Newbie question on contributing to astronomy

I stay at a place (Bombay) with considerable light pollution thus
ruling out taking up any serious viewing with a telescope. Also, I
can't afford the expensive telescopes for deep space viewing or CCD
imagers for astrospectroscopy. I read a bit about radio astronomy but
it seems limited to the observing phenomenon on the earth and planets
close by. My question is how can I involve myself into amateur deep
space astronomy, either all by myself or working with a group of
amateur astronomers? I am an IT Security professional, I can program in
Perl/C, have worked as Unix administrator extensively and understand
basic trigonometry, calculus, physics and physical chemistry (although
that was ten years back but I can refresh myself again if I go thru the
books).

- Siddhartha

Siddhartha Jain wrote:
I stay at a place (Bombay) with considerable light pollution thus
ruling out taking up any serious viewing with a telescope. Also, I
can't afford the expensive telescopes for deep space viewing or CCD
imagers for astrospectroscopy. I read a bit about radio astronomy but
it seems limited to the observing phenomenon on the earth and planets
close by. My question is how can I involve myself into amateur deep
space astronomy, either all by myself or working with a group of
amateur astronomers? I am an IT Security professional, I can program in
Perl/C, have worked as Unix administrator extensively and understand
basic trigonometry, calculus, physics and physical chemistry (although
that was ten years back but I can refresh myself again if I go thru the
books).

- Siddhartha


You could process SETI data in the background on your computer(s),
but I suspect you want to have some "hands on" contributions in
*addition* to processing SETI data.

Look at
http://www.aavso.org/
http://www.imo.net/index.html
http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm

to get some ideas. You might also consider development of astronomical
education materials.

Regards,
-Sam

Sam Wormley wrote:
You could process SETI data in the background on your computer(s),
but I suspect you want to have some "hands on" contributions in
*addition* to processing SETI data.
Thanks Sam, but I am not very interested in looking for alien life
forms


Look at
http://www.aavso.org/
http://www.imo.net/index.html
http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm

to get some ideas. You might also consider development of
astronomical
education materials.

Again, thanks for the links.

- Siddhartha

Siddhartha Jain:
I stay at a place (Bombay) with considerable light pollution thus
ruling out taking up any serious viewing with a telescope. Also, I
can't afford the expensive telescopes for deep space viewing or CCD
imagers for astrospectroscopy. I read a bit about radio astronomy but
it seems limited to the observing phenomenon on the earth and planets
close by. My question is how can I involve myself into amateur deep
space astronomy, either all by myself or working with a group of
amateur astronomers? I am an IT Security professional, I can program in
Perl/C, have worked as Unix administrator extensively and understand
basic trigonometry, calculus, physics and physical chemistry (although
that was ten years back but I can refresh myself again if I go thru the
books).

I'm sorry, but you can't be an astronomer. You are overqualified.

OK, just kidding. I've been in Bombay, so I know what you're up
against. You didn't say whether you can easily get out of the city, or
whether you have a local astronomy club. I know that there are many
amateur astronomers in India, so you should be able to find a club for
guidance. Meanwhile, you could consider getting a pair of binoculars
and a tripod with a holder for the binoculars. One of Bombay's many
very fine machine shops could build you a binocular holder that will
mount on a tripod or other support. Good luck!

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

"Siddhartha Jain" wrote in message
oups.com...
I stay at a place (Bombay) with considerable light pollution thus
ruling out taking up any serious viewing with a telescope. Also, I
can't afford the expensive telescopes for deep space viewing or CCD
imagers for astrospectroscopy. I read a bit about radio astronomy but
it seems limited to the observing phenomenon on the earth and planets
close by. My question is how can I involve myself into amateur deep
space astronomy, either all by myself or working with a group of
amateur astronomers? I am an IT Security professional, I can program in
Perl/C, have worked as Unix administrator extensively and understand
basic trigonometry, calculus, physics and physical chemistry (although
that was ten years back but I can refresh myself again if I go thru the
books).

- Siddhartha


I don't know if it still is active, but about 10 years ago, when I
regularly went to Bombay, then further north to Gujarat and Rajasthan on
business, I met an engineer in our (P&G) offices in Bombay, who was a
member of an astronomy club there. So, if you haven't checked around,
that might be one place to start (to see if there is still a local club -
as I recall from that time, I think he said there were TWO clubs in the
area then)...

Good luck, and best wishes!!!

--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.662
Longitude: -112.3272

My question is how can I involve myself into amateur deep
space astronomy,

Hi Siddhartha

Here are some contacts found on the web ...

Mumbai (Bombay)

Aakash Mitra Mandal, Kalyan
Gokul Vihar Co-operative Society, Bldg-3/G-4, Jail Road,
Koliwali, Kalyan (W),
Maharashtra 421 301

Amateur Astronomer, Thane
12, Sameer, Sathye Wadi, Naupada, Thane, Maharashtra 400 602

Amateur Astronomer's Association (Bombay)
[It is a registered society. Known also as triple A Bombay. It
is the oldest association
in Mumbai ]
C/o Physics Dept., St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Maharashtra -
400 001

Khagol Mandal
A9, Guruprasad, Swastik Park, Chembur, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400
071

Vishwavedh
18, Roopali, Dixit Road, Vileparle, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400
057

Vega Club
S/11/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar, Borivali (W), Mumbai, Maharashtra -
400 103


Clear skies,
Jack
St. Petersburg, FL

Davoud wrote:
OK, just kidding. I've been in Bombay, so I know what you're up
against. You didn't say whether you can easily get out of the city,
or
whether you have a local astronomy club. I know that there are many
amateur astronomers in India, so you should be able to find a club
for
guidance. Meanwhile, you could consider getting a pair of binoculars
and a tripod with a holder for the binoculars. One of Bombay's many
very fine machine shops could build you a binocular holder that will
mount on a tripod or other support. Good luck!

Sorry, I didn't mention it but getting out of the city is a bit of a
problem. I've taken the binoculars to telescope route earlier (when I
was in Muscat) but ran into the same problem of costs and light
pollution. Eventually, you need to invest in a mega-$$$ telescope to
spot deep space objects. What I was looking for is what kind of
activities that can I do sitting on my chair with a computer like data
crunching (other than SETI ), analysing some data, writing some
custom scripts/programs or remotely monitoring certain output.

- Siddhartha