My First Telescope

Recently, i bought my first telescope to pursue an old hobby with new enthusiasm.Yes, i have been star gazing since i was a kid thanks to AP electricity board who managed to consistently cut the power out every day.

I feel nostalgic when i think of those years when i used to lie down on my terrace during those 2-3 hrs and enjoy the serenity of the night sky.The sky seemed to be sprinkled with stars and came alive with shooting stars and meteor showers.In the winter of 1998 there was a leonoid shower when i woke up at 3 AM to witness the spectacular sight.The leonoids appeared in the sky like fireworks.The frequency must have touched 100 per hour.At other times, i have seen objects flying which i thought were flying saucers.May be they are.The Universe is too big for just the 6 billion of us.Just the thought that there are so many objects much bigger than our earth at such large distances and that we are a tiny speck in this colossal universe makes me feel very humble.

Since then, i have read a lot on astronomy about galaxies,black holes,nebulae,constellations but none of it quenched my thirst to see these heavenly objects myself.

Its time to become a Galileo.

Went to Janakpuri and bought a 3 inch alt-azimuth reflector telescope last month.I have seen the rings of Saturn.Oh,What a sight to watch!!!Galileo thought the planet had 'ears'.Then followed the craters on the Moon and many more constellations.

But i am seriously disappointed with the way our cities have shaped the night sky.No longer are those infinite stars visible but only a handful.Artificial lights have polluted the sky and even the night light looks close to day light.

Countless stars had there been
Our lights made the sky unclean
Now there are very few to be seen

Anyway, lets talk about it in another post.So, now i have embarked on the journey of the night sky with a more sophisticated weapon than my naked eye.I hope to see many more.May be i will discover something.

BTW, the year 2009 is declared as the International year of Astronomy to celebrate the 400th year of the discoveries of the Father of Astronomy, Galileo Galilee.