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The Best Sights For Astronomy
Author: Anne Noonan
What are the best sights for astronomy? That's hard to say. There is so much out there that the determination of what are the best sights for astronomy probably requires you to do some advance study and decide for yourself what you'd like to learn about.

There are a couple of very helpful books that can guide you through a determination of what are the best views for astronomy.

A new beginner or intermediate handbook for stargazers is the "Guide to Stars and Planets" by Patrick Moore. This accomplished astronomer has concisely gathered reference information on the night sky that details the best views for astronomy. It looks at the moon as well as the various constellations. You'll find charts, photographs and maps that have been garnered through study with earth bound and space telescopes. The best areas for astronomy are laid out in this book as well as some guidance on how you're going to take a look at the best views for astronomy yourself.

Here you'll find guidance on what telescope to buy, how to set up an observatory for yourself as home and how to become a good amateur astronomer. Details about the perfect sights for astronomy include information on the moon, our sun, the various planets, the debris found in the solar system, a myriad number of stars, the various galaxies we know about, the constellations, and comets, asteroids, meteors and eclipses that humans have noted and photographed in the past.

The best sights for astronomy have been highlighted in the book, including important features in the moon and the stars we've studied extensively.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Anne Noonan makes it quick and easy to find the best telescope. Read expert information here.

...

telescopes-27

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How I Became Interested In Looking At The Moon
Author: Gary Nugent

Like a lot of kids, my folks gave me a 60mm telescope for Christmas one year. The scope was a typical department-store brand - not very good - but to a 12-year old kid it opened up the universe.

Through it I got to see the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus and the rings of Saturn. But above all these eye-openers, there was the moon. There in the eyepiece stood craggy mountains - spires casting long shadows across crater lowlands, dark maria and (painfully) bright highlands, a surface pockmarked with craters of all sizes, some with bright ejecta rays and some funny squiggle type features. I soon learned that the greatest amount of detail was seen along the terminator, that line splitting light from dark, where shadows played across features showing them in stark contrast. And to cap it all, each night different features could be seen in detail.

They say that as you get older, your memory plays tricks on you - you remember good things more than the bad. I remember lots of clear, frosty winter nights when I could point my 'scope at the moon and scan its disk for some feature I had not seen in relief before. These days, the skies seem to be cloudy much more frequently and the frosty winter nights are few and far between. I guess that's global warming for you!

Time moved on and I moved in and out of committee positions in astronomy societies, editing some magazines along the way (I now put my own ezine, called http://www.photonezine.com " Photon , together every couple of months). Astronomy became more about the bureaucracy of running clubs than about looking through a telescope. Then, in the late 90s, wanting to get back to my astronomical "roots", I bought a 'real' telescope, an 8" reflector which I readily turned towards the moon. Stunning views once again assailed my eyes (prompting memories of halcyon nights as a 12 year old looking through my old 60mm scope).

I'm a software writer (or should that be "engineer"?) by profession, so I wrote a bit of software which would help me in planning my moon observations. It told me when the moon would rise and set, what phase it was and other stuff. When people who'd seen it said they wanted a copy, I polished it up and released it as Shareware under the title http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhase " LunarPhase . It's now evolved into a more comprehensive application called http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhaseCD " LunarPhase Pro . I'm pleased that's it's been receiving very good reviews - I feel like I've done something to make other people more aware of my old friend in the sky.

With the encroachment of light pollution across the globe, the pristine skies of my youth have been gradually fading behind the yellow-orange glow of ever more street lamps. Where stars once twinkled on a velvet background, only a few hardy garnets of light now poke through the misty haze and background neon glow. But the Moon is always there, outshining any murk and pollution we cough up into the sky.

It's a shame we don't treat the sky with the same respect we give our national parks. After all, the sky belongs to all of us. How many of us really appreciate people throwing garbage into our back yards. Why should we allow others to pollute our natural resource?

