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ITS GETTING DARK...
GET OUT THE TELESCOPE ...
TIME TO SEE THE SIGHTS!
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Many years ago, when I was in the 6th grade, I saw my first really large telescope. It was housed in a building on the campus of Mississippi State College for Women (now Mississippi University for Women) in my then home town of Columbus, Mississippi. I lived across the street and went to elementary school nearby. Because I expressed an interest in astronomy, my teacher asked me if I would like to see this telescope and perhaps ask a few questions of the professor who taught astronomy at the college. In retrospect, I recall that the telescope I saw that day was a very long refractor. (However large it actually was, it looked truly huge to a 6th grader!) While I ultimately chose a different career, my teacher's kindness set me on a path to enjoy and appreciate astronomy from an amateur's view point. I have often looked up at a night's sky to see old friends like Orion, Pleiades, Cassiopeia, and the Big Dipper when I was in Asia, Europe, Central America, and countless places here in the US. My celestial friends have provided comfort and a great deal of enjoyment (as well as directions when needed!). In astronomy, the view as well as the mysteries, are truly endless and they are as close as just looking up. If you haven't spent time doing so, I can only highly recommend that you take time on the first clear night that presents the opportunity! You don't need a big telescope, or any telescope for that matter! Try to find a pair of binoculars (any size), pick a dark spot in the country or someplace away from the city lights, get a reclining lawn chair and spend at least 15 minutes just looking at the heavens. Get a simple Star Chart (try Astronomy or Sky and Telescope Magazines each month) and find something to view. The darker it is, the more you will see. Let your eyes get accustomed to the dark and enjoy the sites. Don't have binoculars? Not to worry; just use your eyes! There is so much to see if you will just take the time to look up. Amateur Astronomy can be every bit as complex as Amateur Radio, so you need to understand that you will never run out of things to learn and new things to do. If you are wanting to buy a telescope, the best advice I think I read was "... Don't get caught up endlessly looking and comparing equipment.... Just get something that seems to be mainstream and start enjoying the night skies." Sounds easy enough, but it can be harder than one might think! There are plenty of articles about "Starting out..." and "Buying your first telescope....", so check these out. What you get depends on your budget, what you want to do with your new telescope, and what your specific interest may be. If you are new to all this, you probably don't know what you want to do with a scope beyond 'look at everything'! There is no easy answer, but the positive side is that there are surely several scopes that will work well for what you want to do, and today's technology really works in your favor. Read a lot of telescope reviews (Cloudy Nights Telescope Reviews is a good place to start), ask questions of other amateurs and also visit a local area astronomy club if one is available in your area. There are also a lot of good books on Amateur Astronomy that can help you get started. I recommend Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them. This is a good book to peak your interest and get you off to observing, but it is just one of many! Try your local library, a local bookstore, or perhaps Amazon.Com to find a copy. I have included just a few links below for those who might want to look into telescopes, publications and helpful astronomy organizations. What follows is a description of my modest set up. Perhaps it will help you get some ideas for what you would like to do and even how you might create a portable observatory for your use.
MY TELESCOPE
I use a Celestron NexStar 6 SE Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (SCT). I really was interested in getting a 6" refractor since refractors do really well for planetary and lunar observing, but the size and weight (57 lbs) of a refractor cut back on portability and this was a major issue in my case. I wanted to move my scope in/out of the house on a regular basis as well as be able to take it in the car with me, so I needed to keep the size reasonable. Most amateur astronomers will tell you that "Any small scope that gets used often, is the better than any large scope that just sits in your house". With all this in mind, I opted for the NexStar 6 SE. To me, the strength of the NexStar is equally in the Go-To system and in the UHTC coated optics that you will appreciate after using the scope for a few minutes. The Celestron Sky-Align software makes aligning the scope for a viewing session easy and fast. You can go from from object to object at a touch of a button and track objects just as easily. Just think, only a few years ago, only professional observatories or expensive amateur set ups could do this! Now it is built into a small portable quality telescope that is very affordable. The UHTC optics also pays off for small scopes like this NexStar making the 6" SCT a great performing telescope in a small package.
LUNAR OBSERVATION For a number of reasons, much of my current observing time is spent observing our Moon. Amateur observations can do some useful work here, but I do it just for the sheer enjoyment and interest in what I see. The Moon is also a great object to observe and study for anyone who lives in or near a city and has to contend with light pollution. With all the interest in NASA returning to manned missions to the Moon by 2018 and China doing so in 2020, it is also interesting to actually see the areas where these missions are planning to go. Besides just being of interest as the largest object in the night sky, the Moon also provides enough mystery to hold most anyone's interest. Most people don't know that meteor/probe/satellite impacts, light flashes, and even reported clouds of gas or dust have been noted on the Moon on occasion! I won't get into all that here, but if you are interested, you might start by checking out the website of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) as well as several books/links on the subject of Transient Lunar Phenomenon (TLP) and Lunar Meteoritic Phenomena (LMP). You might just find there is a lot more to Lunar observation than you thought!
