Dabbling in Astronomy...
Due to the sheer physical limitations of the human's brain to partake in multiple simultaneous processes, my brain has developed some kind of allergy to typing. For some reason, I have found it quite a challenge to satisfactorily express myself when it comes to blogging, e-mailing, instant messaging, paging, programming, and so on. Frankly, typing now feels like it acts like a funnel against my cerebellum's flow of neurons. I can't wait till the day comes when that no longer is a realization. The BrainPort, a device that connects to the computer via the USB port, gives us a tantalizingly interesting glimpse into the future. It is a sensory subsitution device in which people are able to use an existing sense in place of another. Or, in other words, I have a very aggressive form of writer's block that only technology from the future can cure. Fortunately, I do not have a case of creative block.
Back to the subject of this entry: my venture into amateur astronomy. There have been a couple of things I have always asked every birthday and Christmas, and a telescope was always in the top 3 of my wishlist. Unfortunately for my parents, I had (and obviously still have) a lot of expensive hobbies, which means I only got to actively pursue a minimal number of them. The great thing about being an adult is that you can still be a kid at heart, albeit having much more money which enables you to procure grown-up toys much more easily than begging for them twice a year.
After a long time seriously considering getting a telescope, I decided to take the plunge and purchase one. However, I knew that there were too many choices out there, and I definitely did not want the typical kids' bedroom telescope that does not give you a breathtaking view of our planets and other celestial objects. Naturally, before taking such a big step (read: more than $1k), one would be wise to do his/her research, so I did. After some Google-assisted research on the Internet, I concluded, in no Napoleonic fashion, that bigger is better.
I went for the biggest telescope Orion Telescopes had to offer, a 12-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting telescope, mounted on a Dobsonian base. Man, is it huge! It is taller than some people I know (and fatter in a few cases).
Unlike some well-endowed men, this telescope did not disappoint! Indeed, it will do a great job reintroducing the ancient awesomity of our planets up there in the otherwise mundane sky.
Here are some pictures from my first venture into astrophotography, which is not as simple as it seems to be! The human eye definitely perceives Saturn much sharper than my measly 4.0 megapixel digital camera did, as evident from these blurry pictures. But, you get the idea of HOW BIG the planets get to be! With time, my experience will improve and I will learn how to minimize the ambient vibrations that cause the blurriness of the photos, and to compensate for the relatively quick motion of the planets in order to take longer-exposure photos, which will bring out the finer details that our ocular organs detect.
Saturn
Hmmm, this might explain some UFO sightings...
Additional photographs
Back to the subject of this entry: my venture into amateur astronomy. There have been a couple of things I have always asked every birthday and Christmas, and a telescope was always in the top 3 of my wishlist. Unfortunately for my parents, I had (and obviously still have) a lot of expensive hobbies, which means I only got to actively pursue a minimal number of them. The great thing about being an adult is that you can still be a kid at heart, albeit having much more money which enables you to procure grown-up toys much more easily than begging for them twice a year.
After a long time seriously considering getting a telescope, I decided to take the plunge and purchase one. However, I knew that there were too many choices out there, and I definitely did not want the typical kids' bedroom telescope that does not give you a breathtaking view of our planets and other celestial objects. Naturally, before taking such a big step (read: more than $1k), one would be wise to do his/her research, so I did. After some Google-assisted research on the Internet, I concluded, in no Napoleonic fashion, that bigger is better.
I went for the biggest telescope Orion Telescopes had to offer, a 12-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting telescope, mounted on a Dobsonian base. Man, is it huge! It is taller than some people I know (and fatter in a few cases).
Unlike some well-endowed men, this telescope did not disappoint! Indeed, it will do a great job reintroducing the ancient awesomity of our planets up there in the otherwise mundane sky.
Here are some pictures from my first venture into astrophotography, which is not as simple as it seems to be! The human eye definitely perceives Saturn much sharper than my measly 4.0 megapixel digital camera did, as evident from these blurry pictures. But, you get the idea of HOW BIG the planets get to be! With time, my experience will improve and I will learn how to minimize the ambient vibrations that cause the blurriness of the photos, and to compensate for the relatively quick motion of the planets in order to take longer-exposure photos, which will bring out the finer details that our ocular organs detect.
Saturn
Hmmm, this might explain some UFO sightings...
Additional photographs
4 Comments:
good honking telescope!! although it be much better here in the high altitude desert of New Mexico where city lights are virtually not a problem here near White Sands, NM.
Oh, that's for sure! Lugging over my scope would be a bit of a problem, heh. I believe it weighs about 80ish pounds altogether. it would be nice, though, because it would be cool to check out the experimental aircraft the government is testing. it really gives you a good view of aircraft flying high in our stratosphere.
Jason, I'm still waiting for you to kick McCock's comments about Deaflympics.
ha ha ha...*wiping away my tears here*... you tell him ,R.
Hey, Jason, hope you find an asteroid and get named after it. Pretty much like Shoemaker - Levy. A sure ticket to fame.
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