When it's you and the sky, and you're out there observing. How would you describe the feeling of Astronomy?

 

 

I have yet to find words to describe astronomy, the closest I've come is Irriplacable. For me, it's the thought of actually seeing and observing things that are millions of light years away from our own planet. Even just looking at Saturn from my 6 inch reflector makes me think about how there is so much more out there than what crosses the mind daily. It's like, that's one of the only things that doesn't have any limits, the police or FBI can't control it. Which makes it almost scary, but to a point where I just can't get enough of it.

 That's as close as I can get with words.

How about you?

 Well, now you've gone and asked me a question that's gonna get me into trouble!

At the risk of sounding all hookey-spookey and mysterious, often times the best way to describe how I feel under the stars is...spiritual.  The first time I saw Saturn through a telescope years ago was such a moving experience, it literally brought tears to my eyes (luckily it was dark, so nobody saw! Hehehe!)

I find it rather amusing sometimes...for instance, when I see some of these compilations on the Internet showing the scale of various moons, planets, stars and other phenomena in relation to one another...very often, their conclusion is along the lines of, "There, don't you feel all puny and insignificant now?"  On the contrary, I feel as if I've been given a tremendous gift!  I'm on a planet that allows me to look out and see all these incredible sights (well, when the clouds aren't in the way, I can see them!)  Further, I'm in possession of an intellect that can appreciate not only the scientific facts about them, but also gaze in wonder at the grandeur and splendor of it all, and contemplate just how much remains unknown!  And yes (here comes the trouble part), I'm one of those who does see a high level of design in the universe.

I'll leave it at that...don't want to kindle yet another debate on that whole issue.  But, you asked, and there it is!  That's my answer, and I'm stickin' to it! 

 That was nice, you don't sound hookey spookey at all. I'll may add to mine that I wrote, it makes me feel a little different every time I stargaze. And you are right, I don't really feel puny when I look at the sky at all. It's more of a WOW feeling. Like "How lucky am I to be witnessing such a fantastic phenomena?!?!"

 

Ahhh, needless to say, astronomy is extremely addicting.  

 

Thanks for sharing =)

When by myself I'm pretty speechless. When I'm in company I'm a always carrying on. Sometimes I gasp,yell,and/or scream when I find that "sweet spot" on that new object. No night has yet to be the same for me and that's a plus. Some people ask me why I don't get bored and burnt out. I tell them not to look just once but maybe ten times over a period of a few months or seasons. Feel the presentation of the cosmos through time. Find those new objects that were not there before. I could go on and on of course but I would like to say that I do feel a little special in this little home of ours and I second the personal appreciation of the (controversial) Grand Design which can very well work with the BBT.

stargazer77:

When it's you and the sky, and you're out there obsserving. How would you describe the feeling of Astronomy?

That's just it; It's just me and the sky. At least when I want it to be anyways. Sometimes I can get so tuned in when I have my eye the eyepiece observing a distant galaxy, nebula or cluster that it is just me and the sky. I often get this feeling of wonderment. at the same time overwhelmed with a feeling of complete calmness when all goes just right.

Other nights when I am out there in the dark it's not just me and the sky, we can't forget that mother nature is there with us also. Most of the usual noise pollution of the daytime is gone allowing you to get more in tune with the sounds of nature surrounding you. Sometimes a little spooky, Perhaps, most times it is just peaceful and relaxing.

The experience of being under the stars in the quiet of the evening is perhaps the greatest pleasure that there is.  The Universe is there for the taking, there is no fee and no limit and one has to give it nothing in return save for some attention.  My time at the eyepiece produces a balm for the soul and induces a peace and serenity that are hard to come by in this noisy busy world. Of course this perfection can be marred by muttering to oneself because of clouds, fog, neighbor's lights, personal stupidity, and equipment failures, but when it goes right, when that unexpected meteor flashes across the sky, or when ancient photons stream through the eyepiece into one's very soul, then I am content to be a humble witness awed by the beauty of the cosmos.

L

It is a difficult feeling to put into words, and there have been so many great responses already that I find it hard to say anything different.  Stargazing stimulates my mind and my spirit, and the quiet darkness relaxes me in a way no other activity can.  Sometimes I feel like I'm studying the universe, but other times it feels like the universe is studying me.

