Questions And Answers - Skywatching Let's say I went out skywatching and saw a beautiful grouping of planets near the Onold star maps, the Queen is sometimes pictured reclining on that Mshape http://www.earthsky.com/iwonder/skywatching.html
Extractions: Why do depictions of the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, often show only six stars? How can I see Earth's shadow? Sometimes I see multiple shafts of light emanating from the place where the sun shines through a hole in the clouds. Why? What is the Winter Circle? ... Why is the harvest moon called the harvest moon? The Pleiades is an asterism or distinctive pattern of stars in the constellation Taurus. It looks like a tiny misty dipper. Some people confuse the Pleiades with the real Little Dipper asterism in the northern sky. But the pattern of the Pleiades is much smaller than the Little Dipper. Also, the Dipper stays in the north while the Pleiades travels from east to west across our sky on a path not unlike our sun. Depictions of the Pleiades often show just six stars because, with the eye alone, most people see only six stars here. According to Greek legend, the seven sisters were the daughters of Atlas, who was said to carry the sky on his shoulders. Because most people see six stars, there are legends about the "lost" Pleiad. One sister is sometimes said to have veiled her face after the destruction of Troy. Another is said to have been struck by lightning. Still another is said to have hidden in shame after she married a mortal.
Features: Skywatching: STARcast: How Weather Affects The Sky Institute at the University of Alaska provides worldwide forecast maps of the otherfactors contribute to a phenomenon known as scintillation or star twinkling http://www.earthsky.com/Features/Skywatching/Starcast/dewpt-article.html
Extractions: This winter, the sun and sky will likely put on quite a show. One of the stars this winter could be the Aurora, a colorful, awesome light show in the sky. You can thank another star, our star, the sun for that. On the sun, solar flare and sunspot activity will be high and here on earth, the aurora could be the best it has been in a decade. The reason for both is the 11-year solar cycle. Figure 1: Monthly Sunspot Numbers since 1950. Very apparent is the 11-year sunspot cycle with maxima in 1958, 1969, 1980, 1990. The next maximum is due in 2000. Courtesy Royal Observatory of Belgium http://www.oma.be/KSB-ORB/SIDC/sidc_graphics.html Chinese Astronomers first reported dark spots on the sun in the 1400s. Galileo using the earliest of telescopes began to record these "sunspots" in the early 1600s. Astronomers worldwide have kept a record of daily numbers ever since. By the early 1840s, astronomers had recognized a cyclical nature of the activity. An amateur astronomer, H. Schwabe, was credited with having recognized these cycles first. The most significant changes occur on a cycle of about 11 years. Figure 2: Magnetogram from the U.S. National Solar Observatory in Kitts Peak Arizona (10/18/98) showing dark sunspots and bright flares on the solar surface.
Abrams Planetarium - Sky Calendar This site provides a dayto-day description of interesting things to look for in the night sky. Print Category Kids and Teens School Time Activities and GamesThe Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar promotes skywatching for people of reverse sideconsists of a simplified star map of The sky maps are designed for use at a http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/SkyCalendar/Index.html
Extractions: The Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar promotes skywatching for people of all ages. As its name implies, the sheet for each month takes the form of a calendar. Diagrams in the boxes invite the reader to track the moon's rapid motion past the planets and bright stars of the zodiac, as well as to follow the more leisurely pace of the planets in their gatherings with bright stars and other planets. The reverse side consists of a simplified star map of the month's evening sky. The sky maps are designed for use at a convenient time in mid-evening, for a latitude useful for the entire continental U.S. (40 degrees north). The Sky Calendar has evolved into one of the nations most highly illustrated, easy-to-follow guide to sky events. Not only is it enjoyed by over 10,000 paid subscribers, but it is reproduced (with permission) by classroom teachers for their students; by planetariums and astronomer clubs for their members and the general public; and by park interpreters for audiences at sky talks. Frames from the calendar have appeared regularly in the Celestial Calendar pages of magazine. Both the sky map (on the reverse side) and the calendar appear in each issue of
CCAS Useful Links - Stargazing Center ExploreZone.com Night Sky good primer on skywatching ExploreZone.com MorrisonPlanetarium - The Sky this Month Munich Archive star maps NASA Skyview http://www.fix.net/wreil/ccas/links-stargazing.htm
Sky Observation - SpaceTides Sources for good starmaps include astronomy books from bookstores (skywatchingby David star maps You can buy an astronomy book with star maps in, go to http://www.geocities.com/assabfn/spacetides/astronomy/skyobservation.htm
Extractions: For those of you who have binoculars or small telescopes , can try to find the following deep sky objects in the coming month. It is suggested that you get a decent starmap that shows all the constellations and at least a few familiar objects, especially those in the Messier catalogue. Sources for good starmaps include astronomy books from bookstores ( Skywatching by David Levy for example highly recommended) and libraries, as well as the internet. Websites with software programs include: www.skymap.com (download a demo version) , http://www.stella2000.com/ http://www.cybersky.com/ (evaluation versions available).