MESSIER OBJECT OBSERVATIONS Another on-going observing project is one that most amateur astronomers seem to eventually get on their list of projects at one time or another. This is observing and logging each of the 110 Messier Objects as the seasons change and they become visible. The Messier List was prepared and published by Charles Messier in 1784. This was his effort to catalog and identify notable objects (from his observing site in France) so he would not be confused by these objects while looking for comets, which was his primary interest. It is believed that the best of Messier's instruments (and there seems to have been several) were less capable than a modern 4-inch refractor or 6-inch Newton reflector. Today, a Messier Observing program provides a list of delightful objects to work through just for the joy of seeing them! If you are looking for a neat observing program that you can spread out over a year, may I recommend this as a nice one to consider. The process will help you make the night sky a more comfortable and friendly place to look up and see at any time and from most any place. Read up on the Messier List of objects and find a Messier Check List that you like (there are numerous versions on line) then take your time and enjoy the view!
A PORTABLE OBSERVATORY Every amateur astronomer who observes out in the open quickly becomes familiar with the 'dew problem' that occurs during an evening observation. Dew collects not only on the telescope, but on star charts, your observing chair, and if you are using one, your laptop computer. Left unchecked, this dew could ruin a computer as well as your charts and logbooks. My approach was to mitigate this problem and to help me enjoy my observing sessions more by setting up a sheltered observing table as the center piece of a portable observatory. I originally designed a small shelter around a 4' x 2' folding table using scrap PVC for the frame and a blue tarpaulin for a cover. While this worked pretty well, I have since found something even better, cheaper, and faster to set up/take down. A POP-UP OPTION: If the idea of a using a small pop-up tent for an observatory sounds appealing, you might consider an inexpensive pop-up "Privacy Tent" of the type normally used as a field shower or for a portable toilet in the field. Cost can run from less than $30 to over $100 and may be cheaper than building a shelter unless you have a lot of the parts on hand. All these tents are easy to set up and the one I chose even takes shape when you just "toss it out" into an open area! While these tents are made from very thin material and not suitable for heavy use in difficult weather, that is not the amateur astronomer's intent anyway. It works great for a quick 'out of the dew and breeze' shelter, and it might be just the ticket for your use. You may want to use a couple of tie downs or use some sand bags to hold it in place if the breeze is blowing a bit, but then you just put your scope in the doorway and sit inside the shelter, or set the scope up just a few steps away from the shelter so you can observe a while and then step "inside" to sit and make notes, check a reference, or get a cup of coffee! The model I selected was the Outback Porta-Privy that sells for $49 to $59. (You can find it at Bass-Pro Shops, Cabela's, and Emergency Essentials among others). Here are the features for this Outback model:
(Click on the pictures to enlarge them...)
While I particularly liked (and selected) a 'pop-up' model to avoid assembly in the dark, several other models I reviewed also looked like they would set up easily and work well to hold a small table and folding chair/stool such as I use. Most of these type tents seem to be a 'standard' size of about 4'x4' and 6' high. This size will provide you ample space to sit and make notes, use the laptop, and be out of the dew and breeze. Add a small desk light, coffee thermos, and star charts to have a portable, practical observing shelter. You only have to turn around to use the scope which you can place in the door way. (I hope to add some photos of my set up in actual use soon.)
OTHER IDEAS FOR AN ENJOYABLE OBSERVING SESSION Observing Vest - A light weight 'fishing vest' can be picked up at Wal-Mart and other places for a few dollars (usually less than $10-$20) and it holds a pen, eyepieces, flashlights, cell phone, green laser pointer, lens brush, pocket recorder (for that special observation), etc., all at hand for an evening's observing session. It is very useful around the scope.
In/Out Box - A set of simple office style IN/OUT boxes with rubber feet work well on the observing table top to organize and hold an evening's set of star charts, notebooks, log, sketch pad, etc. It saves table space and makes items easier to access while in-the-dark or by a dim red light.
Pocket Sized Micro Voice Tape or Digital Recorder - This is a great item to have in your 'Observing Vest'. You can grab it to let you quickly record what you are seeing (or just saw). You can make a description, note the time, direction/location, and other details of that special event all at the press of a button for later transcription to paper or computer log. Tip... Get something simple and easy to operate. The more features and the more complex the recorder, the harder it is to use in the dark!
Red LED Light - A small key chain RED LED light that is no larger than a quarter and runs on watch batteries works really well on a neck lanyard of the type used to carry workplace ID cards. When you need a spot of light for a few seconds, these tiny lights do the trick nicely. Tip... Use only 'break away' lanyards that will come apart if snagged. Always keep the lanyard tucked inside your vest/shirt to avoid snagging on the telescope. Tip #2...You can get red plastic to cover the lens of a regular flashlight from Hobby-Lobby or better yet, get 'red tail light lens repair tape' from most any auto parts store, Ace Hardware or Wal-Mart to make your own red lens filter for your favorite flashlight.
