Just joined SGL and thought why not start a blog from a complete novice’s perspective.

Hi I'm Martin and have always had a liking for the night sky. Have found it relaxing just looking up and pondering what it is all about, life the universe.

Well last week my Daughter Erin came home from school and told me she is learning about space and the universe. She seemed to be so excited about the whole idea. So I pulled out my laptop and started searching for pages and pictures of the solar system and hubles photos of the planets. She was amazed with the photos. Within a week she could name the planets in the correct order from the sun and knew that Pluto was downgraded from a planet in 2006 she is only six and her enthusiasm is addictive.

We came across a site in our search for more knowledge that mentioned using Bino’s to view the night sky and some of the planets. I remembered that I had a pair somewhere in the house. The hunt began and eventually found the binos. I downloaded a few star maps and we hit the garden for our first view. Although the light pollution in London is bad we had a great night looking at the moon and when she saw Jupiter through the bino’s she just flipped and couldn’t wait to go to school the next morning and tell her teacher what she had seen. I was just as impressed myself. We have been out on a number of occasion in the last week and each time we see something new.

I haven’t told Erin this yet but I bought a Meade 2090 AT GOTO scope of ebay on Monday, So that should get here by the end of the week, can’t wait to see her face.

I will update as Erin and I continue our journey in discovering the night sky.