Astronomy

Astonomy Tips for Star Gazing for the Amateur Astronomer

When there are billions of stars in the galaxy, there are a billion and one reasons for an amateur astronomer to stay up at night to watch the sky. If you've been bit by the stargazing bug, give in. It's a very enjoyable hobby. To help you get started, here are some things you might want to know:

Get a sky chart

A sky chart or a field guide can help you find where the stars are in the heavens. Since their positions change depending on the seasons, you can use the sky chart to help you find a particular star immediately. You can also map out the locations of different constellations and recognize any star in the night sky by simply referring to your sky chart.

What to look for

The star that shines brightest in the northern hemisphere is Sirius. You might also want to find Polaris, the North Star. If you're a little lost, you can look to the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) to show you the way. Find the 'bowl' or 'ladle' of the Dipper. The two stars located away from the handle are the Pointer Stars, called Dubhe and Merak. Follow where they point straight towards the North and you will find Polaris.

Don’t forget to enjoy the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor), Cassiopeia, Draco, Cepheus and other constellations – there are 88 of them, some of which are visible at different times of the year.

You can also watch for falling stars or meteor showers. Their appearance is usually announced on TV and newspapers. On special nights, you can enjoy hundreds of the most beautiful sight streaking across the night sky.

Star bright, star light

Stars are categorized by brightness, which is measured by magnitude. The magnitude scale has the brightest stars having 0 or even negative magnitudes. For example, Sirius has a magnitude of -1.46. Vega, a star that shines bright during summer, has a magnitude 0. Polaris has a magnitude 2 and Antares has a magnitude 1. Stars with a magnitude of 29 need the Hubble Space telescope to be seen and get this: they are 250,000,000,000 times less bright than Vega.

Telescope

As a newbie astronomer, you don’t really need a telescope to enjoy stargazing. It's best to familiarize yourself first with stars and constellations using just your naked eye at first. You can also use a good pair of binoculars since these will do the job nicely. Buy a telescope only if you're already familiar with the night sky and enjoy it to the fullest.

Article by stmadeveloper.com

Astronomy Definitions and Factiods

Astronomy Definitions

Ascending node: The plane of a planet's orbit (or other solar system object) is usually tilted with respect to the plane defined by the solar system (the ecliptic). These 2 great circles intersect at 2 points. As the planet travels around its orbit, at one of the intersection points it will pass from below the ecliptic plane to above it (i.e. northward). This point is called the ascending node.

Asteroid: A small, mostly rocky body orbiting the Sun. Asteroids range in size from 1000 kilometers in diameter to tiny objects you could hold in your hand. Most asteroids orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, and are the source of most meteorites.

Asteroid family: Group of asteroids with similar orbital elements (distance from the Sun, inclination of the orbital plane to the Earth's orbital plane, and eccentricity of the orbit) thought to be remnants of one larger asteroid parent.

Astrobiology: Study of the origin, distribution, and destiny of life in the universe. These are interdisciplinary studies involving astronomers, astrophysicists, biologists, chemists, geneticists, geologists, paleontologists, planetary scientists, and specialists from other scientific fields. Three broad themes of astrobiology: Is there life elsewhere in the universe? How did life begin and evolve? What is the future for life on Earth and beyond?