stillaig.com

I love looking up into the night sky. I always have.

It seems that there is so much going on in our universe.

Years ago I took an astronomy class which has made it even more enjoyable to ponder my star gazing experiences. Clear? I often reflect on the fact that our ancestors used to record their star gazing on the walls of caves. A far cry from being able to login to the internet & better understand that constellation million of miles away.

Here are a few simple tips to use when star gazing. I hope that as you use them you too will enjoy the views right above your head.

a) Put yourself in the best possible viewing position. You should be easily able to find suitable sites for night viewing within thirty minutes of most cities.

b) Contact your local astronomy club for many more professional assistance.

c) Do a little homework. You should do some research time learning what objects you can expect to see on that particular day from that particular spot. Great websites that assist in this regard are http://nasa.gov , http://astronomy.com & http://www.yesastronomy.com

d) Once star gazing “fever” hooks you, you will want to get a nice telescope, a journal, a camera, a second telescope & so on. Be prepared. This hobby is quite addictive.

Astronomy has to be one of the most mind expanding subjects to0 study. The vastness & organization of stars, planets & constellations are never ending source of wonder for young & old alike.

Every time I look into the night skies & watch the stars I cant hep but be fascinated by the fact that our ancestors looked up & saw what we see today & that our descendants will see similar miracles tomorrow. It’s great fun to be easily able to find the Big Dipper & Little Dipper & recognize the effect that these important configurations have played in history.

Pedro Estrella is the webmaster for http://www.yesastronomy.com & an avid astronomy buff.

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Harald Anderson

Can you imagine how large an image is, which has dimensions of 86400 pixels wide & 43200 pixels high?

Offhand it’s probably hard for your inner eye to imagine how big that is in reality. To put these wild dimensions into perspective they can be compared to an average computer monitor that displays 1024 x 768 pixels. Maybe you’re reading this article with a resolution of a similar size. Therefore, to be easily able to view the whole image at the same time you would need more than 4700 monitors!

If it is still too hard to grasp how large these giant satellite images really are, you could compare it to 746 photos taken with a typical 5 mega pixel modern amateur camera.

NASA was established more than fifty years ago & has been a world leader in studies of our home planet. They have always been on the sharp edge of this development - In 1972 they were able to boast of being the owner of the first full-colour satellite image of the Earth.

Later in 2002, scientist & data visualizers took four months of observations from the Terra satellite, including the land surface, coastal oceans, sea ice, and clouds, and stitched them together into one photo-like image of the planet. They called this image the Blue Marble, which is the most detailed coloured image of the Earth’s surface that has ever been produced.

Today, NASA operate 18 of the most advanced Earth-observing satellites ever built, helping scientists make very intricate & detailed observations of our world.

The Blue Marble Next Generation is the newest series of 12 monthly cloud-free, global-scale images. The BMNG visualizes seasonal changes of the land surface (spring greening, snow-melt, drought, etc.) in monthly steps, at a resolution of 500 metres per pixel. Each of the 12 images is more than ten GB in size!

To reach the highest possible quality of detailed image, it’s made zoomable by use of advanced eRez Imaging Server technology. The image server algorithms make it possible for ordinary Internet users to study details of images over any Internet Connection, which is normally impossible to work with in a normal way, in effect, as if you were working with your family album.

An image server combined with an interactive viewer allows you to access these enormous images without having to download them; simply zoom into the images in your favourite web browser.

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We would like to encourage you to go on a visual exploration tour of our planet. Find your favourite mountain range or desert & take yourself on a journey to learn more about our fascinating planet Earth!

http://www.image-server.biz/en/earth-zoom.html

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Micah Klitgaard

Astronomy & space is all about lust for learning. Did you know that astronomy is one of humanity’s oldest sciences? In actual fact, astronomy is one of the earliest sciences that humanity has ever pursued. So the study of our universe isn’t new but you should remember that astronomy is a science. A science for the masses. And, astronomy is a field about which most of the world knows very little.

