Post by MaryG on Jul 13, 2004 23:04:41 GMT -6
But... but... I'm a lurkaholic, Joe!
I like to linger in the shadows, reading and learning, only popping out now and again to lob a self-amusing witticism before scurrying back to the penumbra!
Well, Joe insists, and he's a doll, and the rest of you seem a friendly lot. So...
My name is MaryG and I am a... wannabe. Seriously, I'm tickled to be reading all these fascinating and informative posts, but I'm afraid I'm not quite at the level of most of you! I love astronomy, along with other sciences, but I just never really eju-mocated myself properly. I keep trying. I'm always reading a physics/astronomy/astrophysics type book written for the general population, but I'm the kind of person who has to read a page in one of these books three times before even part of it sinks in! Assuming that it does.
So, if no one minds that I hang around not contributing much, but enjoying myself immensely... I'll fill your drinks when you need 'em, and pour more pretzels and ChexMix into the bowl.
My major post-college experience with astronomy was an experience of a lifetime. An aquaintance invited me to participate in an investigation of ancient petroforms in the central Wisconsin area. I was able to be involved with this off and on for a few years, helping where I could-- whether it was trying to decipher a 3000BC stellar map printout from StarryNight or just pulling weeds around the rocks. It is stunning what we have lost in our collective culture, regarding the astronomy that was known and used by the original inhabitants of this continent. Different Native American tribes from around the country visited these sites, and consider them sacred. One hilltop I was able to visit was quite convincingly dotted with rocks (color-coded) to resemble the constellation Taurus. These sites are mostly on private land, and obtaining permission to
bring a bunch of strangers in to traipse around, draw maps and take photos was rather tricky. I had to forsake this group a few years ago because the locations are somewhat of a drive for me, and the time just could no longer be spared.
I'm not a scientist by grooming (history major), and I struggle with the terminology and lingo. Foolhardy or not, I still insist that it's never too late to learn! So please forgive me as I stumble along here, asking questions that you probably just explained to your 10-year-old.
Joe invited other members of a Yahoo group for listeners of WGN-AM late-night announcer Nick Digilio, and it sounded like fun, so I bellied up to the barycenter!
I live about 40 miles NE of Madison, WI. Deep, dark, rural. What I gain in lack of light pollution, I lose in lack of cultural life. My husband researched for a while before he snagged a Celestron C-5 ("It's a spotting scope, they won't be impressed, but it was used by the Apollo crews!") with a 5" aperture and erecting prism.
We're still trying to figure out a better way to keep it steady. My young daughter is cool; the one indoor summer class she picked to participate in was about astronomy!
Well, enough about me. Way enough. I'm outta the spotlight, back into the lurkotron. Ironclad guarantee: this will be my only long post on these boards!
I like to linger in the shadows, reading and learning, only popping out now and again to lob a self-amusing witticism before scurrying back to the penumbra!
Well, Joe insists, and he's a doll, and the rest of you seem a friendly lot. So...
My name is MaryG and I am a... wannabe. Seriously, I'm tickled to be reading all these fascinating and informative posts, but I'm afraid I'm not quite at the level of most of you! I love astronomy, along with other sciences, but I just never really eju-mocated myself properly. I keep trying. I'm always reading a physics/astronomy/astrophysics type book written for the general population, but I'm the kind of person who has to read a page in one of these books three times before even part of it sinks in! Assuming that it does.
So, if no one minds that I hang around not contributing much, but enjoying myself immensely... I'll fill your drinks when you need 'em, and pour more pretzels and ChexMix into the bowl.
My major post-college experience with astronomy was an experience of a lifetime. An aquaintance invited me to participate in an investigation of ancient petroforms in the central Wisconsin area. I was able to be involved with this off and on for a few years, helping where I could-- whether it was trying to decipher a 3000BC stellar map printout from StarryNight or just pulling weeds around the rocks. It is stunning what we have lost in our collective culture, regarding the astronomy that was known and used by the original inhabitants of this continent. Different Native American tribes from around the country visited these sites, and consider them sacred. One hilltop I was able to visit was quite convincingly dotted with rocks (color-coded) to resemble the constellation Taurus. These sites are mostly on private land, and obtaining permission to
bring a bunch of strangers in to traipse around, draw maps and take photos was rather tricky. I had to forsake this group a few years ago because the locations are somewhat of a drive for me, and the time just could no longer be spared.
I'm not a scientist by grooming (history major), and I struggle with the terminology and lingo. Foolhardy or not, I still insist that it's never too late to learn! So please forgive me as I stumble along here, asking questions that you probably just explained to your 10-year-old.
Joe invited other members of a Yahoo group for listeners of WGN-AM late-night announcer Nick Digilio, and it sounded like fun, so I bellied up to the barycenter!
I live about 40 miles NE of Madison, WI. Deep, dark, rural. What I gain in lack of light pollution, I lose in lack of cultural life. My husband researched for a while before he snagged a Celestron C-5 ("It's a spotting scope, they won't be impressed, but it was used by the Apollo crews!") with a 5" aperture and erecting prism.
We're still trying to figure out a better way to keep it steady. My young daughter is cool; the one indoor summer class she picked to participate in was about astronomy!
Well, enough about me. Way enough. I'm outta the spotlight, back into the lurkotron. Ironclad guarantee: this will be my only long post on these boards!
