astronomy at Awenda - Computer Easecomputer-ease.com/darkskies/AstronomyAtAwenda.pdfThe Backyard...
Transcript of astronomy at Awenda - Computer Easecomputer-ease.com/darkskies/AstronomyAtAwenda.pdfThe Backyard...
astronomy night at astronomy night at AwendaAwenda
shedding light on astronomyshedding light on astronomy
16 Aug 0716 Aug 07
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 2 of 20
introductionintroduction
Blake NancarrowBlake Nancarrow
amateur astronomer & photographeramateur astronomer & photographer
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada memberRoyal Astronomical Society of Canada member
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 3 of 20
tonighttonight’’s agendas agenda
what is astronomy?what is astronomy?
CanadaCanada’’s contributions contribution
what we can seewhat we can see
equipment we needequipment we need
additional resourcesadditional resources
upcoming eventsupcoming events
45 minutes45 minutes
please ask questionsplease ask questions
I have questions for youI have questions for you……
II’’ll stay afterwardsll stay afterwardsfor a few minutesfor a few minutes
then off to the dock!then off to the dock!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 4 of 20
what is astronomy?what is astronomy?
scientific study of celestial bodiesscientific study of celestial bodies
disciplinesdisciplines planetary sciencesplanetary sciences
astrophysicsastrophysics
cosmologycosmology
physics, chemistry, biology, geography, weatherphysics, chemistry, biology, geography, weather
research is mostly observationalresearch is mostly observational
(do not confuse with astrology)(do not confuse with astrology)
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 5 of 20
Canada contributesCanada contributes
technologytechnology CanadarmCanadarm 1 and 21 and 2
peoplepeople our intrepid astronautsour intrepid astronauts
QuQuéébecbec--born Hubert Reevesborn Hubert Reeves
cometcomet--hunter David Levyhunter David Levy
researchresearch Canadian Impact Crater ProgramCanadian Impact Crater Program
Dafydd Williams, M.D.from Saskatoon
on STS-118
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 6 of 20
who who ““doesdoes”” astronomy?astronomy?
stargazersstargazers
amateur astronomersamateur astronomers
professional astronomersprofessional astronomers
everybody!everybody!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 7 of 20
what do you need to do astronomy?what do you need to do astronomy?
telescopetelescope
observatoryobservatory
digital setting circlesdigital setting circles
computercomputer
lots of moneylots of money
very dark skiesvery dark skies
chargedcharged--couple device cameracouple device camera
expensive digital cameraexpensive digital camera
get a good pair of eyeballsget a good pair of eyeballs
a braina brain
some timesome time
cloudless skycloudless sky
a map or charta map or chart
comfy seatingcomfy seating
comfy clothingcomfy clothing
oh, antioh, anti--mosquito mosquito armourarmour!!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 8 of 20
what kind of telescope should I buy?what kind of telescope should I buy?
wait!wait!
big decisionbig decision
can be verycan be very expensiveexpensive
frustratingfrustrating
discouragingdiscouraging
buy binoculars first!buy binoculars first!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 9 of 20
expectationsexpectations
too hightoo high powerful eyepiecespowerful eyepieces
dark adaptationdark adaptation
cool down timecool down time
film / CCD sensitivityfilm / CCD sensitivity
““aperture feveraperture fever””
““faint faint fuzziesfuzzies””
M74 (Hubble Space Telescope; processed)typical amateur telescope view
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 10 of 20
expectationsexpectations
too lowtoo low really expensivereally expensive
itit’’s hard to dos hard to do
need to know mathneed to know math
lingo & termslingo & terms
need lots of timeneed lots of time
cancan’’t see anything in cityt see anything in city
Venus and Moon 14° apartfrom my back yard
double star Albireofrom my back yard
my plot of asteroid Vestaover 7 daysfrom my backyard
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 11 of 20
what can I see?what can I see?
SunSun
solar eclipses solar eclipses [CAUTION!][CAUTION!]
patterns (constellations)patterns (constellations)
aurora (i.e. Northern Lights)aurora (i.e. Northern Lights)
our galaxy (Milky Way)our galaxy (Milky Way)
shooting stars (meteors)shooting stars (meteors)
lunar eclipseslunar eclipses
MoonMoon
artificial satellites (e.g. Iridium)artificial satellites (e.g. Iridium)
Space Station!Space Station!
space shuttle!space shuttle!
5 planets!5 planets!
star clusters! (e.g. Pleiades)star clusters! (e.g. Pleiades)
a galaxy! (Andromeda, M31)a galaxy! (Andromeda, M31)
and more!and more!
with just your eyeswith just your eyes……
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 12 of 20
your next stepsyour next steps
learnlearn major constellationsmajor constellations
some some ““bigbig”” starsstars
learn Greek (learn Greek (ΩΩ) & Arabic () & Arabic (ZubenelgenubiZubenelgenubi))
watch for watch for ““wandering starswandering stars””
visit a star partyvisit a star party
make a make a planisphereplanisphere
get a good primer bookget a good primer book
start a notebook or start a notebook or blogblog
join me at the dock!?join me at the dock!?
