Ahhh.... Astronomy

I've had an on again, off again interest in astronomy for as long as I can remember.  I never went took it very far for  all the usual reasons:  time, effort, misunderstanding of what it's actually all about; but for the last few months I've decided to make the time, make the effort, and actually understand what's going on.

Believe me when I say that the Fall is no time to take up any new outdoor interest in Portland, OR, let alone one that relies on clear skies.  I don't think there's been a clear night since I dove head on into this.  This is not actually a bad thing though.  When many people jump feet first into the heady world of Amateur Astronomy, the first thing they do is go out an buy a telescope.  Then, of course, they begin looking at the sky.  Not knowing what they're looking at, they begin to lose interest and away goes the scope.

Luckily for me, nature has conspired to make sure that does not happen to me.  I don't think I've seen a clear night sky since September.  Instead, I've had to satiate my desire by reading about the subject.  Learning the night sky I won't be able to see until late February/early March.  This, I think, has worked out tremendously in my favor.

Instead of getting the scope, fighting with the scope, and then tossing the scope; or worse yet -- getting the scope, seeing some bright lights and losing interest due to the frustrations of not knowing what I'm looking at or being able to find things I want to see, I've been able to take the time to read the recommended books, learn how to read and understand star charts, picked up the basics of star hopping, etc.  I think when I finally do get that clear night, I'll be able to go out with gusto, seeing everything I've read about, knowing how my equipment works, and knowing what's available to be seen that night.  Forewarned is forearmed!

I've even joined Oregon's largest Amateur Astronomy club, Rose City Astronomers.  While I'm generally a fairly solitary person, I think this will be a  good time. They have a good amount of sky parties in that narrow Oregon window of clear skies, and also seem to be a good option for learning more about the hobby.

Over the next few blog posts I plan on adding reviews of the books, information on equipment, and the like. None of it is meant as a tutorial, by any means!  I'm just starting out.  Instead, I mean them to be a review of things that I've found extremely helpful or interesting as a beginner.  Hopefully you will to.  Think of it as a road map on becoming an Amateur Astronomer.

As ever, stay tuned.