Astronomy is really an outdoor nature hobby. Astronomy is also a place where international boundaries blur. It’s as pure a science as one can find as it studies the Universe & what’s in it… It’s also an observational science that requires observations & precise calculations, particularly of positions of celestial objects. Astronomy is truly bigger than all of us.

Most of modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics & can be actually considered astrophysics. Right. What is the basic difference between Astrophysics & Astronomy? How stars form is one of the central unknowns of astrophysics. Astronomy is more a matter of making observations.

The telescope is undoubtedly a very important investigative tool in astronomy. Did you know that Galileo was the first human to use a telescope for astronomy? Purchasing a telescope is something that most people who get interested in astronomy need to do. If you want to buy you a telescope, but it all looks confusing to you, be sure to do some analysis. Because purchasing a telescope, like purchasing a automobile or stereo equipment, is subject to your tastes as a buyer. But your choice of a telescope is critical as the telescope is focused on space & astronomy access for all of us.

Telescope parts & accessories can be a very useful addition to your astronomy experience. If you are just starting out, look for a quality, affordable telescope for beginning astronomy students & casual observers. You might even ask friends if any of them have a telescope for sale. But the aim is to take advantage of the latest developments in telescope technology to make the next giant leap forward in observing. Many people use the telescope regularly for star parties, astronomy workshops, and casual observing.

Public curiosity in astronomy is unlimited. Astronomy is our tool for unlocking the knowledge of the heavens. As mentioned above, it may be a science, but it also is an outdoor nature hobby. But do not worry, you will see that astronomy is more than just a branch of science, it is cool too. Astronomy is a wonderful field of science for the family to study. Astronomy is all about curiosity, & fulfilling that curiosity.

Yvonne Volante, the author, is a big fan of the art of astronomy & writes for yesastronomy.com, which is the premier astronomy resource on the internet. You can see all of the articles over at http://www.yesastronomy.com

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Harald Anderson

Look up! Just do it… What do you see? Stupid question, eh? You see the ceiling of course. And so… So far so good. When you look upwards during a sunny day while picnicking how ever, you see the blue sky. Ever wondered why the sky isn’t green nor but blue?

Before answering this question, lets go back to the basic physics of light. OK. Sorry, but here I go

Light is a kind of energy, which travels in waves. Clear? In actual fact, light is a wave of vibrating electric & magnetic fields. Light forms only one small part of a larger range of vibrating electromagnetic fields called the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic waves travel through space at an amazing 300 00km/s. Therefore this is also the speed of light.

When you see white light from the bulb, you’re actually seeing the seven colours of the rainbow! This is because white light consists of a combination of these seven colours.

Each of these colours has a different wavelength, frequency & energy. Wavelength is the distance between the crests of the waves. The frequency is the number of waves that pass by each second. Note that the longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency & the less energy it contains.

Violet: Shortest wavelength, highest frequency & energy

Red: Longest wavelength, lowest frequency & energy

Now back to our main topic. That blue colour of the sky is due to an effect known as the Rayleigh scattering. As light from the sun moves towards Earths atmosphere, not all the colours are actually able to pass through that atmosphere. Most of the longer wavelength colours do pass (red, orange & yellow for sure) but the shorter wavelength ones however are mostly absorbed by gas molecules found in the atmosphere. Absorbed blue light is then bounced back (radiated would be a better word) in all directions. This makes the shy to appear blue!

You would however ask me why its the blue rays, which get scattered, & not the indigo nor the violet rays (the other colours pass through the atmosphere remember theres also blue that pass through but it then gets scattered). Well in actual fact, the shorter the wavelength, the more the colour gets scattered. Violet, which has the shortest wavelength of all colours of the rainbow thus gets scattered more than blue rays do. Our eyes however are much more sensitive to blue than to violet & the sky therefore doesnt appear to be violet but blue (in reality the sky is violet-indigo!).

