Studying Astronomy

A diagram of a lunar eclipse

Image via Wikipedia

The study of Astronomy and/or Astrology is a very interesting course of study.  For the budding scientist it is a vast abyss, waiting to be observed and for new discoveries to be made every day.  There is just too much going on in the sky.  The desire to be a scientist, especially an astronomer, starts long before the college years.  Everyone knows a kid who just loved to be outside when the sky was clear, with a telescope facing the sky, waiting for the perfect angle to view the Big Dipper.  He will camp out to observe a lunar eclipse and if there is a once in our lifetime occurrence predicted to be in the sky, you won’t be able to keep him away. He is ready and waiting for days, just to get that glimpse.  He can see pictures in books, but nothing compares to watching it in person.

He is fascinated by what he sees when he looks in that telescope.  He is overwhelmed at how the sky comes alive night after night.  There is another world out there.  A world he dreams about becoming a part of, he longs to study it, get to know it, revel in it.  Maybe it is not a world of people driving cars around, rather an entire universe of burning glory in our sky every night.  Stars are moving, burning out, beginning again all over the galaxy all the time.  The study of their perfect dance night after night is a full time job, a career.  To make a career out of watching the perfect waltz, that synchronized dance that occurs in the sky each night, is the culmination of years of looking through that telescope, wishing on those stars.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Galaxy · Tagged With: , ,

Naming A Star

They say there are millions of stars, millions upon billions of stars in the sky.  What we see when we look into the sky at night, we see a mere fraction of the activity that is going on in the heavens.  The stars are dancing and darting their way through the night.  The amazing thing is that these stars can be located.  Astronomers can pinpoint exactly where a star is in the sky, They have charts and sky maps and coordinates, and for the most part they can tell you where a star is at any given time.  Astronomers have identified clusters of stars, Supernovas, asteroids, millions of bright lights just littering the sky with blinking, twinkling light.  The stars seem to be having one big huge disco party in the sky.

It only stands to reason that someone here on the Earth, millions of miles away from those stars came up with the idea to own them.  It is a charming concept, and of course, someone is making a profit on it.  For a fee, somewhere around $20 you can name a star.  You can actually look at a chart and choose your star.  You name the star, especially cheesy Valentine’s Day gift, perfect birthday gift for a young scientist.  Imagine applying to MIT someday and putting on the application under “miscellaneous”, “by the way, I own a star.  It is named for me.”  Sounds prestigious.  Kids love it, some marketing genius somewhere is sitting back just counting the money.  Who is going to be able to prove which star is theirs, who is going to question you when you show it to them.  But the bottom line is, how cool is it to own one?

Filed Under: Astronomy, Stars · Tagged With: , ,

Are We Truly Poisoning The Atmosphere?

Is the ozone layer disappearing?  Are the polar ice caps melting because of global warming?  Is the surface of the Earth one day going to be so hot we won’t even be able to walk on it?  You would think any of that is possible, but is it probable?  Is there really a hole in the ozone layer, and if there is maybe the hole is over China, half way across the world.  Maybe we don’t have to worry about pressure cooking our skin, they do.

What we do know is what we hear and learn from scientists and environmentalists.  They are telling us that we are destroying our own atmosphere.  There are places in this country where you can see the pollution first thing in the morning when you wake up and look out the window.  There it is, hanging in the air like a thick umbrella.  That cannot be good for anyone.

We have definitely cut down on people smoking in our world, but what about the number of cars that are pouring pollution into our air every day?  We have not stopped producing cars, we are mass producing cars.  Where just about 40 years ago most houses were one car households, the average household owns three to four cars.  That is four times the pollution right there.  Factories are literally pouring pollution into our air at an alarming rate.

Yes were are poisoning the atmosphere.  Steps are being taken, but the progress is slow.  You can get a hybrid car that would not burn as much gas, but the cost of one right now is out of most people’s budget.  We need to be more diligent.  We might not be here when it gets really bad, but our great great grandchildren will be, and don’t we want to protect them too?  Don’t we want to do everything to make their world a safe place to live, instead of the smog chamber it is currently becoming?

Filed Under: Atmosphere, Environment · Tagged With: , ,

A Trip To The Planetarium

Unless you are a certified Science geek, a trip to the Planetarium does not seem to make you leap for joy, as of course it does for the Science geeks.  However, you signed on for this trip, off with the entire sixth grade class for the class trip of the year.  You know that you will be carrying about 10 lunches and make numerous trips to the bathroom all day long.  Well you signed on for this and hey, you might actually learn something new.

You arrive at the Planetarium.  The Science geeks can barely contain themselves.  They already have their heads together in search of a new star, galaxy or planet as they are sure that this discovery will happen soon.  You are thinking that you probably lost a lunch or two along the way and now you will have to buy those kids stars and moon shaped chicken nuggets.  They could do worse.

