A passion returns.

When I was a kid I loved astronomy, read astronomy books and with one of my first pay packets I bought a telescope. Unfortunately I hadn't done my homework and wound up with a junkscope, one of those $100 telescopes that are all but useless for astronomy but sold in lots of outlets. I was just about able to look at the moon using my scope but the whole experience dampened my spirits and I largely abandoned my interest thereafter. I'd still look at "The Sky At Night" on occasion and gaze in awe at photos from Hubble but I never took much of an active interest again.

That is until recently. I don't know exactly when, I think perhaps with the really cold weather over a year ago the skies above this light-polluted town yielded some lovely stargazing nights but I've really got into it again. There was also the occasion about a year or so ago where Venus, Jupiter and Mars were all arrayed nicely around a full moon. Anyway, I've not bought a telescope yet but using Stellarium and my trusty ole Nikon I've started taking photos of the stars and planets and really enjoying the night sky again. I want to get a loan of binoculars or a telescope soon and get out the country away from Dublin to see what I can see.

Funny you should mention this now. This past Saturday night, my wife, daughter and I drove West of the city looking for some unlit open area from which to do a little stargazing. My daughter has suddenly taken a serious interest in it. The kid downloaded (you purchase these things, you download them.) an excellent stargazing app for your iPad. We were eventually able to identify most of the evening sky AND the Hubble telescope. Pretty cool. Very peaceful.

Yeah it is, those applications like Google Sky etc. are a boon for the amateur. I'm just amazed at how much more the camera absorbs than my eyes do when I'm out there. I took a picture of Venus/Jupiter last night and when I checked it full screen I could clearly see the Pleiades in the photo too. I'd forgotten that they're clearly visible to the naked eye.

You'll definitely want to check here regularly: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html