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What's your name? Introduce yourself to IFAS!

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17 years 7 months ago - 8 years 6 months ago #31216 by albertw
Hi,

We seem to be getting more members more quickly than before so it's a good idea to have a place where people, if they want, can introduce themselves. Let us know where you are from, what bits of astronomy particularly interest you, or simply post a message to say 'Hi!'.

The old hands here feel free to post intros too!

Cheers,
~Albert

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/
Last edit: 8 years 6 months ago by Seanie_Morris. Reason: changed thread title

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17 years 7 months ago #31219 by voyager
Hi All,

Bart Busschots here, I'm a Computer Systems Administrator by trade as well as a perenial PHD student :) ATM I seem to be more of an armchair astronomer than a practical astronomer. Mind you that might have something to do with the amount of time I put into maintinaing and developing the IFAS web site and running the IFAS podcast.

If you're a newbie here (or one of our old hands) and you want to get involved I'd love to get some more contributors for the podcast (written articles or MP3 audio files are cool, email to podcast@irishastronomy.org). If the written word is more your thing then John Flannery (user Sky Notes) is always looking for people to write articles for IFAS's magazine, Arcturus ( blogs.irishastronomy.org/?cat=4 ).

Enjoy the site!

Bart.

My Home Page - www.bartbusschots.ie

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17 years 7 months ago #31221 by Fintan
Replied by Fintan on topic Signing in after a while...
Hi. My name is Fintan and I was a very, very active amateur astronomer in the 1980s and early 1990s, but after the AI debacle, and the arrival of my kids, as well as the pressure of work/study, astronomy was relegated to the back-seat. I have completed my PhD in Life Sciences and am a lecturer-practitioner at UCD and the Mater Hospital. Am now getting back into the astronomy and have begun observing again - now along with my kids! Have just registered to start the BSc in Natural Sciences at Open University and hope to focus on astrophysics - eventually - if I can understand it anymore!

My main interest in astronomy is meteoritics. 8)

Fintan

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17 years 7 months ago #31229 by Seanie_Morris
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re: Introductions! - Welcome to IrishAstonomy.org!
Hi guys,
Seanie Morris at your service! Currently, I am a simple web designer and part-time Disc Jockey. I run my own company called Basic Concept. Soccer, waterpolo, cycling and fishing are my main hobbies at the moment. Astronomy being the big 'other'.

Observational astronomy, in a casual sense, in a main favourite of mine in the hobby. I have been interested since just before I was 7 years old, and remember seeing Halleys comet in 1985/6. Other parts include space exploration (space shttle anyone? ;) ), planets, meteors, and to an extent exo/astro biology. I also dabble in telescope making. So far, I have made an 8 inch reflector, working on a second one, and modified a 3 inch reflector. My future plan is to meld the pair of 8 inchers into 1 giant set of 8 inch F6 binoculars.

I also like giving lectures in many aspects of the hobby, to the point that some say I love the sound of my own voice! I also want to get into astrophotography, but I have plenty of time to learn that yet.

I have been involved with Tullamore A.S. since I was 11 years old, in 1990 (you do the maths for my age! :P ), and I am currently, among other things, its Secretary. I would love to one day hope to see TAS become strong enough to knock the socks off of fellow observatory sites like Dunsink, Cork, and Armagh!

:D

Seanie.

Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.

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17 years 7 months ago #31239 by Frank Ryan
Hi all.

I'm a relative newbie to this board so here go's.

After watching the first Space Shuttle 'Columbia' blast off at the age of 8
I was hooked on anything to do with space or astronomy.

Subsequent birthday & Christmas presents came thick and fast in the
shape of lavishly illustrated young persons guide to 'stargazing'.

I can clearly remember the excitement of seeing a partial solar eclipse one summer
in the early eighty's & then Halley's comet a few years later.

Fast forward...
In the last few years I've started getting back into regular observing.

The thing to really kick it off again for me was seeing the total solar ecplise of '99 from a boat
just off the Brittany coast.
Such an awesome experience!!!
I was sooo gutted I couldn't make the trip to Turkey this year. :cry:
Oh well.. I've my spot selected for USA 2017!


more recently, I joined the Shannonside Astronomy Club and I must say,
it's really great to meet like-minded people...there is nothing like a club
environment to bolster your interest in this hobby.


I'm starting to get into astrophotograpy...It's a learning curve for sure
but thanks to the wealth of experience and helpfulness from
members on this site, it makes the curve a lot less steep!


So... for bread and butter,
I work as a salesman & make stained glass in my studio.
for fun,
I surf (in the ocean! :wink: ) , play guitar in a skate-punk band
and astronomy....or as my other half puts it....
"get's up in the middle of the night to go off down the back of
the airport to look at some 'night-cloud' "

...well, it was a particuraluarly nice pisplay of NLC's! :roll:

My Astrophotography
Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
Meade ETX-125PE, Bresser 10 x 50 Binos & Me Peepers

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17 years 7 months ago #31245 by johnflannery
Replied by johnflannery on topic Re: Introductions! - Welcome to IrishAstonomy.org!
Hi all,

Some very interesting introductions there. Always nice to know what people do outside of astronomy.

Some background info on me . . .

I hail from Dromineer in Co. Tipperary where my folks have a B&B but have been in the Big Smoke (Dublin) since 1987. My day job is as a computer programmer but dream of the skies constantly :-) This year was the big 40 too :roll:

My interest in astronomy started from a very early age and like the others said, it was through joining a club that the knowledge began to accumulate. I have previously owned two telescopes (5.5 inch Comet Catcher and 80mm Short-Tube refractor) but find that binoculars are my thing now :-)

My first club was actually in the UK when I lived there during the 1980s though the main interest at the time was as a competive cyclist with a Sussex-based club. Sigh, those were the glory days of Kelly, Roche, Early, Kimmage, et al, remember . . . I'm still passionate about cycling regardless of the doping controversies, though thanks to Uncle Arthur I now weigh about 6 stone more than my racing weight :-)

Besides astronomy, I'm involved in a couple of children's charities in Dublin and Special Olympics Ireland. One of the children's charities involves doing a DJ stint once a week -- watch out Seanie! My highlight with Special Olympics (and there have been many) was being asked to be part of the group of 4 people to raise the Olympics Flag at the Opening Ceremony of the World Games in Croke Park in 2003 . . . a moment never to forget.

My main interests in astronomy are the sky with the unaided eye, exploring some of the more unusual nooks and crannies of astronomical history, and deep sky observing.

. . . oh yes, still single too :lol: :lol: :lol:

All the best,

John

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