Friday, August 28, 2009

From Earth to the Blogosphere

“So why don’t you do your own astronomy blog?”

I have to admit, the question took me a bit aback. It’s not that I hadn’t considered it. It just seemed, well, a little contradictory to my background. After all, I have and continue to work from time to time as a “professional” writer. In short, I write and I get paid for it. I even did an astronomy column for years for a northern Ontario community newspaper. Again, money was involved.

But a blog? As in write? For free? About astronomy?

Then something in the back of my mind said…yes! Why not?!

I haven’t written about astronomy in a while and I’ve discovered I kinda missed it. Okay, I really missed it. Both writing for the sake of writing, as well as writing about astronomy.

As many of you know, I do have something of an interest in astronomy. It’s been a lifelong passion that has never ceased to amaze and inspire me for over 30 years. Over the last few years, I’ve acquired better and better equipment to pursue the hobby but even my first little department store “nope scope” was a portal to the wonders of the natural world. When it was finally retired, it owed me absolutely nothing!

But the hobby continues to be a source of never ending learning and amazement. Not just from the intellectual side of things…all that wonderful esoterica of science. There’s the aesthetic side of things too. A night sky, filled with stars, is and has been a source of artistic inspiration a’ la Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

So I hope you enjoy this blog. I’ll do my best to write interesting stuff about the science and hobby of astronomy. And, if you have a question, please feel free to email me at wareinga@hotmail.com. If I know the answer, I’ll let you know. If not, then perhaps there’s something we both can learn.

Clear skies!