Study astronomy.

I have been little more than an armchair astronomer for a couple years. I’m very interested in the subject and I like to read about astronomy, but I don’t have enough practical experience to even pick out all the major constellations. I live close to the city where the sky is bright and I find myself too busy to go star gazing. I did purchase a decent pair of astronomy binoculars that are collecting dust. I want to make more time to seek out some dark skies and learn my way around the stars.

Blame it on the book Dogsbody (which brings the stars, sun, and moon to life) and naming a star.

To accomplish this goal, I’m going to sign up for an online course in astronomy and buy a good book on the subject. Maybe one day I’ll get a telescope, too. Book recommendations, anyone?

I’ve been into astronomy for a few years and I’ve started a GCSE Astronomy course distance learning. I’m enjoying this and would like to take it to a higher level, maybe at A Level, and then a Degree. I like the thought of going for a PhD at some point in the future. I’m not that bothered about getting the qualifications; the motivation is a desire to discovering something new.

I have a telescope that’s going to waste. It looks cool, though <3'

I just ordered a special magazine issue called “100 Spectacular Wonders of the Sky” for inspiration. I wanna lie in the middle of the desert and be able to point out Thor’s Helmet. And buy the most hardcore telescope I can find and view some constellations like Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Scorpius. Oh, how the list goes on! I love the moon and stars. I want to live on every planet. If I saw a shooting star at least once a day, I would be filled with a child-like happiness that not even cotton candy and caramel apples could compare to.

hey, i was listening to some program about the stars last week & it was just after i’d finished the harry potter books:))

anyway, in hp, there’s this magic wizard dude who can morph into a big black dog, and his name is Sirius..

well, they tell me the closest (& therefore brightest/’biggest’) star in the sky is called ‘the dog star’, & other wise known as sirius.

haha, i just thought that was some sweet, abeit somewhat nerdy, trivia:) the end.

i know that..

the two stars that point to the southern cross are the alpha & beta centauri. beta centauri is actully not one star but two. really really close together.

i learnt this on a trip to south africa when i was 15. Which therefor proves i must be interested in this subject. Because why else would that be the biggest thing i remember about an entire country.

no, not really true. i remember lots about s.africa. it was fully awsome.

I am starting on Dava Sobel’s wonderful book, The Planets as part of my TBR challenge but I think it will also nicely support this goal.

What a wonderfully thrilling sight! This photo is from www.spaceweather.com – oh, to have taken this photo!

It is a crystal clear, so far very warm evening here in Central VA and I just spent about 20 minutes on the deck, listening to the waterfall in the Secret Garden while picking out constellations in the sky. Yes, the moon is very bright tonight but the stars are, also. So, I found my old friend Orion, in his full glory and I revisited the Pleiades and for the first time, I picked out Taurus (with the help of Aldabaren)! It was wonderful until the people in the house behind us turned on their floodlights (at 11:30 p.m., my only question would be, “WHY?” Anyway, it was fun while it lasted.