Last night while out under a lovely transparent (but moonlit) sky, I began thinking about the hobby and what has kept me interested through all these years. I have known for some time that galaxies are my thing. I just can't get enough of them, spirals, ellipticals, barred spirals, no matter what shape or size they come in they intrigue me.
I also began thinking about my best astro memories and if struck me that I have been priviledged to see some utterly awesome events and to meet a lot of incredible people over the years. I noted down some of my highlights. (not necessarily in any order)
Watching Columbia's first launch with my Dad )I was in hospital at the time).
Seeing my first Lunar eclipse.
Seeing the Perseids for the first time.
Finding M81 all by myself with my 8.75" scope.
Seeing the impact scars of SL9 on Jupiter.
Seeing M51 under a dark sky in a 12.5" scope which I had just finished building.
Standing 10,000ft up a mountain in N California and seeing the most utter amazing sky I have ever witnessed.
Seeing a Geminid light up the sky like daytime from the hill of Tara.
A group of us thinking we'd found aq new comet until we realised our star chart was upside down.
Seeing comets Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake for the first time.
Meeting the late Gene Shoemaker back in 1995.
Taking my first photo of the night sky.
So what are your highlights and what's your 'astro thing'?
  