  

These all look really great and well thought out!
StarFarmer I like what you said about how no night has been the same for you and how Tkerr you described the feeling as overwhelming yet very calm.

 

Just to put this out there

 

I remember the first time I saw Saturn, it was baffling. It was almost like I couldn't catch my breath. But instead of rushing in to tell my family "Look what I spotted!!!!" I kinda just stood there and witnessed the beauty on my own for awhile. I mean, don't get me wrong, after about 20 minutes of course I rushed inside all excited, but I kinda liked having that moment be personal for me.

 

 

When i first saw M42, or Saturn, the exhilaration of it just went all the way to my bones . . . No matter if it was 3:30 am I always feel refreshed . . .

Hi, 

My quest for the stars started about 25 years ago in college.  After weeks of lecture we finally headed up the narrow mountain road to the University's small, remote observatory.  My first view of Saturn was through a Celestron C8 and it left me speechless.  Never had I before viewed the rings of Saturn live!  Well, not really live considering the time the light took to travel to Earth!  I'll never forget....as soon as I was able to speak I announced to my classmates that I was going to buy one of these scopes someday!  One replied "Oh sure, right, like they are only a thousand dollars!" Anyway we also viewed the Moon through a 10 inch Newtonian and a globular cluster through a Celestron C14 and a comet too!  That night started my 25 year quest to find my own scope.  I took a Senior level Astronomy course a couple of years later which further peaked my interest.  Fast forward two decades hence, a mere blink in the fabric of space-time since, I was able to acquire my dream scope, the Meade 12" LX200 GPS.  It was still Winter so it took awhile to get the scope outside, but I had it sitting inside in front of the upstairs picture window which was facing due West.  I was just slowly scanning the stars marveling at the view even if it was through a dual pane window.  At that point I had no idea what I might see, but as I was moving the scope and looking through the eyepiece something BRIGHT whizzed across the FOV.  After a couple more searches I found it!  It was my old friend that I had met some 25 years ago!  Yes it was Saturn!  Even through the glass, I could clearly see the rings! WOW!!!  A few days later something that I had never seen before absolutely took my breath away.  To this day, for me anyway, the Great Orion Nebula has won the prize as the most stunning deep sky object I have had the pleasure to view.  I went running into the house to bring my family out to see such beauty!  The Moon is also a fabulous target to view.  I can sit for hours exploring the craters, mares, rilles and mountains especially when the terminator is about at 30%.  After partially blinding myself a few times I shelled out for a lunar filter although it was green...SO THE MOON REALLY IS MADE OUT OF CHEESE!!  I have finally traded up and bought an adjustable polarizing filter which has made viewing the Moon even more enjoyable.  Plus I don't trip over whatever happens to be out on the deck with me anymore!  There is nothing like viewing these objects.  It's funny though as I've shown many people these over the years and I still haven't found anyone as excited as I am about the cosmos.  Oh well, more time for me on the scope right?

Joe

When I looked at the objects, I was not myself. The passion came from my heart
because I knew something that most of other persons do not know.

Ming,

I HEAR you my friend!  No matter what, the view is AWESOME!  I can't wait for clear skies and a clearance from my Surgeon that I can carry my scope out onto the deck!

Joe

 Star Voyager, I am the same way!! Whenever I have friends spend the night, I always get out my telescope. I've shown them Saturn, the moon, the Orion Nebula, and more recently Jupiter and the Andromeda Galaxy. The most I think I've gotten out of them was "Sweet." It's mind-boggling to me!!!! It never seizes to make me wonder how they can look at something like that and not be speechless. If anything, the most they say is "Why is it so small I can barley see it. It's not like in the pictures." Like THAT"S a bad thing!! To me, I would much rather see it in person without the false colorings. But, that's just me 

Stargazer77,

We'll like I said I guess it's more scope time for us!  No matter what, I think we should continue to share the wonders of the Universe with our family and friends.  You never know who you might impact with the awesome beauty our scopes can bring forth.  Keep looking up!