Now do take the time making the following:

Take a look at the horizon (if youre at the seaside) & note the skys colour there. No, its not as blue as the rest of the sky, is it? Its much paler. This is because for the blue light to reach your eye, it has to travel more. Blue light will thus pass through more air consequently getting scattered more. Conclusion: less blue light reaches your eyes than compared to blue light from just above you.

K.A.Cassimally is the editor in chief of Astronomy Journal & Astronomy Journal Ezine. He is also the co-founder of the RCPL Astronomy Club. K.A.Cassimally is best known for his article ‘Harry Potter & the Moons of Jupiter’.

He is also Senior Columnist at BackWash.com where he writes ‘Not Scientific Science’.

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K.A.Cassimally

Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector

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The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is like nothing on this Earth! Now theres no need for a clear night to gaze at the beauty & mystique of the Universe! The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is a startling & mind-blowing light show of twinkling & shooting stars! There’re even cosmic clouds floating about, but dont fret they wont rain on this parade of mind blowing beauty! Imagine the ceiling opening up & swallowing the skies whole! Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector give a constant dazzling array of spectacularly sparkly stars, you’ll be taken back by the breath-taking effects of this realer-than-real exceptional laser star-show!

Click below to see the Laser Stars Projector

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About Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector

The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is an astounding piece of laser equipment, which illuminates a whole room of any size with an enchanting green glow of thousands of little stars & cloud formations!

The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector comes with built-in-key-hole slots for optional wall mounting.

The dimensions of the Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector are 28 x 24 x 21cm (approximately)

The suitable age range for the Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is open to anyone able to plug in this fascinating star laser show!

Red sky at night, Sheppards delight Star Laser at night, your delight!

Behold! The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector, a shimmering addition to any starless room!

Regardless of whether your room is big or small, wide or tall, the Laser Stars Projector will fill them all! Featuring the most brilliantly bright & clear display, you & your friends will not believe your eyes & may have to wipe the stardust from them at the end of the night! When you wish upon a Star Laser, your dreams really do come true!

The gloriously green glow that shines from the immaculate Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector makes up thousands of tiny random stars & a blue cosmic cloud patterns! The cloud formations look like nebular gases, and can be brightened, dimmed or removed.

Bizarre! Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector will even occasionally launch out a shooting star! Wow!

The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector requires no set up, just plug the mains adaptor in, lie back & relax! The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is fully adjustable & will be the most interesting & incredible light show youve ever seen!

Exciting! Enjoyable! Enchanting!

This ones out of this universe! So buy the star of the show today!

Whats in The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector Box?

One Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector which pivots to any angle, including; green lasers, 2 Built-In Precision Glass Lenses & a Adjustable Cloud Dimmer

Mains AC Adapter

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Astronomy has to be one the most humbling of all subjects to study. Just the thought of our universe, being like a grain of sand in a sandy shore of universes, is enough to make me want to crawl back under the sheets. Everything just seems so immense, andbeyond comprehension. Where does it end? Is it possible to get to the end of space? Astronomy tries to come up those answers. Like any science, Astronomy asks far more questions then it can answer. But, that’s part of what makes it so fascinating. Ever since the first adventurer wondered what was beyond the nexthorizon, humans have been trying to expand their boundaries. Astronomy is carrying on that fine tradition. It is a pretty big horizon, & maybe one that does not end? Who knows, only astronomers of the future will be easily able to answer that question.

