New to IIS - Thank God I've found you!

[astrocoast]

Hi all
Martin here and have just found the site and joined up. Have been interested in the skies for years and really only dipped my little toe in but have decieded that it's time to get in there and learn more.

I currently live in Melbourne but in a couple of weeks am moving up to the Gold Coast. Went to visit the guys from Star Optics at Mermaid Beach who were extremely helpful about areas to go viewing. Will also be joining the South East QLD Astonomical Society.

Have been reading some of the threads of other newbies and will take your advice of not rushing out to buy a telescope (was looking at the LX200R) as yet (I can be so impatient - but that's an Aries for you! ) - so will take a bit slower this time.

If anyone else is on the Coast and they can give me any information, it will all be taken in. Can't make Astrofest as wil be OS for a few weeks.

Cheers
Martin

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

and Martin. Shame you can't make astrofest, that would have been a sure fire way for you to dip into your piggybank for a 25" truss dob

It is hard to hold off until you have done the homework but it will pay off in the long run.

[ving (David)]

Originally Posted by astrocoast

I can be so impatient - but that's an Aries for you! ...
Martin

A-S-T-R-O-N-O-M-Y....

THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE!

welcome aboard martin, enjoy your stay

[astroron (Ron)]

Martin Keep your money in your Piggy Bank untill you have joined a society I would have thought that the Southern Astronomical Society (SAS) which is based at Pimpama would be a lot closer to you than SEQAS which is at Chermside Brisbane.
Sorry you could not make it to AstroFest, but you might make it up to the Sunshine Coast in the future.

[astronut (John)]

to the asylum Martin, "There's always room for one more"

[astrocoast]

Thanks for your welcomes and I will check out Southern Astronomical Society (SAS) - the closer the better.

Can't wait to hear all about Astrofest - will keep posted while OS.

[xelasnave]

Welcome... say hi to Lex and Chris when you get to the Gold Coast for me.
They suppllied my LPI, my Celestron 150ar and my magic little 80 x 400 ar and various access and are very helpful and really nice people you wont go wrong there.
I was born in Melbourne.. North Coast is better
alex

[astrocoast]

Thanks Alex
they were very helpful when I popped in .

Actually after reading thread after thread in the forum here, I have just purchased a pair of AOE 15x70mm Binoculars. The folk at AOE were very helpful when they called me back and didn't just try to upsell anything, but wanted to make sure I got somehting that I could use and be happy with.

My next move is to join the Astro Society in South QLD when I move up and again reading through the threads when getting a telescope it seems to be Dob, Dob, Dob, Dob, Dob to start off - as in bang for your buck.

Here's to happy viewing
Martin