Any astronomy buffs? 2009 is IYOA (400 years since Galileo)

[Robb]

2009 marks 400 years since Galileo began the first recorded telescope-aided astronomical viewing, and has been dubbed the "International Year of Astronomy." Just wondering if any of the FTR crew are amateur astronomers?

I've recently dusted off the old telescope (4" reflector) and started showing my kids some constellations, planets, the moon. I'm having fun. They're kinda bored, ldo. I don't know much about astronomy, but I enjoy it. Stargazing with a pair of binoculars is often more fun that trying to line up your scope. A star chart and pair of binos (with a coupla beers) can make for a great hour of learning and fun.

Clear skies to all y'all.......robb

[wufwugy]

my wallpaper

[wufwugy]

why is he called galileo when his last name is galilei? we dont call newton isaac or einstein albert or copernicus nicolaus

[mrhappy333]

I have the Jan 2009 issue of ASTRONOMY.
It seems pretty cool, I got it free at some school I was working at.
Its amazing all the incredible pictures they are taking of Galaxies millions of light years away

[jyms]

I think gabe knows a little bit and maybe he could share a little info.

[Warpe]

ve recently dusted off the old telescope (4" reflector) and started showing my kids some constellations, planets, the moon. I'm having fun. They're kinda bored...

There's some nice software out there that might get them more interested:

Stellarium (freeware): http://www.stellarium.org/

Celestia (freeware): http://www.shatters.net/celestia/ (looks pretty darn cool for freeware)

Starry Night: http://www.starrynightstore.com/

Deepsky: http://www.deepsky2000.net/

[Robb]

ve recently dusted off the old telescope (4" reflector) and started showing my kids some constellations, planets, the moon. I'm having fun. They're kinda bored...

There's some nice software out there that might get them more interested:

Stellarium (freeware): http://www.stellarium.org/

Celestia (freeware): http://www.shatters.net/celestia/ (looks pretty darn cool for freeware)

Starry Night: http://www.starrynightstore.com/

Deepsky: http://www.deepsky2000.net/

Awesome. Thanks Warpe. Exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for. I've just been working on basic viewing techniques, and the kids get a kick out of seeing the moon magnified 50x. I'll see if the computer animations seem like fun for them. Thanks again.

[bigred]

I love astronomy but NYC light pollution makes it impossible to stargaze. I took an astronomy class which had a night lab every other week where we used a large telescope to view things like binary stars, galaxies, etc.

[mrhappy333]

Biggest Moon Tonite.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28581233/?GT1=43001

[Rage2100]

This site is pretty good if you're into Iridium Flares:
http://www.heavens-above.com/

[ProZachNation]

Fuck that this is the year of evolution, Darwin was born 200 years ago, On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 so its 150th anniversary.

[Robb]

Fuck that this is the year of evolution, Darwin was born 200 years ago, On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 so its 150th anniversary.

Evolution isn't much of spectator sport.

[ProZachNation]

Fuck that this is the year of evolution, Darwin was born 200 years ago, On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 so its 150th anniversary.

Evolution isn't much of spectator sport.

who doesn't like to collect random life forms and compare their genomes?

[a500lbgorilla]

Who cares about darwin?