About ~*Stargirl*~

   I have always loved science, and astronomy in particular, from an early age. I received my first telescope when I was 11years old. My Mom bought me a small Tasco telescope. It was more like a spotting scope! It did not have a tripod. I would take the scope out at night and balance it on the top of the cab on my Father’s truck to view the night skies! The first time I looked through the eyepiece at the moon I was so awestruck. I had no idea of the beauty that could be found in the skies at night with a simple little telescope.
  Many years later I am still in wonderment of our magnificent Universe. I have an unquenchable desire to continue to learn new techniques, theories and ideas. I am a very passionate observer of the night skies, and usually on clear nights I can be found in my backyard looking through one of my telescopes.
  I currently live in Salem, Oregon, although I am originally a native of San Francisco, CA. Amateur astronomy can be a challenge in the Pacific Northwest as we have a very long rainy season! However a trade off is that we are very fortunate to still have very dark skies in Central and Eastern Oregon. I have been working on my Astronomical League Messier certificate, and Lunar certificate for over a year now. I have also recently begun the A.L.'s Earth Orbiting Satellite Observers (EOSOC) certificate. I recently finished building my first telescope, a 10” Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount. I view the night skies with my 10" Dobsonian (Earl II), my Meade DS-127 EC Newtonian reflector, a pair of 10X50 binoculars, and a 60mm Bushnell refractor. 
  My friends and family began calling me “Stargirl” years ago. They are aware of my fascination with astronomy and the Universe. At family gatherings or when I am with friends, I’m often asked questions about astronomy, resulting in discussions about astronomy, observing, and astronomical events. This is how I got the nickname, “Stargirl”. Many friends and fellow amateur astronomers asked me to share my astronomy resources with them. So I began developing my web site "Astronomy Web Guide" in 1996, as a resource guide to Astronomy on the Internet. It has undergone several revisions since then. I hope you will visit Astronomy Web Guide.
  I feel it is important to help people understand the nature of our Universe and gain realistic expectations of amateur astronomy, observing and techniques. I am devoted to astronomy outreach projects, and I am an active member and current Secretary of Night Sky 45 Astronomy club in Salem, Oregon. It is my desire to share my love of astronomy and to inspire other’s to inquire and learn about our wonderful Universe. I am a member of several Internet amateur astronomy groups, The American Association of Amateur Astronomers, SETI at home, and The Astronomical League.

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~*Stargirl*~