Introduction

I am an amateur astronomer and have been so since I was a small child watching the Apollo moon landings. Whenever I could sneak downstairs at 1:30am on a Monday morning, I watched Patrick Moore's The Sky at Night television programme on the BBC. Thankfully the BBC now repeats the programme at more reasonable hours as this old man is rarely able to stay awake beyond midnight.

It was always an ambition to study astronomy at university. However, the realities of modern professional astronomy, and the complex mathematics, led me to feel the subject was not for me. I decided to move into artificial intelligence and the easier finite mathematics courses. It was a good decision as my love for astronomy was unharmed and I continue to enjoy the science as an amateur.

Astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs can still perform useful science. With professional astronomers concentrating on big projects there is plenty of scope for the amateur to gain recognition. Be it discovering asteroids, comets or novae, observing meteor showers and the sun optically or with radio, there is much for the amateur to do.

The technology available to amateur astronomers is better than what was available to professionals a decade ago. Imaging has never been easier. Computer controlled telescopes are the norm.

I hope you enjoy this diary of my observations, tips, tricks and comments on astronomy news.