Invent a name for the disease

[TopHouse]

I've discovered a disease but I don't have a name for it yet, the disease is caused by buying a telescope, usually your first, the symptoms are, every time you go outside your head immediately jolts upwards as you inspect the sky for clouds, this can be particularly dangerous if you have steps at the front or back of your house.

The disease is worsened by darkness as the symptoms become even more acute within the hours of darkness, this can be compounded even more if you are a smoker and don't smoke in your house so fairly frequent visits outside are required.

in severe cases it can also be accompanied by outburts of tourettes like symptoms.

What's more, the disease can also have a side effect in that the accumulated frustrations can result in contstantly trolling over astronomy based websites posting nonsensical and trivial messages.

[ashenlight]

I like to call this nephophobia - the fear of clouds....

perhaps we could add an 'astroitis' onto the end: nephophobiaastroitis

try saying that 3 times fast:D

[TopHouse]

3 times!! I have trouble with once!

[Tim]

You should add that satisfying the cravings it gives you can work out very expensive

[kev 102 42]

Astromeningoencephalitistar

[TopHouse]

I think "TopHouse Syndrome" has a much nicer ring and is a damn site easier to say!

[Talitha]

Hi, my name is Carol and i'm an Astroholic.

Easy enough to say, i think.

[spacetrace]

OCBAED

Obsessive compulsive buying astronomy equipment disease is one I have found recently...

[ZOG]

Got to be Stellarmania

[themos]

Astroplexy

[brantuk]

Hmmm..... Scopeagenic Carciggyencephilitis ? lol

[TopHouse]

Another symptom to add. Red markings around the neck.

Following the normal sympoms already publicised, you go out into the garden at night, the head performs the classic 'tilt up' as you continue to walk, the body goes into autopilot, but being an imperfect autopilot you garrot yourself on the washing line!

Possible cure for the above, keeping an eye out for longstreets electronic cane (showing my age now)

[barkis]

St. Vitussoonskintus.

Ron.

[LukeSkywatcher]

COC....Celestius Obsessis Compulsis.

[TopHouse]

If anyone also discovers added symptoms, be sure to add them for my forthcoming article for the Lancett

[Space Bat]

Broke

[AndyH]

Telescopis-cumulus-barstewarditis

Andy.

[Andrew*]

Near-miss road accidents is another symptom...

Another common symptom is perceived by others as paranoia of intruders or other unwelcome visitors outside your house because you anxiously peer through the curtains at regular intervals. In fact you are just checking cloud cover... Or for the postman...

Sadly there's no cure that I know of. I've had a severe case of Chronic Obsessive Astrophiia for over three years now: the doctors are at a loss (but have at least found a name), the wife is at wit's end, and my financial advisor has long given up.

Andrew

[beamish]

Hi, my name is Carol and i'm an Astroholic.

Easy enough to say, i think.

You ought to try saying that after a few drinks !

[BAZ Senior]

Could you get "Dobsonian elbow"?

[pbyrne]

I thought it was called Godshavingalaughatmeitis with minor symptoms of sunnydayscloudynightsolic.

There is no cure, as you pour over the magazines and websites you will purchase more and this only compounds the above symptoms causing you to browse the magazines and websites some more, buying more gear that adds to the disease that leads you to browse the...

In the end you find the house full of astro gear, the bank account empty, no hair on your head and a lunatic smile on your face.

Great, isn't it.

[kev]

you also get pain in the neck from looking up at funny angles with binoculars!

[Cornelius Varley]

Refractitus

Peter

[Cornelius Varley]

Which has similar symptoms to Reflectolepsy

Peter

[Cornelius Varley]

Not only do I have bouts of the above two afflictions, I also get an occassional Plosslism in my right eye, usually from the first quarter onwards. More seriously I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Makoma which is incurrable.

Peter