The Story
ABOUT THE BLOG
I have been keen in Amateur Astronomy since my High School days (1975).
My only tools of the trade are - 10-30 zoom x 50mm Binoculars, and at the
moment, negotiating to buy a used pair of 25x 100mm Binoculars (Orion). These used pair of Orion Binoculars come with a Tripod and Mounting hardware as part of the deal, no extra cost.
Guess what everyone, I have just recently discovered that I won't be getting these large Binoculars, after all.
Unfortunately, because the Binoculars will have to travel a long distance from Victoria, my seller on Gumtree.com.au doen not want to take the risk that the Binoculars etc. may get damaged during shipping.
They are after all, a precision piece of equipment and need to be handled with care. He has not found suitable
heavy-duty cardboard boxes for all the Binocular equipment, so with my agreeing to his recent decision, I won't be the proud owner of this piece of equipment :-)
Maybe now, I will put these funds (for the Binoculars etc.) towards the Telescope, I speak off later in this Blog ?
My younger brother Christopher and myself, have attended a few of the local monthly meetings, at the Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS) back in 2016, based here in Australia.
I have just recently, applied to become a full member of this club (MAS).
My primary interest in Amateur Astronomy, is in observing the Planets, Gaseous Nebula and Galaxies. I just cannot get enough of it :-)
I would like, also to show others who may be interested, pictures of some of these Objects - this is where I think, AstroPhotography will be very useful.
I would like to get involved in AstroPhotography sometime down the line, when I may at that stage, buy a used or new, Celestron 6inch Refactor Telescope. If all goes according to plan, after getting used too and familiarizing myself with this Telescope, I would like take pictures of the Planets and deep sky objects, such as Gaseous Nebelua and Galaxies, to show our Residents in our Retirement Village. If they are then interested enough, I hope to show them views of the night sky (I have not forgotten the Moon :-)) through Binoculars and
Telescope.
I have also recently, taken out a 1 years subscription, to the popular U.S magazine, "Amateur Astronomy"
which is heeded up by Charlie Warren. Unfortunately, here in Australia, we do not have such a magazine,
aimed just for the Amateur in mind, only Professional Astronomy magazines.
My only hope, over the last 10 years, has been to look through a 12inch Netonian Reflector telescope or better,
or even a 4inch Refractor telescope, or better, at the night sky - looking mainly at deep-sky objects such
as Galaxies and Gaseous Nebulae. Since the early 1990's, I have bought quite a few books on Astronomy,
some of these are just Atlases of the night sky. And, in these books I have seen plenty of professionally
taken pictures of all kinds of deep-sky objects. I have now come to a point in my life, where I don't
need to be convinced any more, of the beauty and mystery of our Galaxy and the Universe beyond.
I firmly believe in Almighty God, as the center and creator of all things (eg: our Universe). But,
Having a pair of Binoculars or a suitable Teleccope to explore the night sky, just gives everything an
added dimension of experience, very hard to put into words :-)
Kind regards,
and clear skies.
Howard Pew.
1 - 3 April 2018.