Re: (SNES) RE: (SNEZ) Why can't I see?? pt II

["??d ???" <graywwoolf@msn.com>]

Barry,

No pecking order. You have the spirit to look for the Abells, all power to ya.
It would be good to have someone to share notes with. In fact, there are quite
a few Abells visible in an 8". Try out the yahoo club Planetaries and learn
the tricks. I am awaiting a data sheet of the Proto-planetaries: The Egg, The
hamburger, The black widow, etc. I just like the challenges. No fun in the
easy objects.

I do starparties during the school year with the ATM's of Boston. I show
everyday objects like the planets, moon, bright messiers, etc to the kiddies.
I do alot of splaining to the non-astronomical minded folks. I feel not
superior, but inferior because I did not have starparties at my schools when I
was growing up. I wish that I did, because I would be alot better because of
it. Nothing like seeing the face of a student bright eyed after having seen
Jupiter for the first time and coming back for seconds and thirds after
everyone else has gone inside to warm up.

There is no hierarchy in astronomy. You get experience by doing and by doing
alot. Learn the sky, read a star atlas. Yes READ it! Look where everything is
located and make a list. Go out and find them and do it again and again. You
will be amazed how fast you learn how to find faint fuzzies. Thats how I did
it back in 1986 after having come back to observing after a 10 year hiatus. I
am far from being an expert, no one is. I guess when you observe your last
object in a scope before you die, then you can be called a master.

I have 1143 planetaries to boserve before I die...I might have seen just 100
of them. It will take about 10 years to see them all and then how many more
will be discovered to add to that list. Then I will go on to the Arp galaxies,
the Zwicky catalog, the Hickson group galaxies, the Humanson PNe, the Entire
Perek-Kohoutek catalog, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

So there you have it. I am not an expert..but ask me that question in 25 years
and I will let you know where I am.

Dave Aucoin


----- Original Message -----


From: Timetrav2@webtv.net
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 3:20 PM
To: snegazers@brainiac.com
Subject: (SNES) RE: (SNEZ) Why can't I see?? pt II

I was a poor boy, my daddy was doin' time for doin a stick up at a local
milk store. I was to busy at 11 years old feedin my bro's and sis's. (I
was the Oldest of 10)  Buying a telescope had to wait till I got a
youngin' of my own who wanted to peek into the universe. That was bout a
year and a couple months ago.

Since then the Messiers have been a full cup of tea for me. Especially
with the crappy little finders I got.  One is not high enough power the
other falls of off the optical tube anytime the humidity  is over 45'.

Being a Messier kind of guy must mean I haven't reached the heights that
the ABEL kind of guys have reached. Before getting into astronomy I
didn't realize that there was this sort of pecking order in this hobby.
I guess its like anything else, until you pay your dues them thar gates
to acceptance don't open up all the way.

Anyhow this is what I like, Like I said the Messier Cat. puts big smiles
on my country boy face, and I don't mind lookin at the Moon when it is
out. Yup, been known to look into clouds from time to time to see if
them thar stars are looking back at me. When I find'em I get all sorts
of tingly when I see'em smilin my way.  I love standin out side under
the dark sky, now don't get me wrong. Being inside the FDO dome is a
thrill.  Lookin out its big ass window onto a small section of Gods
creation is an experience every boy or girl should have. But what I like
most is standin' under the stars watchin the constellations dance around
my head. Wow, nothin like that race here on Earth, Nascar has nothin
over that road course.

M13 was my favorite for a long time, looking like a big pile of salt on
a black table cloth, that globular made me realize that there are stars,
but then again, there are STARS. And M13 got some of them STARS.  Nother
thing I love,  is findin the North Star, thats Polars for you guys who
might have forgotten your basics.  I like the North Star cause if you
find it you can find that thar "Little Dipper". At Frosty Drew you can
see it, Did you know in some place ya can't?  Up here in the Middle
country of RI. Finding that little dipper is almost impossible, To much
lights.  I always try tho.  Guess what I, show'd some women person how
to find it Saturday night at Frosty Drew. Felt real good shown a
stranger somthin about the nights sky.  She said she was gonna show
someone else at her home how to do it too. Way Cool.

When I get tired of lookin through the XT-8, usually after I find 7 or 8
objects I usually put the scope in my car.. I think this is enough
lookin for the night for me.  Seems to me if I look at to much I forget
real easy what it was I was looking at.  Loggin these little critters
ain't enough to remember em all.  I like going real slow, takin my time,
kind of like makin love to a woman.  If you are slow you get the most
out of lookin.

Once I get packed up I am ready to get on my pony an make the trip home.
Problem is them thar astronomy old timers in the dome are chasin more
little pieces of heaven in that thar "go to" scope.  Seen some real cool
things in that. Things that I wouldn't dream of seein' in my 8 inch
piece of glass.  So from the time I start saying good bye to my friends
to the time I leave is some time several hours. Usually my feet and face
are numb by the time I leave. But that thar Go To scope just keeps on
feedin' me desert from bout midnight foreward.  My head gets real fat
with Deep Sky Stuff, I like that too.

So you guys keep on bangin them thar thick skulls over whats best, and
who's looking where, and who's older, and how many years ya got over the
other guy  and whose got the bigger you know what, I love  hear'in the
thud.

Just love this toooooo much,
Stars in your eyes,

PS Hey Ernie, you can't see 'em cause the magizines fool us all with
them pictures.

http://community.webtv.net/Timetrav2/TIMETRAVELERS
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