The class is shuffled into the Planetarium.  The lights begin to dim.  You have already been to the bathroom several times, but you are thinking this would be a good time for you to sneak out and use the bathroom yourself, for the next half hour while the Science geeks get their fix and the rest of the class just punches on each other in the dark.  Just as you are about to sneak out, a shooting star passes right by your left ear.  What was that? The dark cavernous ceiling/sky begins to come alive with the different lights of the night.  The stars are shining like ten carat diamonds, as the planets appear to begin a ritual dance they have perfected all those years hanging out together in the sky.

Twenty minutes later you are looking for the DVD of the amazing light show you just saw and planning a popcorn and planet watching party with the Science geeks.  Hey, you actually did learn something new.

Filed Under: Planets, Stars · Tagged With: , ,

Visit a Canadian Observatory and Truly See the Night Sky

Canada’s weather may tend to lean heavily towards cool. It is actually those cold, crisp conditions, coupled with the fact that Canada has very little light pollution and lots of places that have high altitude, that make sky watching very favorable. That’s probably the reason why some of the world’s largest observatories are located in Canada.

Depending on which observatory you visit, you may actually be able to take a tour of the facilities and look through some of the telescopes that are used to study the night sky. You can use Canada 411 to find those observatories that are open to the public and conduct tours.

Even if you can’t actually tour the observatory, that isn’t an excuse not to visit one. Depending on the observatory’s location, you’ll be able to see things in the night sky that you probably had only heard about or seen pictures of. Imagine actually being able to see the Milky Way as it stretches across our galaxy, or make out all the stars in a particular constellation, not just a few of them.

In addition, the observatories, both those open to the public and for tours, as well as those which are not, use the latest in telescopic technology to conduct their research and studies. They keep up with the advancements in this and other technological fields so that their findings will remain accurate. This is very important when studying the cosmos, especially since Canadian observatories are the ones responsible for a large majority of the research that is performed in this area.

If you visit an observatory in one of the higher altitude locations, be sure to dress warmly, even if it is the middle of summer. Temperatures can be cooler at higher altitudes, and you want to be able to stargaze in comfort. Checkon current weather conditions and temperatures.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Observatory · Tagged With: , ,

The Science Of Astrology

What’s your sign?  The study of Astrology is felt by some, to literally guide your entire life.  Some woman plan having their babies under certain astrological signs, thereby insuring them a bright and happy future.  Couples plan their weddings on good astrological dates, or steer clear of bad astrological dates.  There are schools of thought for and against the study of astrology and how it pertains to shaping one’s life.

Can the way the planets are aligned really predict how your life will play out?  Does the position of the planets at the time you were born really have an effect on your type of personality or the people you would be most compatible with?  There are believers and non believers.  While there are millions of people born under every sign of the zodiac, not all the people born to a certain sign experience the same effects on their lives.  Can those who do believe mold their lives to conform to the particulars to their sign?  In some cases, yes.  There is something to be said when the alignment of the planets constitutes an entire study in and of itself, astrology.  Astrology is not about the stars, rather about the planets, their position at any given time, and how that affects the way we live our lives.

One can have their entire astrological chart drawn up.  However, you will be given basic information, such as “Aries get along well with Scorpios”, or “you have an easy going personality.”  Unless you are Jack the Ripper, most of these statements could apply to almost anyone.  For the most part, the study of Astrology has its place.  It is probably not a good idea to plan your whole life around your astrological sign, but it can be amusing to consider what parts of that sign pertain to you.  There are other more exact sciences, but astrology might just be the “fun” science.

Filed Under: Astronomy · Tagged With:

The Nightly Show

The Big Dipper / The Plough asterism

Image via Wikipedia

Looking up into the sky on a clear night is like watching a graceful ballet.  The sky is literally alive with activity.  The stars are glowing, sometimes it looks as though they are blinking one at a time.  Some of them are shooting, rushing by other stars as if to play a game of star tag.  There is the Big Dipper, which always has the Little Dipper in its path, as if the Big Dipper were the parent, watching a small child play in the park.  On clear nights, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper are clearly defined and something beautiful to see.  On cloudy nights, you can see the stars play a great game of hide and seek, waiting for the clouds to clear so they can shine their brightest and watch us marvel at them.

Then there are the special performances.  Once every couple of years we get to see planets that we normally cannot see.  Get out the telescopes, sometimes these sightings are once in a lifetime, and may not occur again for hundreds of years.  Lunar eclipses are always fun to watch.  It is amazing to fathom the size of the moon and the sun passing in front of or behind one another.  They just look like a couple of spheres, being juggled by some great sky giant, for our enjoyment.

There are the surprise visits.  Sometimes you are just looking up at the sky at the right time.  An asteroid breaks up and blasts of light shoot through the sky.  Sometimes the astronomers let us know when a meteor shower is expected, giving us yet one more chance to experience the wonders of nature.

