Greetings and Intro
William Krosney (krosney@cc.UManitoba.CA)
Wed, 5 Jul 1995 00:01:04 -0500 (CDT)
A listserv that asks you to introduce yourself. Kind of eliminate the
anonymity of it all. You know, I think I like it. So here goes.
I am a 38 year old systems programmer, working and living in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, CANADA. Married with a young girl and boy who are "almost
four" and one and a half. After my family, the love of my life is
astronomy. I enjoy all that the night sky presents, whether it is the
self-luminous glow from a massive galaxy millions of light years away, or the
reflected sunlight from a mass of metal orbiting only a few hundred
kilometers above my head. I enjoy it all.
Why do I observe satellites? For many reasons. Growing up, the Gemini and
Apollo programs, and even Skylab, were a part of my youth. I recall many a
night stretched out on a lawn chair in my parents backyard just watching the
sky for satellites. Even younger, I recall as a child my dad taking me
outside one night to see a "sputnik" pass overhead. I never really new
what it was my dad showed me (and never will, to my dad they were all
sputniks) but the fascination has never left. Even today when I see a
satellite pass overhead, I want to know; what is it, who's is it, what is
it doing, when will it return.
Satellite observing also GETS ME OUT UNDER THE STARS. The observing skills
and knowledge of the sky that I use in other observing pursuits gets to be
put to use in observing satellites. Yet, I don't have to travel tens of
miles to a dark location, or spend copious amounts of time setting up
equipment. Things like "seeing" or collimating optics just don't matter.
And even light pollution doesn't seem as significant. In five minutes I
can be outside in my suburban backyard with a pair of 10x50's. And after
I'm done, or when I'm tired, in ten minutes I can be safely and comfortably
snug in my own bed. NOW THAT'S OBSERVING!
What satellites do I observe? Just about anything, although I do admit a
fondness for the nostalgic, the unusual, the visually different. An old
Explorer satellite, a Lacrosse spy satellite, the twinkling of the EGP, a
triad of NOSS satellites, a Progress supply ship chasing Mir across the
sky. And not only do I enjoy observing these objects, but I like to know
as much about them as possible.
Anyway, enough said. I look forward to corresponding, sharing knowledge
and experiences, and as always.....clear skies.
Bill
______________________________________________________________________
< krosney@cc.umanitoba.ca | >
< Bill Krosney | >
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