82 AUSTRALIAN SKY & TELESCOPE July 2018
S
ome months ago, while fishing
the Goulburn River in Nagambie
in country Victoria, my good
friend Joe and I began to reminisce
about our early teens and how
astronomy has been the cornerstone of
our 35-year friendship. Joe and I grew
up in Footscray in Melbourne, doing
the usually things kids did back then
— we played footy and cricket with my
brothers, Greg and Angelo, and the
other kids in the street. These were the
days before the Internet and computers.
My early interest in astronomy
came after a visit to the old Melbourne
Planetarium in 1978. I’m not sure how
Joe caught the bug, but it may have
stemmed from my own interest. Aftermy initial visit, he and I began to visit
the place regularly. It got to the point
that the staff knew us by name and
would give us free reading material.
I remember one of the planetarium
demonstrators at the time, probably
sick to death of seeing us so often, gave
us the 1979 Astronomical Society of
Victoria (ASV) yearbook, and told us
we should contact the society’s section
directors with our questions. We took
this advice, and over the next four years
we got to know the ASV directors very
well. We would call them with all sorts
of questions. I’m sure they sensed our
enthusiasm, and they were always keen
to answer our questions. In 1984 we
became members.Our early observing sessions were
magical experiences. Joe and I would
pick target objects during the day, look
them up in our books and planispheres
and then set-up our telescopes in my
backyard in the afternoon. We’d prepare
a hot drink and some snacks, and wait
in anticipation for the Sun to set. Once
it got dark we were in our element.
A glimpse of a meteor would keep us
talking for hours, as would any new
bright comets. Our sessions were usually
ended by our parents, but I remember on
many occasions we would lose track of
time and observe until very late.
This arrangement went on for years.
As we got older, our equipment became
more elaborate and our knowledge
improved, and our appreciation of the
sky grew. When we turned 18 we had
our first real dark sky experience, after
organising what was a very disorganised
camping trip with friends. We stumbled
across an area we later found out to be
the original dark sky site of the ASV.
We camped there that night with some
friends, and have used this ‘secret spot’
many times since. Over the years we
have had many observing highlights
together — too many to mention — but
I’d say Comet Halley in 1986 and the
Leonids meteor shower of 2001 really
stand out.
Although Joe and I have shared many
hours under the stars, we both have
families now, and do not get together
as much as we once did. Astronomy
has become more of a lifestyle for
me; I observe whenever I can. Joe’s
enthusiasm for astronomy may not be
what it once was, but it’s astronomy
that still brings us together. We get
together two or three times a year to do
some observing, and camping, from our
secret spot.
Astronomy is about more than just
observing and imaging — it’s all about
the friendships we make, and keep, for
a lifetime.■ CON STOITSIS writes the meteor
column in this magazine, and is the
director of the ASV’s comet and meteor
sections. TWAN/BABAK TAFRESHIAstronomy
and my friend Joe
A love of the stars can lead to life-long friendships.
FOCAL POINT by Con Stoitsis