About AstronomyLog

AstronomyLog.com is a website for amateur astronomers to log observations of astronomical objects: stars the moon and just about everything else that appears in the night sky.  Even some objects that appear in the daytime.

This website is my idea.  I needed a tool to help me track my observations and to tell me what I needed to observe to complete my goal of completing some the Astronomical League award clubs.  I tried various software packages, both free and paid, and nothing seemed to answer the question "What do I need to complete the Messier list and what's visible tonight?"  I'm building AstronomyLog.com to answer that question.

Please tell me what you think.  I won't get my feeling hurt.  It something doesn't work, I sure want to know about it.  That's the only way I can fix it.

I'm Bob Waltenspiel, an amateur astronomer and enthusiast living just a bit north of San Francisco, California, USA.  I took up astronomy a few years ago when I moved to the country and realized there were a lot stars up there.  I bought myself an inexpensive reflector telescope and I've been looking through it ever since.  I still use that first telescope, an Orion XT8i.  It's a workhorse, dependable with good optics that also just happens to fit in my car.

As my life changed I moved closer to the big city.  Now I observe mostly at Lake Sonoma and an occasional star party (Golden Gate Star Party).  I also volunteer at Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sugar Loaf State Park, at China Camp State Park and Yosemite National Park.  I'm a member of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society.

I'm hoping to build a community of active observers who are in a similar place of learning, observing and becoming better astronomers.  We share what we've learned and help each other get better and make discoveries.  We encourage each other and give advice when needed in a enjoyable online environment.

Please join AstronomyLog.com by clicking the Create Account link at the top of the screen.