Astronomy Begins At Home

We do not have to go that far with astronomy, to be truly fascinated. Our own friendly sun has some pretty interesting things going on. Did you know, that the sun moves at a rate of 12 miles per second. That’s 720 miles per minute, or 43,200 miles per hour. Good thing it is got a big gas tank huh? And it is moving towards the constellation Hercules. Better get out of the way Herc! Another interesting astronomy tidbit here. I bet you thought the sun was about the hottest thing around. Well, not even close. The surface of the sun is hot, at about 10,000 degreesfarenheit . But, there is something here on earth that is 3 times hotter. Care to guess? Some people have even been touched by it, and lived to tell the story. Lightening is 30,000 degreesfarenheit . Cool huh? One more startling sun fact. There’re 92 natural elements on earth. You remember that periodic table of elements from high school science, those elements. Right. Well, two thirds of those elements have been identified in the sun. Not sure who checked, but they’re there. And, scientists believe that the other third are most likely in the sun as well. Hard to believe our home planet full of water could be so closely related to that big fiery ball of gas. Astronomy spins a pretty fascinating tale.

Future Worlds

Like those adventurers who came before us & were drawn to venture beyond their horizon. I believe that star gazers of today will be our future boundary busters. Clear? It may have been a while since people have walked on the moon. But it is just a question of time. Human nature justdoesn’t allow us to settle for what we have. And so… So far so good. We’re always looking beyond. And astronomy is building that map, & trying to help break down those boundaries of today. It is not just fascinating to imagine where we will go next, but essential to our survival. We are spending the resources of this planet at an alarming rate, and sooner before later things will run out. The planet will survive of course, but we may not. It’s time to venture out, and find another planet like earth. Not just for the sake of discovery, but because we need to. Soon. Hopefully, we will arrive there smarter, & a little more careful. In the mean time, astronomy is paving the path for ours & future generations to follow.

For lots more on astronomy visit www.astronomyfunonline.com or read other astronomy articles at foolishmumbles.com/category/astronomy/

Chris Campbell

Beginners in amateur astronomy are faced with a number of different challenges. One of the most daunting is the choice of a telescope. There are countless to select from & too often there is minimum information on selecting the best one to buy for your specific needs & wants. Clearly, numerous newcomers to the hobby of amateur astronomy are often bewildered by the numerous types of telescopes available on the market.

Astronomy is a fun hobby in which numerous enthusiasts just enjoy looking up at the sky. But if you’re more serious than that, then you’ll need to pick out a telescope. Books & magazines about amateur astronomy are written which can be a good root of information. Some of the additional popular magazines are Astronomy Magazine, Astronomy Now, & Popular Astronomy. You’ll find clearly written, authoritative, and scientifically sound articles that will cover both science & hobby activities in amateur astronomy. But you’ll need a reliable astronomy telescope to enjoy the fascinating hobby of star gazing. Do you follow? The professionally made telescope had become a big part of the hobby. Interestingly, some people even focus on amateur telescope making as their primary interest within the hobby of amateur astronomy.

For lots more information on telescopes, visit http://www.yesastronomy.com/astronomy/astronomy/amateur-astronomy-and-the-telescope-%11-part-1.html

In addition to books & magazines, you’ll be easily able to get acceptable advice at a local retailer that sells telescopes. Beware, how ever, that the thoughts you get at a retailer will be biased towards the products & brands that they carry. Another interesting thought is the astronomy club in your local space. Membership is usually open to all those interested in pursuing astronomy as a hobby. They are the best opportunity for people new to the hobby of Amateur Astronomy to ask questions.

Numerous regional star parties are now held by the local clubs & are an essential part of the hobby of amateur astronomy. And for a fledgling beginner to this fascinating hobby of amateur astronomy, there’re countless beautiful objects to “discover” for the first time. And, since the hobby of amateur astronomy is one of sharing views with friends & strangers, you’re sure to meet numerous new friends who will share your passion & curiosity.

Fortunately the organizations that have formed around amateur astronomy are truly outstanding & helpful. Because of this, the lines between professional & amateur astronomy are slowing blurring. You will be surprised how much useful data there is among the members of your local club. Since viewing of stars & other heavenly bodies is adversely affected by light pollution, clubs will also know the best places from which to enjoy your hobby.

