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Cheap Astronomy
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Cheap Astronomy is a website created to compile information about Astronomy while I learn this new field. It's basically a virtual classroom of information at my fingertips. From a campground, hotel room, home. It's all right here.
Why Astronomy? It's kind of like Information Systems and incorporates many of the same skills. Computers, data, information, and requires a very similar mind set for problem solving. "How do you find an exo-planet without a powerful enough scope? (Gravitaional microlensing). Same as you find a way to write a paper without Microsoft Office. (OpenOffice). Get rid of viruses? Linux. Get rid of Atmosphere haze? Hubble.
Some folks have asked me "What has been the most interesting thing I have learned about so far?"
Surprisingly to even myself because I never would have thought I would have picked STARS. There are just so many interesting things about stars. Their lives and what they are and can become somehow seems to be attracting most of my attention. You do not need expensive equipment to study them. The equipment is easier to work with in the winter months when you need your observing fix.
A pair of 16x50 binoculars are easily handled on a camera tripod in winter. Set up, crack down, and focus is very quick. Since I live in the Chicago area. This is extremely important when it's just above zero degrees.
It's something you can do reasonably as a hobby. The most important thing in my viewpoint. Most of us will never see a telescope running Solaris and IRAF. So Binoculars are a great starting point. Though I know Solaris and Linux well and can learn the IRAF just fine, I am sure I will never use a Mt. Wilson telescope. So I learn what is reasonable with the equipment I can afford as a hobby. I can always learn about the rest through reading if only just for the interest. Let's face it Astronomers aren't exactly dying to build telescopes in Illinois.
Although, to my surprise, I learned about Yerkes and some Radio astronomy roots right here in Wheaton Illinois (about 15 min from where I live with the whole Jansky-Reber story. But that was when you COULD build a radio telescope in your backyard.
Contemplating on Cosmology and theories also takes up some time. I love to gather information and rule some of it out as I learn. I don't buy a lot of the theories out there but "Parts of them" I do.
New announcements will be posted on the homepage.
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The cheap Astronomy guy.
Created on 02/04/2003 10:24 AM by admin
Updated on 03/02/2008 03:46 AM by danny
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