Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Nov 9, 2004 22:28:05 GMT -6
Dear Joe:
I came across the link to Chicago Astronomer from the Sky and Telescope main page where I clicked on Resources and then Clubs & Organizations. I entered Chicago, IL and the search yielded the Chicago Astronomical Society, the Ryerson Astronomical Society and yours. A quick scan of the topics in the first two seemed a little overwhelming for a beginner like me (featured speakers on Quarks, association with the Astronomy Dept of U of C) while The Chicago Astronomer appeared to be welcoming and packed with much more useful information plus a very neat discussion board. I took a quick peek at the Forum and it seemed pretty nice. I'll have to do more serious browsing when time allows.
Just a little about my star gazing self: I would call myself a serious beginner having delved into lots and lots of reading material (libraries and bookstores), atm websites and star charts in the last 12 months or so. I bought a nice pair of waterproof wide-angle Minolta Classic Sport 10x50 binoculars this past spring, built a parallelogram mount for them this summer and then purchased my first telescope last week. I wanted to spend under $400 for the scope and I had to make the basic decision between a refractor and a Dobsonian. After much introspection along with detailed research of specs, reviews I opted for transportability, low maintenance and wide field of vision. I found what I was looking for in the Star Hoc 80mm f/6 manufactured in Taiwan by Guan Sheng Optical (GSO) and sold in the US by Hardin Optical under their own label. I also came across a nice used TeleVue 2x Barlow at Shutan which I could not pass up buying. This past Saturday was my first night of serious viewing and I spent 2 hours just looking at the Pleades, the Hyades, Saturn and the Orion Nebula. Just plain breathtaking. I can't wait to bring my stuff with me this weekend when I travel to Three Rivers, Michigan. Skies should be much darker than Chicago's and a new moon. Just hope the clouds stay out of my way...
I'd be interested in upcoming star parties, but I can't quite make sense of what is planned for the future (other than a trip to Peoria) from reading the many e-mails in the Astronomical Events and Observations section of the forum. Can you please steer me in the right direction?
Thanks and Clear Skies!
Kalvis
I came across the link to Chicago Astronomer from the Sky and Telescope main page where I clicked on Resources and then Clubs & Organizations. I entered Chicago, IL and the search yielded the Chicago Astronomical Society, the Ryerson Astronomical Society and yours. A quick scan of the topics in the first two seemed a little overwhelming for a beginner like me (featured speakers on Quarks, association with the Astronomy Dept of U of C) while The Chicago Astronomer appeared to be welcoming and packed with much more useful information plus a very neat discussion board. I took a quick peek at the Forum and it seemed pretty nice. I'll have to do more serious browsing when time allows.
Just a little about my star gazing self: I would call myself a serious beginner having delved into lots and lots of reading material (libraries and bookstores), atm websites and star charts in the last 12 months or so. I bought a nice pair of waterproof wide-angle Minolta Classic Sport 10x50 binoculars this past spring, built a parallelogram mount for them this summer and then purchased my first telescope last week. I wanted to spend under $400 for the scope and I had to make the basic decision between a refractor and a Dobsonian. After much introspection along with detailed research of specs, reviews I opted for transportability, low maintenance and wide field of vision. I found what I was looking for in the Star Hoc 80mm f/6 manufactured in Taiwan by Guan Sheng Optical (GSO) and sold in the US by Hardin Optical under their own label. I also came across a nice used TeleVue 2x Barlow at Shutan which I could not pass up buying. This past Saturday was my first night of serious viewing and I spent 2 hours just looking at the Pleades, the Hyades, Saturn and the Orion Nebula. Just plain breathtaking. I can't wait to bring my stuff with me this weekend when I travel to Three Rivers, Michigan. Skies should be much darker than Chicago's and a new moon. Just hope the clouds stay out of my way...
I'd be interested in upcoming star parties, but I can't quite make sense of what is planned for the future (other than a trip to Peoria) from reading the many e-mails in the Astronomical Events and Observations section of the forum. Can you please steer me in the right direction?
Thanks and Clear Skies!
Kalvis