I was first introduced to stargazing at age 10, and it opened my eyes to science at a young age. I try to go out and observe a little at least a couple times per season. However, due to increasing light pollution and dwendling observing locations, this seems like a hobby that won't be around much longer. In the last 25 years, you just cannot see anywhere near as much with the naked eye as you once could. This will continue to get worse, not better.
Topics
Here are some topics of astronomy that I am interested in:
- Amateur Radio Astronomy
- Eyepiece Projection Astrophotography
- Light Pollution Advocacy
- Lunar, Planetary, and Deep-Sky Object Observing
- Naked Eye Astronomy
- Software for Astronomy
- Space Exploration Advocacy
- Telescope Operation
Current Conditions
Provided by ClearDarkSky.
Upcoming Events
Here are some upcoming astronomical events:
Picture of the Day
Provided by APOD.
Related Links
- Amateur Astronomy Guide: Listing of local astronomy clubs
- APOD: Picture of the day from NASA
- ClearDarkSky: Forecasts of astronomical observing conditions
- DarkSiteFinder.com: Light pollution maps
- Heavens-Above: Information on satellites
- HubbleSite: Hubble space telescope news releases
- International Dark-Sky Association: Light pollution advocacy organization
- SpaceWeather.com: Sun-Earth environment information
- Stellarium Web: Online planetarium
- The Astronomy League: Amateur Astronomy interest organization
- ESA: The European Space Agency website
- NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration website
- Space Frontier Foundation: American space advocacy group
- SpaceX: Private aerospace manufacturer
- The Planetary Society: Space exploration interest organization
- Astronomy Magazine: An astronomy magazine
- Sky & Telescope: An astronomy magazine
- Star Gazers: Weekly 5 minute PBS television series on naked eye astronomy
- Universe Today
- Celestron
- Miller Engineering: Discs for Homestar
- Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
- Sega Toys Homestar and Astrial: Home planetarium and Discs
Celestia: Space 3D simulator; and Add-ons- Marble: Virtual globe, includes Earth, the Moon, Venus, Mars and other planets
- Stellarium: Very realistic desktop planetarium
Also...
Visit ##astronomy on Freenode, nick bigmalletman.