These days, I'm getting into lunar photography with digital cameras and more sophisticated CCD cameras. I've posted a few of my images on my website if you'd like to see them. I still find a night under the stars with a partially lit Moon high in the sky a relaxing and humbling pursuit. The Moon is the only object in the solar system where we can see real surface detail. I'm so passionate about it that I also wrote an ebook called http://www.nightskyobserver.com/Observing-The-Moon-eBook.htm " Observing the Moon .

Growing up during the Apollo era, I have to say that those missions played a great part in spurring on my interest in the moon. My interest is alive and well and extending in other directions (more on that another time). I hope yours is too.

Onward and upward, as they say!

Gary Nugent has spent more years than he cares to rememeber pursuing astronomy as a hobby. He runs a number of astronomy based based sites:
Night Sky Observer: http://www.nightskyobserver.com " http://www.nightskyobserver.com
The Moon This Month: http://www.nightskyobserver.com/The-Moon-This-Month.htm " http://www.nightskyobserver.com/The-Moon-This-Month.htm
LunarPhase Pro: http://www.lunarphasepro.com " http://www.lunarphasepro.com
"Photon" Astronomy Ezine: http://www.photonezine.com " http://www.photonezine.com

...

telescopes-27

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How I Became Interested In Looking At The Moon
Author: Gary Nugent

Like a lot of kids, my folks gave me a 60mm telescope for Christmas one year. The scope was a typical department-store brand - not very good - but to a 12-year old kid it opened up the universe.

Through it I got to see the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus and the rings of Saturn. But above all these eye-openers, there was the moon. There in the eyepiece stood craggy mountains - spires casting long shadows across crater lowlands, dark maria and (painfully) bright highlands, a surface pockmarked with craters of all sizes, some with bright ejecta rays and some funny squiggle type features. I soon learned that the greatest amount of detail was seen along the terminator, that line splitting light from dark, where shadows played across features showing them in stark contrast. And to cap it all, each night different features could be seen in detail.

They say that as you get older, your memory plays tricks on you - you remember good things more than the bad. I remember lots of clear, frosty winter nights when I could point my 'scope at the moon and scan its disk for some feature I had not seen in relief before. These days, the skies seem to be cloudy much more frequently and the frosty winter nights are few and far between. I guess that's global warming for you!

Time moved on and I moved in and out of committee positions in astronomy societies, editing some magazines along the way (I now put my own ezine, called http://www.photonezine.com " Photon , together every couple of months). Astronomy became more about the bureaucracy of running clubs than about looking through a telescope. Then, in the late 90s, wanting to get back to my astronomical "roots", I bought a 'real' telescope, an 8" reflector which I readily turned towards the moon. Stunning views once again assailed my eyes (prompting memories of halcyon nights as a 12 year old looking through my old 60mm scope).

I'm a software writer (or should that be "engineer"?) by profession, so I wrote a bit of software which would help me in planning my moon observations. It told me when the moon would rise and set, what phase it was and other stuff. When people who'd seen it said they wanted a copy, I polished it up and released it as Shareware under the title http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhase " LunarPhase . It's now evolved into a more comprehensive application called http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhaseCD " LunarPhase Pro . I'm pleased that's it's been receiving very good reviews - I feel like I've done something to make other people more aware of my old friend in the sky.

With the encroachment of light pollution across the globe, the pristine skies of my youth have been gradually fading behind the yellow-orange glow of ever more street lamps. Where stars once twinkled on a velvet background, only a few hardy garnets of light now poke through the misty haze and background neon glow. But the Moon is always there, outshining any murk and pollution we cough up into the sky.

It's a shame we don't treat the sky with the same respect we give our national parks. After all, the sky belongs to all of us. How many of us really appreciate people throwing garbage into our back yards. Why should we allow others to pollute our natural resource?

These days, I'm getting into lunar photography with digital cameras and more sophisticated CCD cameras. I've posted a few of my images on my website if you'd like to see them. I still find a night under the stars with a partially lit Moon high in the sky a relaxing and humbling pursuit. The Moon is the only object in the solar system where we can see real surface detail. I'm so passionate about it that I also wrote an ebook called http://www.nightskyobserver.com/Observing-The-Moon-eBook.htm " Observing the Moon .