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 13 of 20
good print mediagood print media
NightWatchNightWatchTerence Dickinson, FireflyTerence Dickinson, Firefly
The Backyard AstronomerThe Backyard Astronomer’’s Guides GuideTerence Dickinson & Alan Dyer, FireflyTerence Dickinson & Alan Dyer, Firefly
Star WatchStar WatchPhilip Harrington, WileyPhilip Harrington, Wiley
subscribe to an astronomy magazinesubscribe to an astronomy magazineSkyNewsSkyNews –– a Canadian publication (bia Canadian publication (bi--monthly)monthly)
ObserverObserver’’s Handbooks HandbookRASC (annual)RASC (annual)
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 14 of 20
good web sitesgood web sites
Royal Astronomical Society of CanadaRoyal Astronomical Society of Canadarasc.carasc.ca
free monthly map, targets by eye, free monthly map, targets by eye, binosbinos, scope, scopeskymaps.comskymaps.com
sky conditions predictionssky conditions predictionscleardarksky.comcleardarksky.com
satellite, Space Station, Shuttle trackingsatellite, Space Station, Shuttle trackingheavensheavens--above.comabove.com
the space agenciesthe space agencieswww.space.gc.cawww.space.gc.ca, , www.nasa.govwww.nasa.gov
my my ““dark skiesdark skies”” blogblogcomputercomputer--ease.com/darkskiesease.com/darkskies//
Warning. Shameless plug!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 15 of 20
visit a club meeting or star partyvisit a club meeting or star party
CanadaCanada Royal Astronomical Society of CanadaRoyal Astronomical Society of Canada
chapters in every provincechapters in every province
other clubs (e.g. NYAA)other clubs (e.g. NYAA)
U.S.A. & aboardU.S.A. & aboard many societiesmany societies
start your own sidewalk astronomy club!start your own sidewalk astronomy club!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 16 of 20
letlet’’s reduce light pollutions reduce light pollution
turn off lights, use sensorsturn off lights, use sensors
lower wattagelower wattage
aim light down, get new fixturesaim light down, get new fixtures
practice at home and workpractice at home and work
savesave electricityelectricity
money!money!
birdsbirds
the nightthe night
ourselvesourselves……
http://darksky.org
http://flap.org
http://www.toronto.ca/lightsout/
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 17 of 20
upcoming eventsupcoming events
AugustAugust
20: Charleston Lake Astronomy 20: Charleston Lake Astronomy Night with Terence Dickinson Night with Terence Dickinson and park staffand park staff
22: 22: PerseidsPerseids meteors endmeteors end
23: 23: FacebookFacebook Greg GardnerGreg Gardner’’s s Lights Out OntarioLights Out Ontario
28: total lunar eclipse28: total lunar eclipse
29: 29: VestaVesta and Jupiter in and Jupiter in conjunctionconjunction
SeptemberSeptember
2: Moon passes Pleiades2: Moon passes Pleiades
77--9: Algonquin star party9: Algonquin star party
1414--15: Fall15: Fall’’ n Stars partyn Stars party
NovemberNovember
9: Ceres at opposition9: Ceres at opposition
1313--20: 20: LeonidsLeonids meteorsmeteors
DecemberDecember
Mars getting bigger!Mars getting bigger!
at opposition on 24that opposition on 24th
Buy a 2008 RASC calendar.Makes a great birthday or Xmas gift.(hint)
Warning. Shameless plug!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 18 of 20
conclusionconclusion
get out thereget out there
it is your Universeit is your Universe
I bid you I bid you ““Clear skies!Clear skies!””
thanksthanks……
whowho’’s coming to the dock?!s coming to the dock?!
NaturalNaturalHeritageHeritageEducationEducation
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 19 of 20
see you at the docksee you at the dock
clothingclothing warmthwarmth
mozziesmozzies
dog on leashdog on leash
bring your bring your binosbinos (optional)(optional)
no white flashlightsno white flashlights
no other white lights, please!no other white lights, please!
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 20 of 20
distancesdistances
MoonMoon 380,000 km380,000 km
SunSun 150,000,000 km150,000,000 km
MercuryMercury 58 Gm58 Gm
VenusVenus 108 Gm108 Gm
MarsMars 230 Gm230 Gm
JupiterJupiter 780 Gm780 Gm
SaturnSaturn 1,400 Gm1,400 Gm
ISSISS 350 km (above 350 km (above gndgnd))
IridiumIridium 780 km780 km
centre of Milky Waycentre of Milky Way 33 33 klykly
61 61 CygniCygni 11 11 lyly
VegaVega 37 37 lyly
AntaresAntares 136 136 lyly
PolarisPolaris 466 466 lyly
ZubenZuben ElgenubiElgenubi 56 56 lyly
ZubenZuben ElschemaliElschemali 1,040 1,040 lyly
M7 OCM7 OC 800 800 lyly
M6 (Butterfly) OCM6 (Butterfly) OC 1.6 1.6 klykly
M31 (Andromeda)M31 (Andromeda) 2.5 2.5 MlyMlyplanet distances are from SunGm = gigametres = million kmly = light year = 9,500,000 Gm/y
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 21 of 20
Milky Way, Milky Way, ScorpiusScorpius, , AntaresAntares, M6, M7, M8, M6, M7, M8
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 22 of 20
Moon, lunar Moon, lunar eclipeseclipes
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 23 of 20
Moon, Venus, Mars, conjunctionsMoon, Venus, Mars, conjunctions
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 24 of 20
artificial satellites, Station, Shuttleartificial satellites, Station, Shuttle
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 25 of 20
LeonidsLeonids, meteors, meteor showers, meteors, meteor showers
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 26 of 20
Pleiades, Pleiades, HyadesHyades, star clusters, star clusters
14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 27 of 20
a galaxy 2.5 million a galaxy 2.5 million lyly awayaway