Whats the Difference between Astronomy and Trainspotting?

[glowjet]

Lets face it, when it boils down to basics, both pastimes are observational, there is also another interesting comparison, astronomers seek out and travel to dark sites, Train Spotters travel to Loco Depots, no difference then really

[sabana]

Thanks guys for the great responses. I posted the question in humour as most(but not all) of you gathered. Keep em' coming....

[fbassett]

Astronomers like a nice week away, Spain Trotting..........

[saturn4me]

They just don't get the point!

I've found that loads of times.Why is it me thats a nerd just because im interested in otherworldly things.Just because other people live in a goldfish bowl and thats their life in all its confinements.They've no idea that earth is a minute speck in the scheme of things and we as humans even less so.Everybody who loves astronomy will have at some point been in awe and will be humbled at the thought of how insignificant we all are in the scheme of things.Personally i think it makes me a better person for knowing that,and puts alot of things into perspective.

[Macavity]

In a cataloguing diversity (perversity?) sense - Not much in it...

British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification

Star catalogue

[George]

Can you still buy anoraks these days?

[MorningMajor]

I have no interest at all in trains - in fact I'd rejoice if I never had to get on another again - I'd miss the stars though!

[cantab]

Trainspotters didn't create one of their greatest theories by thinking about stars.

[garethmob]

theres one major link between train spotting and astronomy

both are highly enjoyable with a flask of nice warm bovril

[MushroomBill]

What is it with train spotters?

I counted 23 of them today!

(my record is 47)

So you're a train spotter spotter?

I did wonder what the punchline was going to be when I saw the thread title.

I suppose with train spotting you can just go out anytime and spot them. It would be nice to have the chance to see the stars a bit more often - that week in September seems an awfully long time ago now...

[Orion_the_Hunter]

As a young teenager I was a train spotter. Despite the hobbie's bad rep, I got to travel around and see most of the UK, most major Towns and Cities.

Although I also spent HOURS AND HOURS stood on Crewe train station.

In my late teenage years, I, as in the film Pvaz points out, went a bit the way of the movie 'Trainspotting' minus the Heroine.

[brantuk]

Hmmmm.... trains can come out of a "black hole" when they've been through a tunnel - but red shift tells you nothing about trains and dopler effect not a lot about stars. There's a difference of several thousand squids between the two hobbies (notebook and pencil compared to imaging rig).

Trains come from stars but stars sometimes travel on trains. And Trains can't travel at the speed of light, but the speed of light can be measured using two trains (or even a single tram lol). The universe came from the big bang, trains often make a big bang when they get derailed. And you have to be derailed a bit to do train spotting lol......... shal I go on.....? hehe

[Kai]

Ok so Trainspotters could be similar to Astronomers BUT what about Twitchers !!!!

[Bart]

You're on a roll there Brantuk.....

[brantuk]

You get a lot of birds in twitching, but not too many birds in astronomy .... lol

[saturn4me]

You get a lot of birds in twitching, but not too many birds in astronomy .... lol

:DIf only!!