Growing up during the Apollo era, I have to say that those missions played a great part in spurring on my interest in the moon. My interest is alive and well and extending in other directions (more on that another time). I hope yours is too.

Onward and upward, as they say!

Gary Nugent has spent more years than he cares to rememeber pursuing astronomy as a hobby. He runs a number of astronomy based based sites:
Night Sky Observer: http://www.nightskyobserver.com " http://www.nightskyobserver.com
The Moon This Month: http://www.nightskyobserver.com/The-Moon-This-Month.htm " http://www.nightskyobserver.com/The-Moon-This-Month.htm
LunarPhase Pro: http://www.lunarphasepro.com " http://www.lunarphasepro.com
"Photon" Astronomy Ezine: http://www.photonezine.com " http://www.photonezine.com

...

telescopes-26

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Moon Gazing - Is It Right For You?
Author: Gary Nugent
Like a lot of kids, my folks gave me a 60mm telescope for Christmas one year. The scope was a typical department-store brand - not very good - but to a 12-year old kid it opened up the universe.

Through it I got to see the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus and the rings of Saturn. But above all these eye-openers, there was the moon. There in the eyepiece stood craggy mountains - spires casting long shadows across crater lowlands, dark maria and (painfully) bright highlands, a surface pockmarked with craters of all sizes, some with bright ejecta rays and some funny squiggle type features. I soon learned that the greatest amount of detail was seen along the terminator, that line splitting light from dark, where shadows played across features showing them in stark contrast. And to cap it all, each night different features could be seen in detail.

They say that as you get older, your memory plays tricks on you - you remember good things more than the bad. I remember lots of clear, frosty winter nights when I could point my 'scope at the moon and scan its disk for some feature I had not seen in relief before. These days, the skies seem to be cloudy much more frequently and the frosty winter nights are few and far between. I guess that's global warming for you!

Time moved on and I moved in and out of committee positions in astronomy societies, editing some magazines along the way (I now put my own ezine, called Photon - http://www.photonezine.com ), together every couple of months). Astronomy became more about the bureaucracy of running clubs than about looking through a telescope. Then, in the late '90s, wanting to get back to my astronomical "roots", I bought a 'real' telescope, an 8" reflector which I readily turned towards the moon. Stunning views once again assailed my eyes (prompting memories of halcyon nights as a 12 year old looking through my old 60mm scope).

I'm a software writer (or should that be "engineer"?) by profession, so I wrote a bit of software which would help me in planning my moon observations. It told me when the moon would rise and set, what phase it was and other stuff. When people who'd seen it said they wanted a copy, I polished it up and released it as Shareware under the title LunarPhase (http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhase ). It's now evolved into a more comprehensive application called LunarPhase Pro (http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhaseCD ). I'm pleased that's it's been receiving very good reviews - I feel like I've done something to make other people more aware of my old friend in the sky.

With the encroachment of light pollution across the globe, the pristine skies of my youth have been gradually fading behind the yellow-orange glow of ever more street lamps. Where stars once twinkled on a velvet background, only a few hardy garnets of light now poke through the misty haze and background neon glow. But the Moon is always there, outshining any murk and pollution we cough up into the sky.

It's a shame we don't treat the sky with the same respect we give our national parks. After all, the sky belongs to all of us. How many of us really appreciate people throwing garbage into our back yards or littering our parks. Why should we allow others to pollute our natural resources?

These days, I'm getting into lunar photography with digital cameras and more sophisticated CCD cameras. I've posted a few of my images on my website if you'd like to see them. I still find a night under the stars with a partially lit Moon high in the sky a relaxing and humbling pursuit. The Moon is the only object in the solar system where we can see real surface detail. I'm so passionate about it that I also wrote an ebook called Observing the Moon (http://www.nightskyobserver.com/Observing-The-Moon-eBook.htm ).