Tourist Information Kiosk Wolf1.hmtl in other endeavors. ASTRONOMY, Links to my favorite skywatching sites,star maps, meteor showers, comets etc. PROPHECY, With the millenium http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Gorge/1186/contents.html
Extractions: Every month I will post the new links I have found. Useful links, funny links, just plain bizarre links. Whatever new stuff I bookmark will end up in here. The following month, will see a new set, but I will create an archive page of past months. I may even include a what's new at Wolfie's column, to keep friends up to date with me.
Unaided Eye Beginner Observer's Books Nake eye star charts Eight star maps of all the sky unaided eye circle star chartsSeveral star charts for skywatching by David H. Levy Nake eye star charts http://www.stargazing.net/david/eyes/nebeglib.html
Extractions: Beginner Observer's Cassette Tapes Also check the unaided eye advanced observer's books. To find these books first check your local library, then your astronomy club's book library, next try used book stores and then as a last resort check new book stores . Some of the books may be out of print and may not be available at new book stores. 365 Starry Nights by Chet Raymo Nake eye star charts: A alot of constellation star charts. Complete sky unaided eye circle star charts: None. An introduction to astronomy for every night of the year. Pages: 225 Nake eye star charts: Many constellation star charts. Complete sky unaided eye circle star charts: A star chart for each of the four seasons. A guide to stars and constellations and their legends. Pages: 72 Nake eye star charts: Complete set of all 88 constellation star charts.
Astronomy Book Shopping It discusses skywatching through the ages and about the tools and techniques nightsky from both hemispheres with highquality sky photographs and star maps. http://www.solarviews.com/store/astronomy.html
Extractions: "This comprehensive work takes you on a personal tour of the universe using nothing more than a pair of binoculars. More comprehensive than any book currently available, it starts with Earth's nearest neighbor, the moon, and then goes on to explore each planet in the solar system, asteroids, meteors, comets and the sun. Following this, the reader is whisked away into deep space to explore celestial bodies including stars that are known and many sights less familiar. The final chapter includes a detailed atlas of deep-sky objects visible through binoculars. The appendices include guidance on how to buy, care for and maintain astronomical binoculars, tips and hints on using them, and detailed information on several home-made binocular mounts." -
Astronomy 1: Introductory Astronomy Earth Sky skywatching center on the class website (click on the January21 link from the skywatching page). You can find more star maps by browsing http://hven.swarthmore.edu/astro1/A1-orion-observing.htm
Extractions: Astronomy 1: Introductory Astronomy Spring 2003 Due in class on Thursday, January 23 Go outside tonight, after about 7 PM , taking a piece of paper, pen or pencil, and perhaps a flashlight with you. Make a sketch to scale of Orion. You should see it in the southeast (more southerly and higher in the sky the later you go out, and you can do this any time after about Include the four bright stars at each corner of the constellation (right and left arms, right and left legs), the three stars in the belt, and the dagger. Please also include Sirius, which is just to the lower left of Orion (its the brightest star in the sky); its in the constellation Canis Major. You sketch should include the horizon, as well as the stars in Orion and Sirius (you can include other stars too, if you want). On the bottom and along one side of the sketch, you should indicate an angular scale, in degrees. Check out p. 6 of the textbook for a good guide to angular scale using your hands. Indicate on your sketch how many degrees it is from Saiph (Orions right leg from his point of view) to Betelgeuse (right shoulder) and from Saiph to Rigel (left leg).
