Dave Eagle

  

Star-gazing.co.uk’s founder is Dave Eagle FRAS, BSc (Hons), PGCE.
An amateur Astronomer, Planetarium Operator, Presenter, Author and Tutor.

I have been interested in astronomy and looked up with wonder at the sky ever since I can remember and absolutely love getting people enthusiastic about the night sky.Boy Plough Street

As a very young boy I used to gaze up at the night sky and wonder how it all fitted together. That puzzle didn’t start to unravel properly until the age of 9 when I suddenly “discovered” The Plough for myself.

Once I had a start on the sky I gradually learnt my way around the visible constellations and learning the positions of all the “Celestial Lollypops” like the Messier objects. I started observing with some old 10×50 binoculars gradually moving onto a small refractor bought by my parents for Christmas.

 1e527b0a E118 4d4c 9c9a 46a4ab8b91d7 Living in North London I first met other kindred souls at South West Herts Astronomy Society but the distance of their meetings and being too young to drive, meant I could attend very few meetings. One look at Saturn through their large reflector had me hooked even more. I was also a member of Hampstead Scientific Society for a while being an assistant at their observatory on the heath using a fabulous 6″ Cooke refractor. From my time here I learnt a lot from other members. As a teenager my attention was directed elsewhere, but my interest in astronomy was rekindled in 1985 when, as a newly married man and with my daughter well on the way, Halley’s comet returned and I bought my first serious telescope, a 3 inch refractor.

In 1987, tired of observing all on my own, I established the Bedford Astronomical Society where I built some wonderful friendships. It has been a successful and flourishing society ever since. I am also a member of Northampton Natural History Society and am involved in helping to organise their events. 3d50d652 B949 41b6 A7c1 791030871d7f

I was Editor of the Handbook of the Federation of Astronomical Societies for a few years and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1996.
I have been the lead astronomer for Hale-Bopp and Aurora flights for members of the public.

I have a degree in Biology, also training as a science teacher, obtaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. I am now semi-retired and building on my astronomical interests.

I spend a lot of my spare time observing and imaging, when clouds allow. When they don’t allow, it gives me time to hone my skills and try out new techniques, using software to get the most from my hard-earned images.

My other interests are other disciplines in science as well as Natural History and Photography.

My wife and I enjoy travelling and we have been fortunate enough to enjoy, amongst other things, seeing exotic wildlife in The Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Africa and the life-changing experience of petting Gray Whales in calm, warm sea-water lagoons in Mexico. Both locations are a naturalists and photographers paradise. The darkness of the night skies in the Sea of Cortez were also fantastic. A trip to Iceland enabled us to see the fantastic volcanic landscape as well as briefly catching the northern lights in all their glory.

I have established my own permanent observatory where the convenience of opening up and almost instantly observing makes the hobby even more enjoyable and convenient. Unfortunately living where I do provides me with a constant battle against the scourge of light pollution. Two street lights that shine directly into the garden give me lots of grief.
However, I am still amazed at times how much I can achieve, even with these obvious limitations that drive other observers / imagers to give up.

I have appeared regularly on local radio discussing many different aspects of astronomy. 7014a8d8 3b33 42c1 9862 D76945927e2b

I have written articles for many of the British astronomy publications and supplied images to illustrate astronomy articles for photographic magazines, most recently articles on astrophotography for Sky At Night Magazine.
In 2013 I was proud to have my first authored astronomy book published by Springer. This has encouraged me to write and publish my own guides, following on from my successful workshops. These have proved extremely popular.

I give talks and presentations on astronomy and space flight to schools, social groups, youth groups and astronomical societies or anyone else who is interested in finding out more about the night sky and am a STEM Ambassador.

I have also organised a number of successful Astronomy Workshops and hosted an evening to celebrate Tim Peake’s Principia Mission to the ISS.

I am also an astronomy and astrophotography tutor for Adult Education for Northamptonshire Council, running their Adult Education Astronomy Courses.

Not only restricted to astronomy, I also have wildlife and photography presentations that I give to other interested groups.

 192d80c9 1b43 4f0c Af7e 718c8f33e362I can organise a trip into schools hosting interactive sessions, with presentations, seeing the Sun in Hydrogen Alpha light as well as decorating and launching fizzy-pop bottle rockets, as well as full-dome audience-interactive planetarium presentations.

I especially enjoy trying to get others to go out and appreciate the night sky and all its wonders under a clear sky.

Astronomy like all hobbies should be fun. So get out in the fresh air and just enjoy it.

Keep Looking Up!

Want to get in touch?

E Mail me dave@star-gazing.co.uk

www.star-gazing.co.uk

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