{"id":29882,"date":"2022-03-15T13:43:22","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T13:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=106141"},"modified":"2022-03-15T13:56:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T13:56:15","slug":"how-i-got-into-space-and-astronomy","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/how-i-got-into-space-and-astronomy\/","title":{"rendered":"How I got into space and astronomy"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Maggie Aderin-Pocock\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 15 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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M<\/span>y first awareness of the night sky was via the Moon. Even as a toddler I was fascinated by our lunar companion, and growing up in London it was one of the few things that could be seen through the glare of streetlights.<\/p>\n

As I grew up I heard about the Moon landings,<\/span> and then everything seemed possible.<\/p>\n

At this stage the idea of getting into space was mainly to meet my favourite TV characters, the Clangers.<\/p>\n

For stargazing advice, read our guides on astronomy for beginners<\/a> and how to stargaze<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\""Watch\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As I grew older the desire to get into space grew through reading science-fiction stories and watching programmes such as Star Trek<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Viewing the stars did not seem to be enough, but visiting them was highly desirable.<\/p>\n

My opinion changed when I started to watch The Sky at Night<\/i>. My parents had noticed my interest in things \u2018out there\u2019, so I got special permission <\/span>to stay up late and watch it.<\/p>\n

Suddenly there was more to see than just the Moon. With Patrick Moore<\/a>\u2019s guidance<\/span> I was able to spot constellations and planets.<\/span><\/p>\n

\""\u00de\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Like so many children, Maggie\u2019s foray into astronomy was cemented by Patrick Moore\u2019s early appearances on The Sky at Night. Credit: BBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

I was hearing about missions investigating the Solar System and telescopes helping us to understand the Universe.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was hooked <\/span>and wanted to know more. I started searching <\/span>out books on astronomy and began thinking<\/span> about the next step, my own telescope.<\/p>\n

But this was going to be a tall order. I would scan magazines looking at the systems available, but sadly beyond my teenage budget.<\/p>\n

I decided to start somewhere and bought a cheap plastic refractor, but was very disappointed with the results.<\/p>\n

Becoming a space engineer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Maggie\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Maggie takes a look through a replica of one of the first telescope designs in the November 2021 episode of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Credit: BBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

I thought that my observations would be limited, until I was a bit older when I discovered<\/span> a telescope-making class at a local school.<\/p>\n

I was stunned: was it possible to make a quality telescope?<\/p>\n

I joined the class and found that I was the youngest there at 15, but I was with like-minded <\/span>people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I started<\/span> to make a 6-inch Cassegrain<\/span> system: quite<\/span> challenging for a novice.<\/p>\n

Some of my companions at the class were there for the technical challenge of making the telescope, but<\/span> for me it was a means of getting closer to the stars.<\/p>\n

After the telescope class we would go to an observatory on Hampstead Heath.<\/p>\n