Two-Way Handheld Radios - Inexpensive FRS (Family Radio Service) UHF radios work well from the yard or observatory to keep you in touch with the family in the house. Tip... Get radios that use rechargeable batteries and a drop in charger so you don't need to keep purchasing AA batteries for these units. Rechargeable units will cost a bit more, but these will quickly save you money. One charge will easily last for a couple of observing sessions. (Of course you carry the radio in your Observing Vest!)
Atomic Clock/Watch - Commonly called an "Atomic Clock or Atomic Watch", these timepieces keep incredibly accurate time based on the radio signals from the National Bureau of Standards radio station. Having "precisely accurate" local time to glance at when using for your voice recorder or making observing notes is very important and it allows you to figure out later what exactly the UT time was during an event. Tip... You might check to see if the watch/clock you choose has a dim light you can activate to see the time (a lot of them don't) or you can always use your red key chain light to illuminate it.
Mobile Storage Chest on Wheels - A wheeled tool chest such as the Stanley 24 gallon Mobile Tool Chest the Sear's Sit/Stand Tote Truck is great to hold all the astronomy "stuff" you need when you go outside to the drive way or to a remote field site to observe. It makes storage of your "stuff" easy too. You can keep all the items noted above in this chest along with additional reference books, software, lights, extension cords, spare batteries, filters, eyepieces, magazines, etc. The two wheels make it easy to pull the chest to the site from the car. There are a number of similar chests like these on the market at different prices and different sizes, so check them out at Lowe's, Home Depot, Sear's, or Wal-Mart. The Stanley model shown below is ~ $50-$60. The Sear's Sit/Stand Tote Truck is heavy duty and provides a good place for a guest to sit as well as providing ample equipment storage. The handle pops up for easy pulling and and two heavy duty wide wheels are on the back side. Regular cost for this model is ~ $60. If you like the chest idea, a second chest can be lined with some foam rubber from Hobby Lobby to make a nice field carrying case for your telescope if it is small enough to fit inside one of these chests. My 6" NexStar tube assembly will fit nicely in the Sear's chest.
Stanley 24 gallon Mobile Tool Chest Sear's Sit/Stand Tote Truck
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY 2009 (IYA 2009) The Director-General of UNESCO and the President of the IAU have announced 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, with the UNESCO as the lead agency in collaboration with IAU to implement scientific, educational and cultural activities during the Year. Many countries have organized a national planning organization (A.K.A. National Node) in support of the UN declaration. These committees will coordinate and direct astronomy activities and programs in their country during this special time. The USA committee website info is noted below. Of course all this means that 2009 will be a big year for Astronomy, for both professionals and amateurs, so make your plans to join in the fun and support the many interesting activities that will be coming up. To learn more about IYA 2009 in the US, visit the US Node website at: http://astronomy2009.us . To visit the IYA 2009 International site, go to: http://www.astronomy2009.org/
GETTING THINGS TO SCALE The photos below circulated on the internet and were emailed to me by a friend. I found them to be the best graphic explanation I have seen of the size of the earth compared to just a few other celestial objects that we know and can observe. Although I don't know who actually created these models/photos, I give them full credit. They certainly should be congratulated on a nice job for showing us "the scale of the neighborhood" in which we live. To get the full idea of the scale of size here, look at each picture starting with the one on the left first and then move to the right noting how the largest object in the last picture is now the smallest object in the next picture! Sort of gives a new perspective to the term...large. Enjoy! (Click on the pictures to enlarge them) Starting on the left with our "terrestrial" neighbors, move to the "gas giants" then to stars....
A FEW LINKS If Amateur Astronomy sounds like it might interest you, then you should know you can join in even if you live in or near a city with all its light pollution and glare. Check out the links below for initial info on organizations, telescopes, magazines, where to buy, what to buy, etc.
http://www.astromax.com/ - The American Association of Amateur Astronomers http://alpo-astronomy.org - Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers http://www.astroleague.org/ - The Astronomical League - World's Largest Federation of Amateur Astronomers http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx - Astronomy Magazine Online http://skytonight.com/ - Sky and Telescope Magazine Online http://www.skymaps.com/index.html - Free Sky Maps and other info http://astro-observer.com/basic/astronomy101.html - Good Intro and more Links http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/catalog.php?categoryid=3 - A little of everything for Amateur Astronomers http://www.astronomyclubs.com/1/190/0/0/select_state.aspx - A list of Astronomy Clubs by state
Clear Skies
MEMBER: ASSOCIATION OF LUNAR AND PLANETARY OBSERVERS ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
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