I consider myself an amateur astronomer, an expert in nothing but know a bit about various space-related topics, so you don't have to restrict yourself to one specific category like 'selenographer' or 'solar scientist' etc. May I conduct a poll of my readership? How would you describe your knowledge of astronomy? You can be more than one type. And please fill in the blank 'I read BATS because...'

1. Beginner. I've just discovered astronomy and want to learn more. I read BATS because...
2. Amateur. I like to take my telescope/binoculars out to escape from my partner. I read BATS because...
3. Sci-fi buff. Every day in every way real astronomy gets more and more like Star Trek. I read BATS because...
4. Navigator. I steer by the stars because I trust them more than high-fangled tech. I read BATS because...
5. Telescope builder. The latest model just won't do. I read BATS because...
6. Astrophotographer. I like to impress others with my pics of Messier objects. I read BATS because...
7. Coloniser. I want to be the first person on Mars! I read BATS because...
8. Expert. It's my day job and I get paid enough to keep the wolves from the door. I read BATS because...
9. Conspiracy theorist. There's a mega-asteroid on the way which is going to impact the Earth and cause global destruction but NASA are keeping it quiet to avoid population panic. I read BATS because...
10. E.T. addict. Aliens will make first contact within the next decade. I just know they are benign and friendly like the Vulcans and just want to get to know us. I read BATS because...
11. Paranoid. Aliens are already here. I've been abducted and now I wear a tinfoil hat to hide my thoughts from them. I read BATS because...
12. Long-suffering spouse. If I get dragged out of my nice warm bed to help count shooting stars or watch a pretty light show ONE MORE TIME! I don't read BATS, it's bad enough that I live with an astronomy nut.
13. Clueless. An estimated 95% of humans just aren't interested in the cosmos. What's BATS?

• 01: The 37th anniversary of Patrick Moore's announcement on BBC Radio 2 that the Jovian-Plutonian Gravitational Effect taking place that day would cause Earthlings to weigh less, and if they jumped at 9.47am they would experience weightlessness.
• 06: The Moon passes 6° north of Neptune
• 10: New Moon
• 14: The Moon passes 2° south of Jupiter
• 15: The Moon is at apogee (furthest from Earth)
• 19: Mercury and Uranus¹ are within 2°
• 21-22: The Lyrids meteor shower peaks
• 24: The Moon occults Spica (alpha Virginis)
• 25: Full Moon (the Pink or Fish Moon)
• 25: Partial lunar eclipse (visible from Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia)
• 27: The Moon is at perigee (closest to Earth)
• 28: Saturn is at its brightest, 0.1 magnitude

• 
  Chat about your celestial observances at the H2G2 Astronomy Society. Comment on anything in this edition of Babe Among the Stars by starting a new conversation below.
  

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