How long have you been observing?

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Yes folks another silly poll just for the fun of it.

So just how long have you been observing in your current phase?
I ask current phase as I suspect some might be like me. I had a cheapy Tasco 60mm as a boy and picked up stargazing again many years later.

edit : damn I could have phrased the choices better and I cant edit it now. You all know what I mean anyway

[asimov (John)]

I picked less than 10 years. In this current phase I reckon its 7-8 years. Started when I was 12 but dropped astronomy like a hot rock when I discovered girls/cars/etc at age 16. Picked it up again at about 25 ? Then dropped it again for a few years. Did that a few more times until I got to this current phase

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

Hey, I think I had the same 60mm Tasco! Still have it, but it is in a box and never gets used as the eyepieces have grown a bit of a beard over the last 30 years or so....haven't we all.

[33South (Chris)]

Originally Posted by asimov

I picked less than 10 years. In this current phase I reckon its 7-8 years. Started when I was 12 but dropped astronomy like a hot rock when I discovered girls/cars/etc at age 16. Picked it up again at about 25 ? Then dropped it again for a few years. Did that a few more times until I got to this current phase

Scary stuff - real close to what I was going to say, assuming beer features somewhere in the list of distractions.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I would have thought that a large proportion of members are newbies but maybe they dont want to click that button

[Striker (Tony)]

Whats observing....???????

Is that when an eyepiece is used...????

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Like many, I was "into" Astronomy as a boy (especially High School where I helped run my school's planetarium) but drifted away during university (having found beer and other diversions) and early working life (lack of money)...

I've always been interested in space and space science since watching the Apollo program as a child...and have always read everything I could on the subject...just not much chance for any "hands on" (eyes on) stuff

A couple of years back I got the opportunity to be "hands on" again (having a bit of time and a lot more money) and that brings us to now...but I am still trying to get used to looking at the "Southern Sky"...now I have more and better equipment than actual experience or knowledge but it is still fun anyway!

[iceman (Mike)]

Coming up to 2 years in July. Still a newbie, but have learnt heaps!

Great hobby, meeting great people and have made some great friends.

Have had some great nights out under the stars.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Its kind of weird now how passing of years gets flagged in my mind with milestones like Scorpio or Orion returning to the evening sky .

Theres another year gone

[ving (David)]

well i put a couple of years, but i had a lil' telescope when i was a kid.... some might argue that i still am a kid.

[hogly52 (Graeme)]

Less than a year, with a scope that is. Years of wonder before that...

Cheers,

Graeme

[sheeny (Al)]

I answered 10-20 years as my first entry in my observing log was on 28/3/85, however, not all of that time has been that serious. I would say I was serious for 4-5 years, had 14 years really, really casual, and now another 1 and a bit years serious.

BTW my definition od serious is actually writing something in my observing log...

Al.

[Striker (Tony)]

Year and a half for me.

Does that still class me as a noob....how about experienced noob.

I still blame Ving for my lifes current course.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Since Christmas of 1998 for me, when I bought myself (with my dad's money of course - christmas and all) a 4.5" newtonian.

I got hooked when I saw Haleys Comet in 86 (think it was 86) when I was 7. Then got hooked even more so when my uncle bought a 8" LX200 sometime in the mid 90's.

It's been continuous upgrades since 1998 so all the one phase. I'm too young to have had more than one "phase" I guess. I suppose if I were given a telescope back in 86 I would've, but that didn't happen much to my disgust at the time!

Roger.

[ving (David)]

Originally Posted by Striker

I still blame Ving for my lifes current course.

hey i didnt tell ya to go and get a buzz-click scope

but, you are welcome

[Lester]

Well at almost 49 and interested in the night sky since 10. Got my first telescope at 14 = 8" Newtonian. I enjoyed looking at moon, planets and deep sky then and still do; although now am attempting digital photography, which is a great challenge.

Was interested how short a time many of you have been involved, but I am learning heaps from you. Thanks.

[JohnG (John)]

Had to put down since Galileo was a boy, when I added it all up there was never really an end to the current phase. I can still remember catching a bus to ASNSW meeting when they were at Belfield in Sydney, now I am showing my age. I still have and use my old 14th Edition of Norton's, the pages are faded and bent but it still is one of my favourites Star Atlas's. My interest stayed strong because I needed to navigate at night in adverse conditions with my job. Belfield, geez that was soooooo long ago.

JohnG

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Back in the early 70's. I started.

Around 34 years and still love it.

[Yuzza]

started for me in 97 all thanks to a school project in year 4, researching a planet of our choice

[fringe_dweller]

10-20 - around the latter part of '94 I started using/owning scopes (inspired by a mate's tales of his views of SL9's effects after crashing into Jupe).
Ive had my slacker years and busier ones tho - does reading/viewing forums, emails, webpages ect., related to astronomy for sometimes several hours a day count as busy and active? hehe