Welcome to IIS.

One of the great ways to start learning what visible each night is to download some planetarium software. Stellarium is quite popular and can be downloaded for free.

There are also a number of very good smartphone applications such as SkySafari which allow you to point your phone at the sky and it will display what you are looking at.

Cheers,
Mark

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 19-01-2013, 08:35 PM

welcome aboard Kate.

It's awesome to have another astro chick on the forums.

Jen · #7 20-01-2013, 01:49 PM

Yayyyy another astro chick
to IIS

Do u have any astro toys yet

kate_b (Australia) · #8 20-01-2013, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

No astro toys yet, Jen, but I'm planning on joining an astronomy club soon and going to events and talking to members about what they have.

Thanks for the tip Mark - I'll check Stellarium out - sounds good!

Well - I'm off to look at the stars...catch you all on the forums...

erick (Eric) · #9 21-01-2013, 08:05 AM

Welcome aboard Kate!

RobinClayton · #10 21-01-2013, 07:57 PM

Hi Kate.

Welcome to IIS. In SA, the astronomy club is called ASSA (Astronomy society of SA). Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at Adelaide University on North Terrace. (visitors welcome). Full details at http://www.assa.org.au/.

Member events are held during the month to allow members to meet and view from dark locations. Public events held most months to allow members of public to view stars and learn more. Again - details of these are available on the website above.

I recommend you take some time to talk to people and check their scopes to help decide what is best for you. Everyone is different and has different ideas of what is best - but if you get to talk to owners and look through scopes - you will get different ideas than talking to sales people who may not be able to demonstrate all options.

Forgey (Paula) · #11 21-01-2013, 08:10 PM

Welcome to IIS Kate

spacezebra (Petra) · #12 21-01-2013, 08:46 PM

Welcome Kate

Cheers Petra d.

mr bruess · #13 22-01-2013, 06:18 AM

Welcome, Kate. You will find all the advice and help you need here
Don't be overwhelmed by all the members fancy expensive astronomical toys like telescopes.
You don't need a super duper expensive "ferrari telescope" to enjoy the night sky.
A cheap pair of binoculars is good enough to get you started.Just ask Patrick Moore.

kate_b (Australia) · #14 25-01-2013, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinClayton

Hi Kate.

Welcome to IIS. In SA, the astronomy club is called ASSA (Astronomy society of SA). Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at Adelaide University on North Terrace. (visitors welcome). Full details at http://www.assa.org.au/.

Member events are held during the month to allow members to meet and view from dark locations. Public events held most months to allow members of public to view stars and learn more. Again - details of these are available on the website above.

I recommend you take some time to talk to people and check their scopes to help decide what is best for you. Everyone is different and has different ideas of what is best - but if you get to talk to owners and look through scopes - you will get different ideas than talking to sales people who may not be able to demonstrate all options.

Thanks Robin - I'm intending to come along very soon. I'll be very interested to learn more about the different types of equipment out there. Hope to meet you soon!

NeilW · #15 29-01-2013, 10:01 AM

Hi Kate,

Welcome, and nice to see another SA member. I hope you can get to the upcoming ASSA meeting on 6th Feb. Renown astrophotographer David Malin is the guest speaker. Should be an excellent evening.

stardust steve (Steve) · #16 29-01-2013, 10:32 AM

Hi Kate. Welcome aboard

You will get to learn so much from this site as I have

Another from S.A

stardust steve (Steve) · #17 29-01-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilW

Hi Kate,

Welcome, and nice to see another SA member. I hope you can get to the upcoming ASSA meeting on 6th Feb. Renown astrophotographer David Malin is the guest speaker. Should be an excellent evening.

Thanks for the info about Feb 6th Neil and Rob

I will be doing my best to head down