Find us on Google+ Astronomy Box: January 2015

10 January 2015

Quitting my job and setting up a Star Party

Hi everyone, I found myself neglecting this blog lately. Lately being the understatement of the year. Between setting up a media business and an annual star party I have been very busy.

So, when I started this blog I was working in a stock media production company. I was very comfortable, financially, and it was the perfect time for me to take up the hobby of astronomy. Of course it wasn't the principal cause of my sudden fascination with the night sky. I was able to buy a decent telescope and away I went.

Since then I've quit my job due to the lack of satisfaction I was getting from the work. Yes, let's leave it with that. After leaving that comfortable job I joined some friends in setting up a media company of our own called Dog Day Media. I won't go on about it but suffice to say it's going really well and I haven't turned back since.

Now onto the star party bit. Last year I spoke at the annual Irish astronomy event Cosmos about my then recent trip to the observatory on Tenerife. I had a wonderful time giving my talk and listening to all the other talks. I also made good friends with the organisers, one of whom I kept in constant contact. Some time went by and he got me together with another amateur astronomer to start planning an official star party right in the middle of the northern hemispheres only gold tier dark sky reserve, in Kerry, Ireland. We had our first gathering there in August 2014 and our busily preparing for our next event in August 2015. All are welcome and it's all about getting your telescopes out under the amazing night sky. So, here it is, the Skellig Star Party.