New User introduction

astrodave (David) · #1 13-01-2005, 05:48 PM

By lurking for a few days I missed out from getting in the first 100 - but I joined you guys anyway.

This looks a great forum you are running here and I offer general thanks and congratulations (iceman in particular of course).

I grew up with a general interest in astronomy (learnt what RA and Dec was at my father's knee!). But life and other expenses stopped me doing anything much about it. About a year ago I discovered what amateur astronomers were doing with telescopes, webcams and a little computer power under light polluted skies. This merged a number of my interests and I wanted in. I built a barn door drive (ratted a stepper motor out of an old 5.25" floppy drive) - but a small inhertitance suddenly enabled me to contemplate buying a telescope and stuff. I came across a 2nd hand Meade 10" Starfinder (Eq) with some bits and pieces (being sold by one Steve Massey) and the rest as they say is history.

I have bought a number of eyepieces, a ToUcam, Stary Night [and then the money ran out] and had a fun and frustrating time of it since. I have just finished building a DSC (Dave Ek's little project) and got this driving Stary night on my (work) laptop - so now I tend to know where I am!

This week I've just taken delivery of a flip mirror I bought on eBay so I'm hoping to reduce some of the frustrations.

Regards

Starkler (Geoff) · #2 13-01-2005, 06:18 PM

Welcome Dave to the friendliest astro forum community in Aus

Nice to see a fellow Ek box user too . Im running mine with PalmDSC and currently trying to get it to talk to Cartes Du Ciel.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #3 13-01-2005, 07:06 PM

Welcome Dave!!

Orion · #4 13-01-2005, 07:17 PM

Hello Dave and Wellcome

iceman (Mike) · #5 13-01-2005, 08:23 PM

Quote:

By lurking for a few days I missed out from getting in the first 100 - but I joined you guys anyway

That's no probs Dave, you're kick-starting the next 100

Thanks for your feedback, and

to the forum.. great to have you here and hope to see you dropping by and contributing regularly!

Taken many images with the ToUcam? Looking forward to seeing some of your work!

All the best.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 13-01-2005, 08:54 PM

G'day Dave,

Yay, another Victorian!

Hey Dave, this is the best forum on the net (My opinion). Still small (and that has benefits) and a real good bunch of people.

Hope you stick around.

jackenau · #7 13-01-2005, 09:22 PM

Welcome Dave great bunch of people here always willing to share and help

Ken m

Rodstar (Rod) · #8 13-01-2005, 09:24 PM

Hi Dave and everyone else in Ice-cyberspace! I have also just joined up.

I am looking forward to delivery shortly of my first scope, an 11 inch Schmidt Cassegrain from Celestron.... I will have NO idea how to use it when it arrives, but hey, what the heck?!

I've been fascinated by cosmology and astronomy for about 15 years, introduced to the heavens by a friend with a very basic refractor. First time I saw Jupiter (and moons thereof) and I was hooked.

I decided a month ago it was time to invest in this interest. I chose the Celestron C11-SGT because it has big aperture, has go-to function with potential to hook up to lap-top (with possibilities for digital photography etc), but still not too difficult to transport.

Does anyone else have any experience of the Celestron Advanced range?

Rodstar

Starkler (Geoff) · #9 13-01-2005, 09:55 PM

Thats a pretty advanced starter scope i reckon !

Welcome Rod

Rodstar (Rod) · #10 13-01-2005, 10:07 PM

Starkler,

Do you think I have bitten off more than I can chew?!

Rodstar

Striker (Tony) · #11 13-01-2005, 10:16 PM

Welcome David & Rodstar...

See I join and everyone follows.........I should charge a fee...appearance money...yes.."Mike we need to talk"...lol

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 14-01-2005, 03:38 AM

Welcome astrodave. You're in for a fun time here. Lots of great keen people and smart too!

