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.


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