are you an astro evangelist?

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Since I got into hands-on astronomy, i.e., going outside with a scope and making a conscious effort to look at things faint and far, I am finding myself going to considerable lengths to introduce the uninitiated to the rewards of this persuit.

I'm wondering if this is normal or am I becoming too obsessed. So please, tell me: Are you an astro-evangelist?

Signs that you may be an astro-evangelist (all true for me):

- you try to weave astronomy into everyday conversation a bit more often than most other people find socially acceptable
- you buy binoculars as gifts for birthdays and other occasions
- you keep telling people what celestial objects they should be looking at with the binoculars you bought them
- you never buy a department store telescope as a birthday present for a kid, no matter how attractive the price and/or the pictures on the box might be
- you take tourists from Europe along with your telescope to a dark sky site to show them why Australia is the best place on Earth
- you spell Earth with a capital E.

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Signs that you may be an astro-evangelist (all true for me):

- you try to weave astronomy in everyday conversation a bit more often than most other people find socially acceptable
- you buy binoculars as gifts for birthdays and other occasions
- you keep telling people what celestial objects they should be looking at with the binoculars you bought them
- you never buy a department store telescope as a birthday present for a kid, no matter how attractive the price and/or the pictures on the box might be
- you take tourists from Europe along with your telescope to a dark sky site to show them why Australia is the best place on Earth
- you spell Earth with a capital E.

Another dead give away is that your star sign is Telescopium.



Cheers
RB

[iceman (Mike)]

haha most definitely true janoss.. and the other one is, that you try to mention your favourite website at every opportunity

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

guilty as charged.

[h0ughy (David)]

I am a sick man, I cant help myself. it is so bad that my wife forbids me to mention anything astronomical in her presence. I do however at work regularly post astro stuff much to the dismay of the intranet operator and some management. I have had solar viewing sessions at lunch times to which over 30 people turned up at that session. I send people images and upcoming events all the time. I also find it very difficult not to mention anything astromonical in any conversation, and yes mike I do drop IIS website at every occasion. That includes any purchases overseas I make.

[RB (Andrew)]

Talk about sick, I dream in monochrome.

[toetoe (Peter)]

I do talk about every couple of days with people at work. I have given up on my wife as she says "yes dear, thats good" when ever she says that i know to shut up but i have tried. I do plug IIS when ever i can but i havn't bought any astro gifts for anyone. If i bought astro stuff it would have to be for myself before i give it as a gift.

[astro_south (Andrew)]

This is me to a tee!

I try to edumakate those around the office, and while I have to put up with the standard astrology jokes, I think there is a general interest that has grown from my bombardment of all things astronomical.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Interesting point Steve!

I bring Astronomy into most conversations somehow. When I do I always mention IIS.

I have even placed a link to IIS in my Rugby League website on the sponsors page! http://www.sportingpulse.com.au/club...407%40&sID=117

[square_peg114GT]

Guilty as charged.

[fringe_dweller]

I try not to mention it too much to civilians - on occassion i have experienced everything from bemused puzzlement to open hostility when mentioning this subject in public - even keen amateur astronomers can find me over the top the most common critiscism i hear from friends and acquaintances is - "but there is no money in it" yer well dur!!
Kearn - alleluya and pass the kellner
EDIT: the other most common slant/insinuation i hear from non-astronomers - is like I am to old for looking thru telescopes and astronomy - like it is only for kids!!?? that is one i dont get!!?? why should the universe be only enjoyed by kids!!???

[astroron (Ron)]

I have just had a visit from to very nice looking Jehova's Wittness Ladies and we had a very stimulating conversation on Astronomy and God. We parted on the best of terms.
Please don't start a discusion on the merits of it , just to say that I am guilty as most of being an astronomical evanjelist astroron

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Ron, it doesn't matter who they are, they are all fair game to be ear-bashed about our obsession!!! Even if the Martians came, I bet a lot of us would be saying things like "I'll get the scope out and show you your Planet from here on Earth"

We just can't help ourselves LOL!

[ving (David)]

makes you want to break out into song doent it

[Mick (Michael)]

Astronomy is a release for me, most of my friends respect that as I do with there pointless hobbies. :b

[atalas]

Come on guy's and girls ,pull your selfs together ! we have a mission to go where no one has gone before ! and Mick keep telling your self that It helps a lot , my friends respect that I mean have to go and check Astromart now ! don't want to miss out on a bargain , trying to stay on step a head of Houghy .

Louie

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by atalas

Come on guy's and girls ,pull your selfs together ! we have a mission to go where no one has gone before ! and Mick keep telling your self that It helps a lot , my friends respect that I mean have to go and check Astromart now ! don't want to miss out on a bargain , trying to stay on step a head of Houghy .

Louie

What else are you selling Louie At least i point them to IIS from astromart

[TidaLpHasE]

I would like to say i am, but i havn't a clue what i am talking about when it comes to astro stuffs

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Just make it up Trevor LOL!

Trevor - Hey have I showed you mars thru my scope yet
Friend - No
Trevor - Wanna see it?
Friend - No
Trevor - Of course you do, come and look
Friend - OK
Trevor - Can you see it
Friend - WOW, you really can see it!!
Trevor - Yep, cool huh!
Friend - How far away is it?
Trevor - oh about a trillion zillion kilometres
Friend - Really! What else can we see
Trevor - How about the Zwaggle Galaxy
Friend - Hey yeah! Show me that one
Trevor moves scope onto Omega Centauri
Friend - WOW and WOW! How far is that one?
Trevor - About 20 tri-billion million light years
Friend - WOW! Why is it so bright
Trevor - Coz each star is 50 billion times the size of our whole Solar System
Friend - Is that big?
Trevor - Of course it is!
Friend - Why are some of the stars a bit blue?
Trevor - Coz they are made of . . umm . . Ice.
Friend - Ice? but aren't stars hot?
Trevor - Oh, yeah, it's that hot 'Dry Ice'
Friend - WOW! Show me more

and on goes the episode as Trevor tries to explain why Galaxies have all the smoke in them (coz they are on fire) and why is the Southern Cross sitting side on (coz it fell over a few centuries ago).

[toetoe (Peter)]

Tune in tommoro night for episode #2 where the friend asks Trevor more questions...