The Liverpool Astronomical Society

Hi Peeps,

Just thought I would introduce myself to you all !!

My name is Becky, I live in Liverpool and have always had a bit of an interest in astonomy although have never really had the chance to do anything about it.  Am looking for a local group to get involved in, mainly for something to do as I seem to have way to much free time these days, but also to hopefully meet some new friends.

I notice you have a monthly meeting in Liverpool which I am thinking I would like to come along to although I think I may struggle to make the weekly ones because of where they are.  So, first question is how do these monthly meetings work, is it just a case of turning up ?  I know it sounds a little silly but am just a little nervous about going to a meeting where I dont know anyone else ?

Becky
x

Hi Becky

Joining a society is great way to explore your interest in astronomy.

Looking forward to meeting you one Friday.


David & Janet.

Hi Neil, you do not need to have any academic qualifications to join our society, just a willingness to enjoy astronomy
Also you could come along on a Wednesday evening and read books, watch documentaries and then chat about it afterwards. .
Our membership come from all walks of life with a variety of backgrounds. Some may have qualifications, but we all have the same interest.

I think that all forums are slow to start off with and given time will grow and develop. It is useful for making a quick contact or request for info and, hopefully, getting a speedy reply! Finding the time time to keep the site up to date is a struggle at the best of times and I am still learning the ropes. 
As for the interest then I do hope that it stays with you and develops and you can be sociable as you need to be.
If you fancy popping in to see the group ( very down to earth) and would like to bring a guest or the family then that is fine.
Look forward to meeting you and having a chat sometime.
Dave G.

Hello everybody! Im new to this forum, in fact it's the only forum I've ever posted a message on!

I have a profound interest in astronomy and what was a hobby as a young child has returned with a vengeance over the last few months! I got a 10 inch dob in march and started re-learning the sky.

I've been well impressed at some of the things I have seen from my light polluted back garden in Wirral. Ive watched the moons orbit around the rings of saturn, watched the phases of venus, even caught mercury recently! I couldn't believe the detail on the moon the first time I used the dob on it, I felt like I was there. Ive found elliptical galaxies in virgo, the huge orion nebula, some clusters in cassiopeia. After three nights of trying I even found the whirlpool galaxy, but was dissapointed because through the layers of light pollution, it just looked like two grey clouds.

I even managed to get on one of those night flights to see the aurora last february and sure enough I saw a beautiful green aurora, arcing round the sky. I wish we could see them from Merseyside!

Every time I look up, I can hardly believe the beauty and variation of everything up there. It's so humbling to think that even when you're sitting down to you're dinner at half one on a monday afternoon , saturn is still grinding round above you're head and in turn it's moons are grinding on their mechanical orbits around saturn, which in turn is orbiting the sun, which is orbiting round the milky way, which is orbiting other galaxies in the local cluster. Every time I look through the eyepiece it's almost a religious experience and you do sort of feel you're place in the cosmos, because you're part of it, standing there watching the universe dance in front of your eyes!

Anyway, basically I would very much like to join the Society and to meet up with other people who share the same interest. I read in this months Sky At Night that there is an observing evening at your observatory in Pex Hill and I wondered if I could come along and join in?! Ive read some other posts and think I understand how the joining procedure works. Do I just turn up a couple of times and apply after that? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your time everybody and hello!
 

Made my first trip to meet everyone on wednesday night, up at the observatory. Was a little nervous when I was outside, it's a proper observatory with a dome and everything! it looks a bit daunting from outside, but its really nice inside.

Once inside everyone introduced themselves and we had tea and biscuits before I got the grand tour of the library and offices and the observatory dome itself. Everyone was brilliant, very knowledgeable and really friendly. There was no awkward silences or anything, just constant chat and there was always 2 or 3 conversations going on at any time. I was well impressed with the sheer power of the equipment, especially the 16inch and 30 inch dobs and the Meade scope.

There was over a dozen people who turned up, even though the all the weather consisted of was relentless rain and complete cloud cover.

Im just writing this post to encourage anyone thinking of coming along to turn up, I was made up I did! See you all next Wednesday, fingers crossed for better weather!

Hi again everyone, sorry I haven't made it to a meeting yet, have had a few things going on in life recently that have been taking up most of my time.  I have just been reading through the list of meetings for the rest of this year though and should be okay for this Septembers meetings, so hopefully might see a few of you there !!

Becky
xx

Hi All,
       I have had an interest in astronomy for as long as I can remember, unfortuantely life has just gotten in the way as it has the habbit of doing. I am going to make a concerted effort to come to a few of your weekly meetings at the visitor centre and the monthly ones also, when I can fit it in. I notice you have one on Friday 21st Sept unfortunately I have other plans that night, but I hope to  come along and see how things work shortly.
      Whilst I have your attention in reading this post, what would be the best telescope "per buck" so to speak for a novice ,im told a refractor over a reflector ? any advice greatly appreciated.