It seems to me that a familiarity with Astronomy is vital to any scientist. It is perhaps the oldest science and has influenced Mathematics, Physics, and Religions around the world. Most ancient mathematicians by trade were astronomers. More importantly, stargazing was perhaps the starting point for humans asking the question "why". I was first exposed to stargazing at age 10 by my uncle, a sailor. From then on, I began reading and observing. Astronomy opened my eyes to science at a young age.

A special thanks goes out to Attilla Danko at ClearDarkSky for creating the "Wells Observing Site" clear sky chart.

Here are some topics of astronomy that I am interested in:

• Amateur Radio Astronomy
• Eyepiece Projection Astrophotography
• Light Pollution Advocacy
• Lunar, Planetary, and Deep-Sky Object Observing
• Naked Eye Astronomy
• Software for Astronomy
• Space Exploration Advocacy
• Telescope Operation

Provided by APOD.

Amateur Astronomy Guide: Listing of local astronomy clubs
APOD: Picture of the day from NASA
Astronomy Magazine: An astronomy magazine
Celestron
ClearDarkSky: Forecasts of astronomical observing conditions
DarkSiteFinder.com: Light pollution maps (Google Maps)
ESA: The European Space Agency website
Heavens-Above: Information on satellites
HubbleSite: Hubble space telescope news releases
International Dark-Sky Association: Light pollution advocacy organization
NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration website
NASA's Radio JOVE Project: Radio telescope kits for solar, Jovian, and galactic observing
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
PSC Planetarium and Space Theatre: Planetarium in Pensacola, FL
Sky & Telescope: An astronomy magazine
Space Frontier Foundation: American space advocacy group
SpaceWeather.com: Sun-Earth environment information
Star Gazers: Weekly 5 minute PBS television series on naked eye astronomy
The Astronomy League: Amateur Astronomy interest organization
The Planetary Society: Space exploration interest organization
Universe Today: Astronomy news

Astronomy Picture of the Day: APOD homescreen wallpaper
Celestia: Space 3D simulator; and Add-ons
KStars: Desktop planetarium
Lux Lite: Auto brightness solution, include red Astronomy mode
Marble: Virtual globe, includes Earth, the Moon, Venus, Mars and other planets
Stellarium: Very realistic desktop planetarium
Xplanet: Planetary and solar system image renderer

Visit ##astronomy on Freenode, nick WE1LS.