Hey Rodstar.
Thats what I like to see. Someone who's prepared to jump in boots and all. They might feel like gumboots for a while but you'll grow into them

I'm glad Striker popped over to say hi. Hey Rodstar, Strikers got a new pair of gumboots too. How are they fitting Tony?

iceman (Mike) · #13 14-01-2005, 06:24 AM

Hi Rodstar, great to finally see a local here! A central coast local, just down the road!

I haven't found any astronomy clubs or groups on the central coast, or anyone else interested in astronomy.. Glad to have finally found one, thanks for signing up!

The closest clubs are the NSAS (north sydney) or the NAS (newcastle).

We'll have to meet up and do some observing when you take posession of your new toy.. although I have no experience with those beasts so i'll have to read the manual to help you

Have you been out to Koolang observatory, up in the Mangrove Mountains? Maybe i'll have to take you out there and we can view through my 10" dob until you get your scope..

Anyway i'll PM you!

rumples riot · #14 14-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Hey welcome fellas. Lot of new blood. We want new blood ( you have to imagine it with me using a vampirical accent)

C11 hey, man nice scope and like the Meade easy to use, Just hope you look like a

worker. These babies are heavy, but that does not matter once you start taking shots and viewing the skies. There are a few of us here that bought the Meades and I am sure that they are not that different from the Celestrons. If you need any technical help sing out and I am sure one of us can assist.

Welcome once again guys.

Rodstar (Rod) · #15 14-01-2005, 08:21 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome Tony, Paul, Mike, Starkler and Paul H (did I forget anyone?!).

Paul H, unfortunately I'm no construction worker, as my wife would say, just "a shiney assed lawyer!" So I hope I can handle the beast of a scope when it arrives. Maybe I'll have to bring forward the plans for a permanent observatory above the garage?

A colleague at work was telling me of a friend's father who lives in Dural (NW Sydney) who recently spent $150K on an observatory above the family room...36" Dobsonian etc, the works..I am trying to work out a way to get myself invited over!

I'll let you all know when the Celestron arrives and post any questions that arise early on. Mike, I was thinking of joining the NSW Astro Society, have you tried that? What is everyone's experience of clubs? Worth the membership fees?

Clear skies everyone!

Rodstar

gaa_ian (Ian) · #16 14-01-2005, 11:08 PM

Welcome & well done with the new scope Rodstar

I'm sure you will get the hang of it in no time
Sounds like you & Iceman have the beginning of a Club on the central coast

I stared a club where I am just over 2 yrs ago & we now have over 60 memebers & lots of gear.
You will be amazed how much pent up interest there is in the community for astronomy

Rodstar (Rod) · #17 14-01-2005, 11:42 PM

Thanks for that encouragement gaa_ian! Well done on your club too, sounds like those clear northern skies take some beating!

How's the viewing tonight at the top end of OZ? Showers here on the NSW Central Coast.

Rodstar

gaa_ian (Ian) · #18 14-01-2005, 11:55 PM

Same weather here

We have had a pretty good run though considering the time of year (the wet)
We had some great views of the comet Macholtz last Friday

I believe you have a Cyclone heading down that way ...you might be in for a bit more rain

gaa_ian (Ian) · #19 15-01-2005, 12:00 AM

Just had a look at the weather map ... the reminents of a cyclone anyway

rumples riot · #20 15-01-2005, 01:50 AM

Hey Rodstar we have something in common, your a lawyer and I was a solicitor until I got involved in the building industry. What area do you practice in?

Mine was commercial law even though I focused mainly on human rights at Uni. For some strange reason I ended up practicing personal insolvency, corporate insolvency, preferential payments and obstructive liquidators. The corporate related matters were ok but attending court to seek orders for bankruptcy matters was just too demoralising for someone who believes that everyone is entitled to a share of the wealth. Those people were on the bones of their proverbial and we only ever got orders for payment of two and five dollars a week for 15 years. It made be feel really bad and that forced my hand.

Hey heres a lawyer joke... na I will tell you later, its a ripper and I am sure like me you have heard them all. Some are funny and some are...... Well you know

Best of luck with the scope.