Joe

 I remember when I first got into astronomy...=)

 

It was when I was about 6 years old. We were camping, and of course when you're camping there tends to be not as much light pollution and whatnot. I remember looking up and seeing a veil of starry sky that completely filled my heart and soul and mind with wonder, amazement, and the desire to never stop seeing it. I don't think I''ve ever experienced something so wonderful in my life. That small glance up eventually turned into nights of staring up at the darkened sky in complete awe of how beautiful it truly was.

 Around 4th or 5th grade, I saw the word "Astronomy" written on the whiteboard in my classroom. I asked my teacher what that meant. She replied with "Astronomy is the study of the stars, the planets, the whole solar system, etc." or something of that nature. She asked me if I was interested in that sort of thing, and of course I said "Very much so." Now up until then, I had just thought of the whole stargazing thing as, well, stargazing. I didn't know there was a name for it. I'm sure within the next few weeks of hearing about that, I did my fair share of research. I looked in textbooks, books completely devoted to astronomy from the library, anything I could find. At this point I was 11 or 12, so I didn't use the internet for much more than when my parents, after asked many times, logged me onto Nick Jr.com..haha..Speaking of my parents, I'm pretty sure they saw that I'd taken an interest in this thing called "Astronomy," because for Christmas in 2007, I found the January issue of Astronomy Magazine under the tree. Of course, that led me to this website. After reading a few issues, I started looking into getting a telescope. I had one in mind, the Orion Starblast 6. I did my research to make sure I was well informed. I talked it over with my parents, I showed them a few pictures of it, just to give them something to think about *wink wink*. Come close to March of 2009, my birth month, I starting leaving open magazines around the house conveniently turned to reviews, advertisements, and pictures of that telescope. Sure enough, for my birthday, a huge box was sitting on the table. When I tore off the wrapping paper, the side of the box read "Orion Telescopes" and I knew I had gotten my dream scope. I was literally in tears as I was opening all the little boxes that held the various parts of the instrument I was going to use to finally explore the cosmos a little more closer with.

 I can honestly say that this year was my favorite birthday. =)

  

Stargazer77,

Great story about your first scope!  Sounds like you have a great set of parents too!  I checked out the type of scope you got and it looks like a very nice one!

 Oh it is. It's very user friendly and easy to use! Sooner or later I'll probably want one with a larger aperture, but for now this one is fabulous.

 Ohh mann, just pulled an all nighter tonight. I'm pretty tired. But it was worth it, my eyes got really adjusted to the dark so I saw so many stars and everything that I wouldn't normally see!!

 

Oh man, is right!  On my two attempts at doing all nighters I only made it to about 4AM.  Oh well, I'll just have to keep trying!  Great job BTW.

 Thank you, thank you! You know, I was getting really tired around 4-5, but after that, the tiredness just kinda goes away and you feel fine.

But anywho...

I was just planning on staying out till 11 or 12, but then I just got so into it I didn't want to go inside. Also the next day we were leaving for a 6-7 hour trip to Idaho, so I figured if I stayed up all night, I'd just sleep the whole way there.XD You know, I really didn't know what I was missing until I stayed out that long, because usually I'm just in and out of the house all night getting books or checking my computer software (Starry Night) for updates, so my eyes don't really get adjusted all too well. But this night, however, I didn't go in at all except to turn off the deck light and all the lights you could see from the back yard. That's one of the benefits of staying out so late, your family already went to bed, so they don't get mad when you attempt to make it completely dark. And before hand I made sure I got all the books and star charts I would, or thought I might need and all my eye pieces and various other telescope-related accessories so I wouldn't have to go back inside to get them if I did end up needing them. In other words, I prepared for a looong night of observing. And BOY did it pay off! There wasn't a dark area in the sky bigger than about a half inch, it was just INCREDIBLE.

 

I am glad I stayed out all night, and it's in the middle of summer over here in Portland, and there's a giant heat wave, or was..so it was comfortably cool all night. 

 

EDIT: OH and now that I think of it..is there any way to change the time on here? Because I was just looking at this post and it said that I posted it at 12:22 (well, before I made this edit, that is.) I looked at my clock and it's only 10:22. Is there any way to make it so it's the same time as mine? Or is it just what time zone it's in?