Growing up during the Apollo era, I have to say that those missions played a great part in spurring on my interest in the moon. My interest is alive and well and extending in other directions (more on that another time). I hope yours is too.

Onward and upward, as they say!

About the Author

Gary Nugent has spent more years than he cares to remember pursuing astronomy as a hobby. He runs a number of astronomy based based sites:
Night Sky Observer: http://www.nightskyobserver.com
The Moon This Month: http://www.nightskyobserver.com/The-Moon-This-Month.htm
LunarPhase Pro: http://www.lunarphasepro.com
"Photon" Astronomy Ezine: http://www.photonezine.com

...

telescopes-25

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Meade ETX 105 Review
Author: Anne Noonan
This Meade etx 105 review will give you some insight into what a particular camera and telescope expert had to speak of regarding Meade etx telescopes. Let's see what this Meade etx 105 review tells us.

Costing $879.00, the Meade etx 105 review is evaluated by a astronomy expert. He also explains information about the ETX-90AT and the ETX-125AT. All of these models are designed according to the consistent Meade ETX idea of constructing an extremely superior telescope that is managed electronically.

He explains that the Meade etx 105 has a convenient automatic GOTO celestial finder which uses its Autostar brand computer controller. The Meade etx styles are the only brand providing this in its price range. These models are easy to use and have a short learning curve.

Our telescope professional also reveals in his Meade etx 105 review that the etx 105, 90, and 125 styles come assembled and you can use them right away. These three models are equipped with the 4000 Series Meade Super Plossl eyepiece. He says the eyepiece is 48x and 26mm for the etx 105.

Finally he concluded his Meade etx 105 review by praising the telescope's deluxe tripod, which makes the etx 105 have rigid mounting while you are looking into the night sky.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Anne Noonan makes it quick and easy to choose the best telescope for you. Learn more by reading our expert telescope reviews website. Plus check out the Meade DSI review

...

telescopes-25

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Meade ETX 105 Review
Author: Anne Noonan
This Meade etx 105 review will give you some insight into what a particular camera and telescope expert had to speak of regarding Meade etx telescopes. Let's see what this Meade etx 105 review tells us.

Costing $879.00, the Meade etx 105 review is evaluated by a astronomy expert. He also explains information about the ETX-90AT and the ETX-125AT. All of these models are designed according to the consistent Meade ETX idea of constructing an extremely superior telescope that is managed electronically.

He explains that the Meade etx 105 has a convenient automatic GOTO celestial finder which uses its Autostar brand computer controller. The Meade etx styles are the only brand providing this in its price range. These models are easy to use and have a short learning curve.

Our telescope professional also reveals in his Meade etx 105 review that the etx 105, 90, and 125 styles come assembled and you can use them right away. These three models are equipped with the 4000 Series Meade Super Plossl eyepiece. He says the eyepiece is 48x and 26mm for the etx 105.

Finally he concluded his Meade etx 105 review by praising the telescope's deluxe tripod, which makes the etx 105 have rigid mounting while you are looking into the night sky.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Anne Noonan makes it quick and easy to choose the best telescope for you. Learn more by reading our expert telescope reviews website. Plus check out the Meade DSI review

...

telescopes-24

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The Interesting Eagle Nebula
Author: David Craig
The Eagle Nebula, associated with open star cluster M16 of the Milky Way, was named for its dramatic similarity to the appearance of an eagle. Located 7000 light years from Earth, it is a component of the constellation Serpens (for Serpent). It was discovered in 1746 by P.L. de Cheseaux but it was not until twenty years later that the famous astronomer Charles Messier discovered it nebulosity. Not naked to the naked eye, it can be seen under the power of a low-to-moderate power telescope.

The Eagle Nebula is what is categorized as an emission nebula. An emission nebula is created when electrons are stripped away from molecules through the process of ionization and then recombine with protons emitting quanta of light. Usually the photons emitted lie in the red end of the spectrum creating a red-looking nebula. This is largely true for the Eagle Nebula with much of its glory being due to a brilliant display of red colors in addition to blue and white light. The Eagle Nebula is a heavenly wonder.