How often do you go through life never looking up at the sky?  How often have you said you wish there were forms of entertainment that were not so expensive?  Next time the budget is tight and the sky is clear, pull up a lawn chair, grab a drink and get ready for the show.  It is worth every penny.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Stars · Tagged With: , ,

Things to Do When Buying a Telescope

There are a lot of beginning astronomers that go out and buy their first telescope without even thinking about what they need to buy. Here are some of the things that you should remember when you are choosing your first telescope. These are the right things that you should do when you are buying a telescope.

  • When you are choosing your first telescope, a Dobsonian reflector that’s 6” or 8”.  This is going to offer some great results for your money.  For a refractor, one that’s 80mm with a stable mount is also one that is okay for a first telescope.
  • You should expect to pay at least $300 when you are shopping for your first telescope. Otherwise you are going to get one that isn’t worth your money.
  • Buy an overrated/oversized mount, because mounts have to be sturdy in order to work well.
  • Choose an eyepiece that’s at least 1.25” and don’t go with the designs that are 0.965”.
  • Get a telescope that is the weight and size that you’re won’t mind taking to the different sites or setting up.
  • Select two or three eyepieces that are quality as well as one of the Barlow lenses.  The eyepieces that are good but don’t cost a lot include Plössls and Kellners.

These are some of the things that you should remember when you are buying a telescope for yourself.  They are all important to keep in mind when you are looking at the different telescopes and they will also help you to figure out what one of the telescopes that you should buy. It’s also going to help you to keep from wasting your money on buying the telescopes that aren’t going to give you good results.  Remember the tips for choosing your eyepieces and the mounts and you’ll find that you are getting the best telescope that you can for your money.

Filed Under: Observation ·

5 Facts About Mars

Mars, 2001, with the southern polar ice cap vi...

Image via Wikipedia

One of the planets that has been the source of a lot of mystery and tales is Mars. So what does this planet hold? What are some of the secrets? Here are some of the facts that people have discovered about Mars.

·        It’s the fourth farthest from our sun. it orbits it at a distance that is about 141 million miles, and it takes about 686.93 days on Earth or approximately 1.8807 Earth years to make a full revolution.

·        It’s the seventh biggest planet.  It’s about half of Earth’s diameter and it has about a 1/10th the mass of Earth. Its density is approximately 30% lower than Earth’s. The core of Mars is probably a lot like Earth’s, being mostly iron with some nickel.

·        The planet Mars is small and rocky. Like the other three terrestrial planets – Venus, Mercury, and Earth, it has a surface that’s been changed a lot by impacts from assorted bodies, crust movements, volcanism, and things like dust storms.3

·        The surface of Mars is the most similar to that of Earth than any other planet. It would be a really harsh place for anything to live, however, because the temperatures go from -225 – +60 degrees Fahrenheit, and it’s average temperature of -67.

·        It’s probably our best hope for finding some kind of life other than on Earth. The atmosphere is thin and it’s made up of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, and some oxygen, as well as water.  Water has also been found in liquid on Mars.

It’s really easy to see that Mars is very interesting without all the myths that surround it. It’s constantly being studied and maybe someday we’ll find some life on it.  But until then all we can do is look at it and dream about what might be and what we might find.

Filed Under: Planets ·

3 Kinds of Telescopes

When you are looking for telescopes for astronomy, you are going to find that there are three different kinds of telescopes that you can choose from. They all have different features and different things on them for viewing the night sky.  Below you will find explanations of the different telescope types so that you are able to make the choice that is right for you from them.

  • Refractor – These telescopes are the ones that you are going to see in department stores. They use the refracting lenses which are housed in the thin, long tubes that are mounted on tripods. They are great for viewing things like the moon, planets, and sun when magnified detail is important to you but you don’t care about brightness.
  • Reflector – These are larger telescopes that use mirrors which are housed in larger tubes which are usually mounted in a low mount that’s a rocker style.  This is known as the Dobonian mount.  They’re light buckets and they’re really great for viewing things like star clusters, nebula, and galaxies that are set deep in the sky.
  • Compound – These are also known as cadioptric telescopes and they use both the reflecting mirrors and refracting lenses in order to provide the person with a factor that is compact form. These kinds of telescopes include ones made by Maksutov, Cassegrain, and Schmidt, as well as the hybrid designs.

When you are thinking about buying the right telescope, remember the three different kinds that are listed here and ask yourself what you want the telescope for. Remember that the more a telescope does the more expensive it’s going to be. Look at your needs and your budget and you will be able to discover what you will need for your own astronomy studies.

When you have the right telescope for your astronomy hobby, you will discover worlds that you have never seen before.

Filed Under: Observation ·
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »