Your OTHER hobbies

mikelst · Post by **mikelst** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 am

My other hobbies are Astronomy (Day and night) and Photography.
I started Astronomy when I was working nights. When I was rattling around the house on my 'days' off SHMBO would get upset because I was waking her.

Astronomy allowed me to be out all hours without getting into to much trouble:p. Like all hobbies though it can become highly expensive.
Through the years I have had several telescopes that ranged from about 1.6 to 13.1 inches in aperture. The most common malady in astronomy is known as aperture fever. The only presumed cure is a bigger telescope. Prices seem to rise exponentially with aperture:rolleyes:.
I currently have 5 telescopes that range from 1.6" for daytime use to a 13.1" light bucket.

According to some that is about 4 to many:D.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:55 am

mikelst wrote:My other hobbies are Astronomy (Day and night) and Photography.
..........

Astronomy with photography MUST mean you have some photos you've taken. I'd love to see some.

Best I have of anything in the sky was this one taken with my digital camera / 300mm (equiv. to 540 mm film lens).
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mikelst · Post by **mikelst** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:56 pm

Here are a couple I have taken. The first is Mars as stated on the picture
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And the second is the ring nebula. This was taken with an 80mm (3.1") telescope. I couldn't see the ring nebula (M57) in the scope but I was able to get this photo by pointing it where it should be and allowing the camera to work for me.
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mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm

mikelst wrote:Here are a couple I have taken.........
And the second is the ring nebula. This was taken with an 80mm (3.1") telescope.

How far away is the ring nebula?

dlbristol · Post by **dlbristol** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm

I officiate high school football, watch a lot of it, watch my son coach and another play college ball. I am a rabid Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan. I hunt and fish. I am a recreational runner. Most fun of all is baby sitting the grand kids!:D

mikelst · Post by **mikelst** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm

[size=-1]The ring Nebula is located about 2,300 light years away in the constellation of Lyra, it has an apparent diameter of 1 arc minute and a real diameter of about one light year

The hubble version

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mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm

One of my many "hobbies" is cycling.

Here's a pics of me and a few of my closest friends going out for a leisurely Sunday morning ride.
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mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm

mikelst wrote:[size=-1]The ring Nebula is located about 2,300 light years away in the constellation of Lyra, it has an apparent diameter of 1 arc minute and a real diameter of about one light year[/size]

My brain can't wrap around light years OR arc mintues. I have to see it in miles and degrees. Here you go:

13,520,549,600,000,000 miles
(13 quadrillion miles)

one arc minute = 0.0166666667 degrees Dusty....get out the digital angle gauge

dickg1 · Post by **dickg1** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm

mickyd wrote: . . .
13,520,549,600,000,000 miles
(13 quadrillion miles) . . .

Is that statute, nautical or Roman?
Dick

woodshaper · Post by **woodshaper** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:01 am

Besides WW I also do stained glass work, also collect bear stiens, and playing cards. My wife and I also enjoy riding our 07 soft tail every chance we get. Also like to collect old tools like the 10e and10er that I own and have restored. Ilike to collect them as much as I like to use them.