LookSmart - Amateur Astronomy index of tonight's sky, a skywatching forecast, a star parties, public education andrecreational star gazing access a selection of astronomy and weather maps. http://canada.looksmart.com/eus1/eus881235/eus881296/eus848584/eus1135722/r?l=
Sky Guides - Stargazing Books - Cosmobrain Astronomy Books x 4.55, 40 Nights to Knowing the Sky A NightBy-Night skywatching Primer by CambridgeUniv Pr.; 1996 Dimensions(in) 0.22 x 11.70 x 8.30, star maps for Beginners http://www.cosmobrain.com/bookstore/guide.html
Sky Publishing - Star-Finding With A Planisphere turning of the celestial sphere perplexes everyone who takes up skywatching. Sky PlanisphereDavid Chandler's Night Sky planisphere features star maps on both http://www.wwnorton.com/astro21/sandt/planispheres.html
Extractions: T HE MOVEMENTS OF THE STARS have taxed the human intellect throughout the ages from ancient Babylonians seeking to predict sky events, to Greek philosophers wrestling with the structure of the universe, to beginning amateurs today trying to point a new telescope at the Andromeda Galaxy. At first, the turning of the celestial sphere perplexes everyone who takes up skywatching. Sooner or later the picture snaps into place and the whole setup becomes obvious. But those who think the sky's motion is inherently simple should try explaining to a beginner why every star follows a different curved path across the sky at a different speed. And why do some stars move from west to east while most move east to west? Can you explain why some constellations turn somersaults during the night while others just tilt from side to side? To bring the sky's motion down to Earth, astronomers for millenniums have built little mechanisms that duplicate it. A working model not only illustrates how the sky turns but can help locate objects at any given time. The simplest sky model is a planisphere.
Skymaps.com: Recommended Astronomy Books And Products Schaaf's ingenious program is a system of practical objectives and activities thatget readers actively involved in skywatching. Note, star maps comprise only http://skymaps.com/store/cat02.html
Extractions: Level: Beginner Do you want to learn about Astronomy but don't know where to start? Nightwatch may just be the right book for you. It is written as a complete first book on amateur Astronomy and it has helped thousands of stargazers worldwide through the initial stages of celestial exploration. Recently revised, Nightwatch contains chapters on The Universe, Backyard Astronomy, Stars for all Seasons, Stargazing Equipment (full of good practical advice including factors to consider before you buy your first telescope), Observing Deep Sky Objects, The Planets, Moon and Sun, Solar and Lunar Eclipses, Comets, Meteors and Auroras, Photographing the Night Sky, and Resources. In addition to 4 seasonal all-sky maps, a set of 20 detailed star charts are also included that provide instant information on hundreds of naked-eye, binocular and telescopic objects. Considered by many to be the best book of its kind.
