Saturday evening I made a quick run downtown, in need of getting some mail off to a friend, I went to the main post office there.
And… since I have a new car any chance I get to hop in it and drive is welcome.
On my way back home I made a left at an intersection I pass daily - on the south side of the street (my right) I noticed a couple of guys (I’m big on noticing guys) and a funny looking white cylindric object which they were bending over. (yes, that caught my eye too)
I drove on, but curiosity got the better of me - I pulled a u-turn and headed back to check them, and the white thing, out!
 |
| Dobsonian |
I parked and headed over to the group - whereby I got uber excited when I saw what looked like a telescope - a Dobsonian no less. (that’s what they told me it was called)
Well, I introduced myself and asked if they minded if I took a look - man, it was amazing. There in clear view was Jupiter and its four largest moons - I was totally taken aback at how close and how clear they all looked.
I should mention - we did zero in on the moon also, which on this evening was sporting a playful cheshire grin - it was spectacular!
Okay… the men were good to look at too - but man, those moons, and that Jupiter - enough to give a girl goosebumps. Yes, yes, I am a strange bird - what can I say!
I spent about thirty or so minutes with the men, we chatted about astrophysics and astronomy - you know, simple stuff, and when my brain started smoking out of my ears I figured it was time to head home.
Suffice it to say I am now looking at buying myself my very own Dobsonian telescope.
Does the night sky intrigue you too?
Cheers, Jenny
We all clubbed together and bought my daughter a telescope for a combined Christmas and birthday present as she is fascinated by the 'stuff' out there, she's 28 btw.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gift, Sally - your daughter is going to have years of enjoyment looking out into the heavens and seeing the wonders and mysteries that forever have us asking... What's out there?
DeleteI'm definitely going to look into getting a telescope. :)
Jenny, this post is near and dear to my heart because my husband is a HUGE stargazer and knows exactly what a Dobsonian is. He built one that is about 4 1/2 feet tall. We have a small field on the side of our house and he looks at Jupiter and the moon all the time...I like to too! Jupiter IS amazing. If you need some help with telescopes, email me, my husband can help if you need advice or have questions.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing to look at in the sky is Pleiades...a cluster of stars that looks like someone took a handful of diamonds and threw them up in the sky. But the best way to view it is with binoculars, strangely enough. And I think you can only see it during Winter.
So did you get a phone number? :)
Hi Lisa - thank you for your insights on this topic. I most certainly have some questions so I may take you up on the offer of asking them of your husband. I'm impressed that he "built" one - very cool.
DeleteI will haul out my binocs in the meantime - and maybe I'll even see "your favourite thing" - I looked up "Pleiades" - very interesting. You know, I might find myself taking a class on this subject - astronomy has always fascinated me... and, hehehe, I find the objects in the heavens are not alone in piquing my curiosity!
No numbers, but lots of come back agains... and I will! :)
My dad has always had telescopes ever since I can remember. I learned a lot from him and his tales of stars and planets.
ReplyDeleteDani @ Entertaining Interests
#warriorminion
Hi Dani - I can't believe I missed adding a comment here! Sorry...
DeleteWhat great bonding time that would have been too - do you still do a little star gazing?
Thanks for stopping by! :) :)
Wow! I was impressed you stopped to see what they were doing. Then to find they were checking out Jupiter! How cool is that? I have a telescope my hubby got me for my birthday that I can't get sited. I need to get that sucker out and try again. How awesome you got to see the moons!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen's the dinner date??
Hey there, Miss Elsie - like I said to Dani, above you, I don't know how I missed your comment - shame on me! Bad Chainy, bad...
DeleteSo... me and spontaneity, what can I say, it's what I do. It beats sitting home twiddling my thumbs, right!
Now, get that telescope sited and get out there and see if you can discover my home planet - I think the mothership is unable to find its way back here! They better have a good excuse for forgetting me is all I can say! hahahaha
Thanks for your support of my blog during this A-Z Challenge. With smiles, Jenny
Perhaps more intriguing is that you got out of your new car to see what was up!
ReplyDeleteIt's my nature, Andrea - while I would never go against my gut instincts, this seemed very harmless and I'm a people person - not shy, in other words - so it was a very comfortable thing for me to do.
DeleteI often chat up people, here, there and everywhere - yup... Miss Chatty Cathy - that's me! :)
This is so cool Jenny, what an awesome find! Love what you're doing with this challenge, for somebody who is "winging it," you're doing awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt - I'm having so much fun with the Challenge this year - I'm really just letting the ideas come to me, rather than me stressing to "figure" something out for a letter.
DeleteWhen this is over I'm going to run a weekly series on Friday - called The Best of my A-Z" and highlight some of my past entries.
In the meantime... I'm just very happy that you and so many wonderful readers are here encouraging me along. Hugs.
Quite interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Claudia.
DeleteMy daughter used to love the moon so much when she was little.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the moon, so clearly, its craters and all, was quite something - not at all like seeing it on the telly. Even though it still wasn't "in person" this was so much more "real" ... like I could reach in the telescope and touch it - awesome.
DeleteDoes your daughter still love the moon? And what about you? :)
She still likes it, but isn't as enthralled as she once was.
DeleteI love seeing the moon when its all big and pumpkin orange. But, it always seems so much bigger and brighter out here than in a town.
Up at deer camp where there is less pollution we look at the night sky through our binnoculars. Amazing all the stars you cant see with the naked eye.
ReplyDeleteHi Bushman - I can only imagine what the night sky is like up at deer camp. It must be similar to the night sky in the Cariboo - where the stars are so close you can touch them... so it seems.
DeleteI had not thought to use my binocs - Lisa mentioned it too, so next clear night I will give it a go. I'll be heading up country in May and I hope to have really enjoy the hidden treasures of a clear night sky.
In the meantime I'll be keeping my good eye open for these guys and their Dobsonian! :)
Lots of moon sighting this Moonday!
ReplyDeleteCute - I like that, Moonday! I'll have to remember to use it next time I'm out with my Moon-gazing buddies. :) :)
DeleteVery interesting, very young I liked to look at the stars the clear summer night, imagined fantasy worlds!
ReplyDeleteHi Leovi - thank you for stopping by - I imagine with your abstract photography you could really make something of what I saw in that telescope. :)
DeleteHi Jenny - I bet those guys thought - "oh no .. what now - it's a woman" ... but amazing and such a fun turn out ... now I know what a Dobsonian is ..
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know more - one day perhaps .. cheers Hilary
Me... a woman... gosh, thanks for the compliment - hahaha - the way I "hang" with the boys I think the last thing they were thinking was "it's a woman" - remember I'm a genetic anomaly. Yes, all female, but with a bent to riding motorcycles, wielding hammers and baiting my own hooks - I'm often taken for "one of the boys" - the joys of playing for both teams! :) :)
DeleteI'm thinking of taking an astronomy class - I might even find my home planet as I often feel I've been left behind on this little orb...
Thanks for stopping by, Hilary - always a treat! :) :)