UTMonkey Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hi All,I have been a bit of a lurker on this forum since the Stargazing program on the BBC and have spent the time consuming as much information as I can about astronomy.I have purchased "Turn Left at Orion" and also a copy of the February edition of "Sky at Night" and have been paying close attention to the posts on this forum (which have been very informative, friendly and constructive).Anyway, after watching the Dark Skies segment on Look North this evening I went outside to look at the night sky. It was great! the northern hemisphere was a bit grotty but the southern skies were outstanding, at least by my standards.I went back in the house and told my wife (who has been taking the p*** for the past two months) about the evening sky - she started rooting around the cupboard and pulled out a pair of binoculars.The bins in question were 8x25 and to be honest I didn't think I would see much out of them, well I was completely wrong - the sky came alive!It was also where I quite impressed myself by remembering some of the constellations, the obvious one in particular was Orion which was unbelievable, Pleiades really stood out.I thought I would go one step further and see if I could see the Orion Nebula, I started at the belt and moved the binoculars down, wow, a brilliant smudge of light!I must have been out there for quite a while (in my t-shirt, not really a planned observation session) and was feeling cold so came in and told the wife all about it. She wanted me to show her what I had seen, so I did. She was actually really pleased with what she was seeing.Is this the start of a wonderful hobby?!?All the bestMarkp.s. the only spanner in the works to this potential hobby is my addiction to television, computers, central heating and my bed - any advice?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Imp Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hi Mark,First welcome to the lounge.Glad you had a good evening, very brave out in a t-shirt to-night.Good to get your wife involved, she'll understand when you max out on your credit card All the best.Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark-mck Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 hello and welcome from a fellow noob.i've a few suggestions if you like you tv sky+ or record or get a freeview recorder (delete as appropriate)addicted to computers?, well you could start your new hobby off by observing, and if you still like it in say 12 months time you could have a go at astrophotography and combine the astronomy with using computers(controling camers, mounts and other stuff.) you'll probably need a decent pc for processing........ build a new one i'm thinking atleast AMD Phenom X6 lol.as for the centrat heating.... wrap up warm and for bed sleep when you can.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hello Mark and welcome to SGL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesM Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hi Mark and welcome to the forum.Clear skiesjames Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hi Mark and welcome to SGL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolts Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hi Mark, hope you enjoy the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Presland Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 hi welcome to sgl from bedfordshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd8137 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 hi and welcome mark binos are great a have some 10x50 and for a quick look around they do the job just great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Spock Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Mark, welcome to SGL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msinclairinork Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 A warm Welcome from me too! You have come to the right place to get your hobby started! and don't worry about losing out on the telle/bed etc...plenty of cloudy nights for that! Good luck!Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan of Borg Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hello and welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi and welcome from me too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanmick Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi and welcome to sgl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Smith Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Mark and welcome to the Lounge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Mark, a warm welcome to the SGL forum.John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Senior Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Mark, welcome to SGL.Thermals, you can't beat them. Keep warm and you stay happy!Enjoy your stay here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobbytate Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi and welcome to sgl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horus Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Mark and welcome ...Look North , you must be close to Hull ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozwebuk Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 UTMonkey, best advice is put some clothes on, when stargazing!Warm clothes help when the ice is forming on the scope...Welcome to SGL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donkeyears Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Mark and welcome to the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starship trooper Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 hi and welcome to sgl this is an addictive hobby its hard to keep from spending lot of dollar hope you enjoy ya stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michigander Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Welcome to SGL, Mark!Dana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Welcome to the forum, Mark!Yes, this does sound like the start of a great hobby. And don't knock your 8x25 bins, they gather about 25 times more light than the dark adapted eye of us people over 35, which means you can look five times further into space (roughly).CheersMichael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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