Skymaps.com: Astronomy Calendars 2003 The star maps in this calendar are yearround reference charts the Spirograph Nebula,Saturn's Aurora, and star formation Includes Astrographs skywatching Guide http://skymaps.com/store/cat13.html
Extractions: This 12-month calendar includes international holidays, descriptive text, and moon phases. Features spectacular images of Embryonic Stars, the Pistol Nebula, Eskimo Nebula, Cartwheel Galaxy, Stingray Nebula, Jupiter Aurora, Hourglass Nebula, Spirograph Nebula, Saturn in Infrared, Planetary Nebula NGC 7095, M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Serendipitous Asteroid, and Nebula NGC 6826. Calendar lists holidays and observances in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and more, as well as moon phases. A 12-month calendar including: The Orion and Horsehead Nebulae; The Ant Nebula; An Aurora over Alaska; Spiral Galaxy M83; A Total Eclipse of the Moon; Sunset over Monument Valley; A Deep View of Galaxies; The Red Planet; Star-forming Region S106; Planets Orbiting Gliese 876; The Crab Nebula; The Sun's Corona. Read daily notes on constellations, scientist's theories about the universe, and starwatching hints. View stars with or without binoculars. Vivid color sky charts, timely data, and insightful articles alert you to planetary conjunctions, meteor showers, lunar and solar eclipses, and much more. The star maps in this calendar are year-round reference charts for people living in Canada, U.S. cities from Washington D.C. to San Francisco and points north, and most of Europe.
Surfing The Net With Kids: Backyard Astronomy Meet Deborah Byrd author of this monthly skywatching column (my don star Attractions(the constellations), and star Chart (sky maps superimposed with http://www.surfnetkids.com/stargazing.htm
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Beginners Astronomy Books (UK) Levitt, IM Marshall, Roy star maps for Beginners Now in its 50th Levy, David H.skywatching An attractive and comprehensive introduction for the beginner http://www.astunit.com/books/uk-beginners.htm
Extractions: The long-awaited gathering of the five naked-eye planets reaches its peak May 5-6 in the western evening sky. In a single glance you'll be able to see all five planets, a feat not possible again for decades. PRINTABLE MAPS Click to enlarge this graphic, which shows the alignment on three nights in May. Then print it and take it outside with you!
DRACO.com places on the web (as far as I can tell) that has maps of the Earth and Sky's skywatching;Spacewatch Your Sky Tonight; Jack Horkheimer star Hustler weekly http://home.wanadoo.nl/draco.com/astronomie/universum/waarnemen.html
Extractions: Waarnemen CoeliStella 2000 (PC software) realistic simulation of the night sky, which features planets, comets, and over 15,500 stars Deepsky 97 Database, observing, and planning software for observer's Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Skywatchers Report Monthly Star Chart one of only two places on the web (as far as I can tell) that has maps of the evening sky that you can print out and use MyStarsLive interactive star chart North American Skies provides information on stars, planets, eclipses, meteor showers and other events visible in the sky Sky and Telescope - Sky at a Glance Sky Calendar Monthly calendar representation of naked-eye night sky highlights Stig's Sky Calendar ASTRONOMY 's Sky Show Skymaps.com Skywatch (space.com) Skywatcher's Diary Lists interesting events to look for in the night sky every day of the month Earth and Sky's Skywatching Spacewatch: Your Sky Tonight Jack Horkheimer: Star Hustler weekly TV series on naked eye astronomy Star Journey @ nationalgeographic.com Star Journey: The Heavens - Start Chart @ nationalgeographic.com ... Starman Definitive comic strip of astronomy designed to be an informative as well as an entertaining vehicle to help you discover the sky overhead 's This Week's Sky at a Glance Your Sky interactive planetarium of the web Home Astronomie Universum
Extractions: Comment: This richly illustrated and clearly written book is a pleasure to read. Its author, David Levy, (discoverer of many comets, including Shoemaker-Levy which impacted Jupiter in 1994)is one of the great amauteur astronmers, and communicates his love of the heavens well. The star charts are done by Wil Tirion, the foremost celestial cartographer and author of many important sky atlases. The book itself starts with a valuable historical perspective, discussing ancient astronomy and classical and modern astronomers. It progresses through a presentation of our place in the solar system and the universe, and discussons of planetary and deep sky objects. Various types of instruments for observing are also discussed. Finally, there is a section on each of the constellations, and the objects within them, enriched by historical information and even a guide to pronouncing some of the Arabic and Latin tongue-twisters one encounters.
Skywatching once you are prepared, is to go skywatching with the Skymaps.com provides monthlydownloadable maps of the stars Sky This site allows you to make a star map for http://www.monroe2boces.org/shared/esp/Skywatch.htm