The source of the ionization in emission nebula is energetic ultraviolet light created from hot stars shining on a cloud of hydrogen gas. In the case of the Eagle Nebula, the ultraviolet energy comes from the blue and white stars of the M16 cluster. These stars are interesting in that they are only approximately two million years old compared with our own sun's age of four billion year. However, they are considerably heavier which is responsible for the shortening their lifetime to the order of a few million years.

The resemblance of an eagle is due to the presence of three tall dark pillars of EGG's, or evaporating gas globules. EGG's are composed of hydrogen gas and dust and are so dense that their constituents actually condense under the force of gravity to form new stars. These pillars are light years in length. The dust referred to absorbs much of the pillars' light, giving it a dark appearance. These dust particles are not like ordinary household dust due to being both microscopic and asymmetrical in shape. Very little is known about them, as they have never been viewed first hand. However this interstellar dust makes up a large component of the universe.

Although somewhat complicated, the scientific origin of the Eagle Nebula is both rich and fascinating. The nebula itself is breathtaking, and any chance to view it should be undertaken if at all possible. There are many different types of classifications of nebulas with as many different visible manifestations as the number of identifiable nebulas themselves. Many beautiful images of the Eagle Nebula have been captured by the Hubble telescope, and like all images of nebulas are wonders of nature.

1) Bill Schoening/NOAO/AURA/NSF

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

David Craig M.S. Physics - University of Minnesota B.S. Computer Science - University of Oregon Click here for more interesting Astronomy Articles

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telescopes-24

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The Interesting Eagle Nebula
Author: David Craig
The Eagle Nebula, associated with open star cluster M16 of the Milky Way, was named for its dramatic similarity to the appearance of an eagle. Located 7000 light years from Earth, it is a component of the constellation Serpens (for Serpent). It was discovered in 1746 by P.L. de Cheseaux but it was not until twenty years later that the famous astronomer Charles Messier discovered it nebulosity. Not naked to the naked eye, it can be seen under the power of a low-to-moderate power telescope.

The Eagle Nebula is what is categorized as an emission nebula. An emission nebula is created when electrons are stripped away from molecules through the process of ionization and then recombine with protons emitting quanta of light. Usually the photons emitted lie in the red end of the spectrum creating a red-looking nebula. This is largely true for the Eagle Nebula with much of its glory being due to a brilliant display of red colors in addition to blue and white light. The Eagle Nebula is a heavenly wonder.

The source of the ionization in emission nebula is energetic ultraviolet light created from hot stars shining on a cloud of hydrogen gas. In the case of the Eagle Nebula, the ultraviolet energy comes from the blue and white stars of the M16 cluster. These stars are interesting in that they are only approximately two million years old compared with our own sun's age of four billion year. However, they are considerably heavier which is responsible for the shortening their lifetime to the order of a few million years.

The resemblance of an eagle is due to the presence of three tall dark pillars of EGG's, or evaporating gas globules. EGG's are composed of hydrogen gas and dust and are so dense that their constituents actually condense under the force of gravity to form new stars. These pillars are light years in length. The dust referred to absorbs much of the pillars' light, giving it a dark appearance. These dust particles are not like ordinary household dust due to being both microscopic and asymmetrical in shape. Very little is known about them, as they have never been viewed first hand. However this interstellar dust makes up a large component of the universe.

Although somewhat complicated, the scientific origin of the Eagle Nebula is both rich and fascinating. The nebula itself is breathtaking, and any chance to view it should be undertaken if at all possible. There are many different types of classifications of nebulas with as many different visible manifestations as the number of identifiable nebulas themselves. Many beautiful images of the Eagle Nebula have been captured by the Hubble telescope, and like all images of nebulas are wonders of nature.

1) Bill Schoening/NOAO/AURA/NSF

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

David Craig M.S. Physics - University of Minnesota B.S. Computer Science - University of Oregon Click here for more interesting Astronomy Articles

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