How I Found Astronomy

As promised, a few notes about my history in astronomy.

I will always, always remember how I came upon my love of astronomy.  I had this wonderful teacher in 4th grade, Mrs. Wallen, who had us draw names of planets out of a hat (or something like that) to write reports about.  Now I know, as a fourth grader, it wasn't that much of a report or paper, but that's where it started all the same.  I got the planet Neptune and it remains my favorite planet to this day, just for starting it all.  I remember my mother taking me to the public library, since the internet and computers and electricity basically didn't exist way back then.  I read and read and read about neptune, and a bit about the other planets too, and I was hooked.  How could it be that I didn't know about all this wonderful knowledge before?  I was astounded and amazed and enralled. 

I read as much as I couldn't, even things I didn't understand (which was a lot back then).  My parents were nothing but encouraging, and I'll always love that about them.  Even encouraging when teachers, students, and maybe other parents thought I was just reading Astronomy magazine to "show off".  Anyone who really knew me, would know otherwise.  I remember reading about variable stars and stars used for stellar distance markers out of the magazine in fifth grade. I remember my mom dropping off copies of astronomy before I would leave with the band or track team for some game or track meet.  I treasured those issues, the first ones I ever had, a special treat since she had to drive an hour to the big city to find them for me.

I got my first telescope, a tiny toy really, but it might as well have been the Hubble to me back then.  I know my parents probably sacrificed to get it for me.  I looked at the Moon and stars, Venus and Saturn and Jupiter with it's moons.  It was all so amazing.  A friend of my father's had a larger telescope that he let me look at Saturn through, and it was even more spectacular.

In high school a man came from the astronomy club from the big city and tried to help me and a few other people form a local club.  We had a few meetings, but then I went off to college and it stopped.  I studied astronphysics in college for a year and a half before switching it to a minor, and majoring in writing.  Not that you could tell I have a writing degree from my scattered ramblings.  During that time I got to travel to Greenbank for Radio Astronomy research, I got to photograph the moon, and use the college telescopes, including an ancient Clarke Telescope.

When I moved south after graduation, I purchased my first real telescope, and probably last, a Meade LX200 12" with GPS and UHTC.  I know, big scope for a first buy, but it's the one I always drooled on in the glossy issues of Astronomy magazine, and swore I'd own one day.

I still visit the local club, although it's a bit of a drive, and I travel to the dark sky site from time to time.  I even served three years on the board of trustees as their loyal secretary. 

I don't have as much time for it lately, with a 14 month old, and a baby due in August, but it will always be there waiting for me.  And you don't always need a telescope.  Sometimes it's just a small fire in the back yard, and a pair of binoculars, or your own two eyes, enjoying the blessings of the night sky.

Refreshing

I've cleared out this old space for my (not even close to) spring cleaning.  It is possible that I have been motivated by two whole nights of sleep in a row, thanks to my growing little bug. 

I've been in a bit of a slump lately, feeling sick and tired and bored and unmotivated and generally like a pile of sludge (much like the gunk my spouse just cleaned out of the hot water tank).  So, here I am again, promising to try and write more and read more and run more and stare at the sky more.

I am looking forward to integrating myself back into my life.  It seems I've forgotten that a bit.

I'll try to post a bit more in the near future about my background in a few different areas, in case you're bored, or simply curious.  And if you don't care at all, that's okay too, but I'd like to spend a moment and wonder why you're over here listening.