Hello all.

About 5 years ago I started thinking about the star..I am one those people
who always have a hobby of one kind or another..for some reason I keep
getting drawn back to the nite sky...I have just decided that i wil make the
jump and put Ham Radio on the back burner for now...

I am really impressed by the sence of community I see in this
hobby..Everyone seems to be willing to help others new and old alike.I have
attended a couple of meetings with the Springfield Stars Club here in
Western Mass. I have even started studing the heavens without a scope..and
am always amazed a what I find...I may be going about this the wronge way
but am enjoying myself....I tend to find things in the sky first then look
them up on the charts....if what I find interest me enough I wil even look
up the mythology about them on the net..

A scope should be in my hands buy september. I am still debating the ATM way
or the of the shelf scope.I will prob go with a 6 or 8 inch dob...funds are
tight...I am low balling bids on ebay hoping for a deal of a lifetime...if
one of my bids goes through I will have the mirror for a 8 in dob....

This was just to introduce my self to your group and say HI.

DarkSkys to all
Tuc

Hi Tuc,

About 5 years ago I started thinking about the star..I am one those people
who always have a hobby of one kind or another..for some reason I keep
getting drawn back to the nite sky...I have just decided that i wil make the
jump and put Ham Radio on the back burner for now...

Good idea! :-)

I am really impressed by the sence of community I see in this
hobby..Everyone seems to be willing to help others new and old alike.

I have also always been involved in many different pursuits but have
found astronomy to be the one with the most helpful people. I bet
you'll soon find yourself helping newer beginners.

I have even started studing the heavens without a scope..and
am always amazed a what I find...I may be going about this the wronge way
but am enjoying myself....

If you're enjoying yourself then you're going about it the right way,
IMO. I did a lot of the same thing -- finding things and then looking
them up -- when I started. In fact, many amateurs continue to do that.
And starting out studying the sky naked eye -- the motion of the sky and
planets, learning the constellations and so on -- is really a great way
to start and gain an appreciation of the sky.

A scope should be in my hands buy september. I am still debating the ATM way
or the of the shelf scope.I will prob go with a 6 or 8 inch dob...funds are
tight...I am low balling bids on ebay hoping for a deal of a lifetime...if
one of my bids goes through I will have the mirror for a 8 in dob....

Best of luck. Be sure to keep the quality up in whatever you do. But
the main thing is to keep at it. And especially to keep enjoying it.

Mike Simmons

"Tuc" wrote in message
...

I might have a scope soon than later...A family friend say he has one that
was given to him....He says it is short and fat and about 12 inches in
diameter ans wieght close to 30 pounds and is brite orange....I am going
over later in the week to see what it is...I dont care if is from
1940....its free..



Sounds like a 1970's or early 80's Celestron 11" SCT. If it's in working
order, that would be one very nice scope!

Jeroen