Astronomy

[neilini]

Evening all. I've always been interested in astronomy and enjoy reading about the subject as well as looking online. However now the dark nights are coming I was wondering if anyone on here combines star gazing and cigar smoking, I do it out of habit through the naked eye but was wondering if anyone has a telescope and combines the two as they seem perfect bed fellows. Just looking for advice and if it's worthwhile with a cheap telescope really.

Any comments welcome

[Big_T_UK]

My god, this takes me back.

While at Uni I was part of the astronomy society (nerd I know) but it was a fun hard drinking bunch. We had a Meade telescope that we would take up to Dartmoor and use. We kept warm with scotch and cigars. One of the two guys who ran it had a boat down at Plymouth harbour so we would sometimes go out on that and drink and smoke. Christ this takes me back.

I still have a 4.5 inch reflector I take up to Ashdown forest to get away from the light but only when there is something specific I want to see, a comet or such like.

If you are shopping for a telescope I cannot recommend cheap. A good pair of bino's is better than a cheap scope. If you get into it I heartily suggest a Meade, the largest you can afford with the star tracker. It takes a lot of the "guess" work out and you can see so much more in an evening before you freeze to death.

Winter really is the time to do the observing in the cold, still clear nights. With a powerful amateur scope the shimmer from the heat in the summer is very noticeable.

[Simon-JG-hr]

More into Gastronomy myself... as my gut will attest.

There is, however, certainly something quite mesmeric about the sky and space - I can imagine it being a great night sat out with Scotch and cigars... I even thought about an astronomy course with the OU once.

[eggopp]

Always fancied star gazing myself, with a cigar and brandy and telescope sounds a great way to spend a clear night.

[eggopp]

Ashdown forest

This the same place where the ranges are? used to go to Ashdown Forest ranges in the army... hated the place coz it mean cleaning weapons after lmao

[TJCoro]

Starlet Gazing!

I likz to look at me a star or two.

Don't need no telescope, though.

I pack me own, if you know what I mean!!!







*click below for the real show!

[neilini]

Thanks for the reply's and advice. I'll follow some meades on our favourite auction site and see if anything turns up within my price range. Which after a quick look is doubtful but who knows. For now I'm with Simon and gastronomy, the beef Wellington I just cooked was good but needs a bit of work, the Cain nub and rum and coke are just fine though

[Simon-JG-hr]

Beef Wellington, lovely job! I made a venison en croute during the winter, very similar to a beef Wellington (almost identical in-fact). Served with buttered savoy cabbage (with herbs), buttered carrots and roast potatoes. It was lovely, but ridiculously rich - you'd be hard pushed to manage eating two in the space of twelve months...

It had all the major food groups though: butter, lard and cream.

[davidruddell]

Astronomy

Bugger, now that this posts turned its attention to food I won't be able to post

'I'm a Scorpio' as that joke doesn't work anymore.