Of All The Gin Joints In All The World... Why Astronomy is Your Hobby?

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 12:30:02 GMT, John Steinberg
wrote:


What drives your interest? And please feel free to be as long or
short-winded as you like.

Gives me an excuse to shoot out the neighbors porch light .

I think in my case it would have to be a complete mixture of all the reasons
other people are going to give!

Astronomy was my initiation into scholarly life (as a high school student
hanging around Valdosta State University). It bridges the gap between
sciences and humanities in an interesting way, because we're always
conscious that we're looking at the stars through human eyes, and because
astronomy is the only science in which you customarily learn the history
(how everything was discovered).

And of course there's the joy of standing under a starry sky and
contemplating the universe.


--
Clear skies,

Michael Covington -- www.covingtoninnovations.com
Author, Astrophotography for the Amateur
and (new) How to Use a Computerized Telescope

"I got into astronomy so I put in a skylight. The neighbors upstairs were
furious."

- Steven Wright

"John Steinberg" wrote in message
...
An informal survey to consider the array of reasons astronomy interests
you. What factors motivate you, what personal history, why do you do
it?



I sat for ages trying to come up with the words, and totally failed.
I can't put into words the way I felt when first viewing the Andromeda
Galaxy or that first look at Saturn.

There aren't words to describe it...

--
Gareth Slee

http://www.garethslee.com
http://www.lapie.com

And of course there's the joy of standing under a starry sky and
contemplating the universe.

That's pretty close to my reasons, Michael. There's some combination
of just unimaginable beauty to the night sky, and mind-stretching
wonderment to what you're looking at. Those two things have always
kept me looking upward, although - stupid me - it took me many decades
to decide to pursue it as a hobby.

Chris Nicholl

John Steinberg wrote:
An informal survey to consider the array of reasons astronomy interests
you. What factors motivate you, what personal history, why do you do
it?

I know that many people find this a difficult question to answer, but
I find I have a fairly definitive answer (for me, that is). I like to
see how things connect, how they relate to each other, and in just
about any conceivable way:

* The way that stars (and the other objects in the sky) are
arranged with respect to each other.

* The way that all the things in the sky move, both in three
dimensions, and in two dimensions across the celestial sphere.

* The way that stars, planets, galaxies come into being, evolve,
and then slowly (or rapidly) die away.

* The way that stars "work": how they produce energy, how that
energy comes to us, and what we do with it.

* The way that light "works," and the amazing way that telescopes
and binoculars, and all the other things we use are put
together.

After a long night, it's a pleasant feeling that all the things feel
interconnected--a cosmos, rather than a random space and time.

Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt

What drives your interest? And please feel free to be as long or
short-winded as you like.

I have always been fascinated with Astronomy. I wish now that when I
was in high school I took up electronics and then went to college for
Astronomy. Bought my first real telescope this year.

The other reason I got a cool new toy to play with.

Bill

John Steinberg wrote:

An informal survey to consider the array of reasons astronomy interests
you. What factors motivate you, what personal history, why do you do
it?

To pick up on the theme of your subject line, "I was misinformed." :-)

Also, "I'm shocked, shocked to find that astronomy discussions are
going on in here!"

Regards,
Russell

gazing into space relieves one of self-important weight of posing as a creature
beyond apedom. frees one of the sense that life on earth is central to the
universe. astronomy is incredibly liberating. the night sky is full of
exquisite chaos. its all an accident, random and wonderful. it is amazing to
be alive. and deeply reassuring, to sense how cosmically insignificant i am.
just random material.
jc

Well, I could mention all the "usual suspects" but others have done that
quite well already.

I'll add that I enjoy being alone, under the stars. When not alone in the
observatory, I'm with people in meetings, on the phone, "doing" lunch or
with family. Being alone, looking into the wonderful expanse, provides
perspective, and time to think.

Mike

"John Steinberg" wrote in message
...
An informal survey to consider the array of reasons astronomy interests
you. What factors motivate you, what personal history, why do you do
it?

Since I pose the question, I'll go first:

For me, the answer isn't about science, mathematics, physics,
theology, philosophy, fame, or making some kind of connection with the
larger world we inhabit, it isn't an optical or gearhead fetish
(although that plays a small role), it's simply because I get a
tangible buzz when looking at the universe through the ep. It's like a
recreational drug buzz without the worry of side effects or legal
concerns.

In short, for me it's mostly pure escapism from the myriad pressures of
daily life and just a real visual thrill to view objects of such
profound beauty. Post observing, I'm almost always on a genuine
endorphin high.

What drives your interest? And please feel free to be as long or
short-winded as you like.



--
-John Steinberg, controlling the world, and Usenet, by proxy.

email: lid

...And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped.
--Sir Bedevere