For many “astronomers,” the mysteries of the heavens is what draws them to this hobby. Many enthusiasts acclaim that the hobby of amateur astronomy adds a sense of order as well as one of anticipation to life. Is this overly dramatic? Perhaps, but if you have any curiosity at all in the fascinating hobby of astronomy, join an astronomy club, get some magazines & books, and talk to some retailers about how best to approach this bang-up activity. You will be glad you did.

Yvonne Volante, the author, is a big fan of star-gazing & writes for yesastronomy.com, which is the premier astronomy resource on the internet. You can see all of the articles over at http://www.yesastronomy.com

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Harald Anderson

Billions of galaxies exist in the known Universe, and not any two are explicitly the same. Galaxies are large compared to what we can comprehend, various thousands of light years from end to end (a light year is approx 300,000kms a second!), others are hundreds of thousands of light years from one side to the other.

Each galaxy is made up of tens of millions of stars, sometimes trillions of stars, and includes enough gas & dust to build another galaxy.

Most galaxy counts are done with the help of pc’s these days; we no longer employ folk to sit up all night counting them by hand!

Star counts for galaxies can be calculated by a a good number of ways, one of which is by dividing the total luminosity of a galaxy, by an average stars mass.

The measure between galaxies is usually millions of light years, but we can see collisions between them, & interactions as they pass each other on their infinite journey in some parts of the Universe. Our own galaxy, the Milky way, will eventually collide with Andromeda, are largest neighbour.

Even though there’re a number of different types of galaxies, they can be classified into four areas;

Spiral (examples Andromeda, Triangulum):

These are flattened disks with a spiral pattern within the disk. They have a large bulge in the center, with what’s believed to be a black hole in the middle, and from this bulge come the spiral arms which reach out to the extremity of the galaxy. It can usually be clearly seen in pictures that around the outside are enormous gas & dust clouds.

Their rotation is quite ordinary compared to a lot of things in the galaxy, always rotating in the same direction around the fundamental bulge. Generally you find the older stars in the center, while new young blue stars are forming amongst the gas & dust around the edges.

Barred (examples M95, Ngc 1365):

This is comparable to the Spiral, apart from the arms are more straight reaching from the bulge to extremity of the galaxy, rather than curved. Most astronomers now believe that the Milky way we live in is a barred galaxy.

Various of these can look irregular, but closer inspection, such as the Magellanic Cloud show bars within it, distorted by interactions with other galaxies in the local cluster we’re in.

Elliptical (examples M32, M49):

These are generally smooth in appearance, and unlike the two galaxy types above, the stars in them can be moving in any direction, & they have very little gas & dust within them, so this means very little star formation. Something that will result in a quicker end than spirals, although ‘quicker’ as in billions of years!

Irregular (examples Sextans a,M82):

These have no structure at all, & you get millions of stars in clumps, then a space, another clump, etc. Various have little star formation; others are full of gas & dust & have very high star birth rates.

Out of all the galaxy types, these are usually the hardest for the amateur astronomer to pick up due to the overall lack of brightness. Also these galaxies are usually nowhere near as big as the other types, with most being called dwarf.

It’s more than likely there’re a lot more of these galaxies than the others, but until full computerised sky surveys have taken place we do not know at the minute, and we may never be easily able to see them all due to the lack of luminosity from them.

blogz4u.co.uk/telescope_microscope_astronomy/
I now keep a blog of my observations, news, and any other waffle I care to tell the world about!! blogz4u.co.uk/telescope_microscope_astronomy/>Astronomy & Telescope Blog

Kevin Phillips

Billions of galaxies reside in the known Universe, and not any two are completely the same. Galaxies are sizable compared to what we can comprehend, various thousands of light years from end to end (a light year is approx 300,000kms a second!), others are hundreds of thousands of light years from one side to the other.

Each galaxy is constructed of up of tens of millions of stars, sometimes trillions of stars, and includes enough gas & dust to build another galaxy.

Most galaxy counts are done with the assistance of computers these days; we no longer employ folk to sit up all night counting them by hand!

