Did I choose the righ

JK
From: "Jake Kellogg"
JK
Subject: Did I choose the right hobby?
JK
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 04:04:01 +0000 (UTC)
JK
Organization: Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
JK
JK Did you ever try looking at our star it's pretty cool and easy to find.
JK The view changes daily

You must live on an outer planet? The Sun around here in New York
is HOT! But I'll check it out. Do you have an epehemeris for it?

---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P005004

M
From: (Marty)
M
Subject: Did I choose the right hobby?
M
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 12:06:21 -0500 (CDT)
M
Organization: WebTV Subscriber

I like starviewing, too, but, yes, in the City the weather this
year has been generally cloudy, hot, humid. Like right now on Sunday
the 27th the SUn is sinking into a dense haze cover, the air is still
and damp, and I took two showers today already by late afternoon.
Apart from the weather, we now got the West Nile virus all over
the City as at July 25th! We're seeing the drop of dead birds from it
and spraying may begin this coming week in the wooded areas of the
City. One peculiarity of New York is that large tracts of it are
returning to nature as woods or meadows or marshes, all perfect places
for mosquitos to thrive and spread around.
What I 'preach' is that astronomy is not 'stargaxing'. Stargaxing
is PART of an astronomy avocation. If you check out my monthly NTC
Events column, hung here about July 1at (August one coming in mid next
week), I include many nonstargazing events. These include lectures,
exhibits, and meetings. For July there are about 20 things to do
outside of stargazing (of, course many 'events' are stargazing
sessions).
Virtually all stargazing is planned as 'clearsky, cancelled
for clouds' sessions with wither common snese or a go-nogo contact. As
you may imagine, we had dismal success in these sessions so far,
except for isolated ones here and there since last winter.
The essential thing to understand is that ASTRONOMY as a hobby can
incorporate many kinds of activity and enjoyments and not just
stargazing.

M I know the feeling. I've been out very little over the past year, just
M because of life being busy, nights being cloudy, etc, me being
M exhausted, or whatever. Like you, I have other hobbies that are less
M dependent on conditions and the time when I can do 'em. Still, once
M you've got you're equipment, astronomy is pretty much free. I've been
M able to spread the cost of my scope over more than a quarter of a
M century now, so it gets cheaper all the time. And despite those
M other interests I have, astronomy is the one I couldn't live without in
M the long run. I could never live in a place where it doesn't get DARK.
M Astronomy is the hobby that stretches my mind and helps put my daytime
M problems somewhat in perspective.
M When Edwin Hubble was asked why he gave up a career in law to
M persue astronomy, he said "It was astronomy that mattered."
M Marty
M
M

---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P005004