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The Effect of Mercury’s Location in the Solar System on Its Composition : Astronomy Lessons – Video

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The Effect of Mercury #39;s Location in the Solar System on Its Composition : Astronomy Lessons
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The Effect of Mercury's Location in the Solar System on Its Composition : Astronomy Lessons - Video

Astronomy buffs train telescopes on daytime sky

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No doubt, Tucson is a stargazers mecca.

But, as visitors to the Pima Community College Observatory learned Saturday, nighttime isnt the only right time to set up the telescope.

Astronomy magazine hosted its second annual all-day Public Star Party, which started at 10 a.m. with telescopes trained on the sun. Filters on the telescopes allowed visitors to get a look at the massive star without damaging their eyes.

Solar prominences, or bright spots on the surface of the sun, and flares, which look like waves bursting into the space around the sun, were visible through a telescope set up by amateur astronomer Seth Gonzalez.

As Gonzalez made adjustments to his telescope for each new visitor, he rattled off impressive facts. Solar flares can shoot 150,000 to 300,000 miles away from the surface of the sun, he said. And about 1.3 million objects the size of the Earth can fit in the sun.

The sun is always changing, he said. It never stays the same from one minute to the other.

Gonzalez was a boy when he became fascinated with astronomy.

What really got me started in astronomy was a meteor shower when I was 6 years old. I walked outside and saw all these stars falling, he said.

Now, he says, he likes to share his hobby.

I like to show people the wow factor of astronomy. Its really beautiful, Gonzalez said.

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Astronomy buffs train telescopes on daytime sky

What Scientific Theory Best Explains the Moon’s Origin? : Astronomy Lessons – Video

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What Scientific Theory Best Explains the Moon #39;s Origin? : Astronomy Lessons
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What Scientific Theory Best Explains the Moon's Origin? : Astronomy Lessons - Video

Astronomy merit badge – Main Page – MeritBadgeDotOrg

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Do the following: a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in astronomy activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards. b. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation. c. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Then explain how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon. Explain what light pollution is and how it and air pollution affect astronomy. With the aid of diagrams (or real telescopes if available), do each of the following: a. Explain why binoculars and telescopes are important astronomical tools. Demonstrate or explain how these tools are used. b. Describe the similarities and differences of several types of astronomical telescopes, including at least one that observes light beyond the visible part of the spectrum (i.e., radio, X-ray, ultraviolet, or infrared). c. Explain the purposes of at least three instruments used with astronomical telescopes. d. Describe the proper care and storage of telescopes and binoculars both at home and in the field. Do the following: a. Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, at least four of which are in the zodiac. b. Identify at least eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of magnitude 1 or brighter. c. Make two sketches of the Big Dipper. In one sketch, show the Big Dippers orientation in the early evening sky. In another sketch, show its position several hours later. In both sketches, show the North Star and the horizon. Record the date and time each sketch was made. d. Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way. Do the following: a. List the names of the five most visible planets. Explain which ones can appear in phases similar to lunar phases and which ones cannot, and explain why. b. Using the Internet (with your parents permission) and other resources, find out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. c. Describe the motion of the planets across the sky. d. Observe a planet and describe what you saw. Do the following: a. Sketch the face of the Moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks. b. Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon, at the same hour and place, for four days in a row. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe. c. List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth. d. With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter, full, and last-quarter phases of the Moon. Do the following: a. Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and some effects of its radiation on Earths weather and communications. b. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation. c. Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun). Explain the meaning of these colors. With your counselors approval and guidance, do ONE of the following: a. Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, a scrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes the following information: 1. Activities occurring there 2. Exhibits and displays you saw 3. Telescopes and other instruments being used 4. Celestial objects you observed b. Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes using binoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and find each on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Show your plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making your observations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward. c. Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class at school. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group. d. Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public. e. Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, a planet, an asteroid, meteor, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and include the date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your display at school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed. Find out about three career opportunities in astronomy. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you. The text of these requirements is locked and can only be edited by an administrator. Please note any errors found in the above requirements on this article's Talk Page.

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John Dobson: Grandfather of Modern Amateur Astronomy

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I became interested in astronomy 10 years-old when I saw Saturn through a telescope at my local astronomy society. As a youngster interested in astronomy, cash was in limited supply so as I grew older, my parents helped to subsidize an attempt at making my own telescope. It was a 15 centimeter Dobsonian Newtonian reflecting telescope.

The "Newtonian reflector" phrase describes the optical design of the instrument, while the term "Dobsonian" refers to the style of the mount. It was a beautifully simple style of mount that allowed even me as a young teenager a chance at making one myself out of wood.

Little did I realize at the time that the man who invented it was himself an amateur astronomer.

PHOTOS: Ten Cosmic Stunners to Point Your New Telescope At

John Dobson was born in China on Sept. 14, 1915, and his family moved to California in 1927. There he spent 23 years in a monastery even though as a teen he was a self-proclaimed 'belligerent atheist.' He achieved a Masters Degree in Chemistry in 1943 at the age of 28 and just a year later became a monk of the Ramakrishna Order.

Because of his growing interest in the Universe, he was tasked with reconciling astronomy with the teachings of the Order. This ultimately led to him developing an interest in building simple telescopes through which he would share the views of the heavens with neighbors of the monastery.

His sideline interest in telescope building led him to communicate with others outside the monastery that were interested in his work and for this, he developed a code to attract less attention. Instead of referring to telescopes, he wrote about 'geraniums' instead; a 'potted geranium' was a telescope that was fitted to its rocker box (part of the Dobsonian mount) and a 'geranium in bloom' was a telescope that had an aluminumized mirror.

PHOTOS: Lunar Phases: The Changing Face of the Moon

Clearly his passion was elsewhere, so he was forced to choose between the monastery or his telescopes. Thankfully for the rest of the world, he chose the latter.

Dobson's telescope design soon became world renowned amongst amateur astronomers who continue to this day to build his telescope. The simplicity of the design makes them cheap to build so a popular choice among newcomers, but the design is scalable allowing the design to work well for large instruments. In fact, among amateur telescopes, I don't think I have seen many telescopes over 35 centimeters aperture that are not of the Dobsonian design.

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John Dobson: Grandfather of Modern Amateur Astronomy


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