Star counts for galaxies can be worked out by a a good number of ways, one of which is by dividing the total luminosity of a galaxy, by an average stars mass.

The distance between galaxies is usually millions of light years, but we can see collisions between them, & interactions as they pass each other on their infinite journey in various parts of the Universe. Our own galaxy, the Milky way, will at some particular point collide with Andromeda, are largest partner.

While there’re a number of different types of galaxies, they can be classified into four areas;

Spiral (examples Andromeda, Triangulum):

These are flattened disks with a spiral pattern within the disk. They have a large bulge in the middle, with what’s believed to be a black hole in the middle, and from this bulge come the spiral arms which reach out to the extremity of the galaxy. It can usually be clearly seen in pictures that around the outside are enormous gas & dust clouds.

Their rotation is pretty ordinary compared to a lot of things in the galaxy, always rotating in the same direction around the centralized bulge. Generally you find the older stars in the center, while new young blue stars are forming amongst the gas & dust around the edges.

Barred (examples M58, Ngc 1300���):

This is similar to the Spiral, apart from the arms are more straight reaching from the bulge to edge of the galaxy, rather than curved. Various astronomers now believe that the Triangulum we live in is a barred galaxy.

Various of these can look irregular, but closer inspection, such as the Magellanic Cloud show bars within it, distorted by interactions with other galaxies in the local cluster we’re in.

Elliptical (examples M87, M110):

These are generally smooth in appearance, and unlike the two galaxy kinds above, the stars in them can be moving in any direction, & they have very little gas & dust within them, so this means very little star formation. Something that will result in a quicker end than spirals, although ‘quicker’ as in billions of years!

Irregular (examples Ic1613,Messier 82):

These have no structure at all, & you can have millions of stars in clumps, then a space, another clump, etc. Some have little star formation; others are full of gas & dust & have very high star birth rates.

Out of all the galaxy kinds, these are usually the hardest for the amateur astronomer to pick up due to the overall lack of brightness. Also these galaxies are usually nowhere near as big as the other types, with most being called dwarf.

It’s more than likely there’re a lot more of these galaxies than the others, but until full computerised sky surveys have taken place we do not know at the minute, and we may never be easily able to see them all due to the lack of luminosity from them.

Astronomy Forum

Ive had an interest in astronomy & cosmology for years, and run a number of sites. Clear? Ive recently taken an interest in microscopy, something to do on those cloudy nights!

http://www.astronomy-forum.co.uk/

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Keith Driscoll

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 & 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 & (painfully) bright highlands, a surface pockmarked with craters of all sizes, some with bright ejecta rays & some funny squiggle type features. Clear? 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 & scan its disk for some feature I had not seen in relief before. These days, the skies seem to be cloudy much more often & the frosty winter nights are few & far between. I guess that is global warming for you!

Time moved on & I moved in & out of committee positions in astronomy societies, editing some magazines along the way (I put together my own ezine, called “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 am 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. Clear? It told me when the moon would rise & set, what phase it was & other stuff. When people who’d seen it said they wanted a copy, I polished it up & released it as Shareware under the title “LunarPhase”. It is now evolved into a more comprehensive application called “LunarPhase Pro”. It is great to see that it is been receiving very good reviews - I feel like I have 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. Right. Where stars once twinkled on a velvet background, only a few hardy garnets of light now poke through the misty haze & background neon glow. But the Moon is always there, outshining any murk & pollution we cough up into the sky.

It is a shame we do not 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. Right. Why should we allow others to pollute our natural resource?

Growing up during the Apollo era, I’ve to say that those missions played a great part in spurring on my interest in the moon. And now, almost forty years on, at long last humanity is looking at returning to the Moon. It is going to be an exciting next couple of decades!

Gary Nugent has spent more years than he cares to rememeber pursuing astronomy as a hobby. He runs a number of astronomy based sites:

http://www.nightskyobserver.com,

http://lunarphasepro.nightskyobserver.com,

http://www.jupsatpro.com

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Gary Nugent