Brian Ventrudo

Solar System Observing – Uranus and Neptune

Beyond Saturn, in the icy reaches of the outer solar system, orbit the giant planets Uranus and Neptune. Uranus is the 3rd-largest planet by radius and the 4th largest by mass in the solar system, while Neptune is a little smaller but more massive than Uranus. Both planets were once considered gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. Now astronomers und...

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Stargazing Tools – Binoviewers; Urban Observing; Bortle Scale

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

This month, you look at binoviewers, a tremendously useful accessory that gives you an opportunity for a new way of observing. But binoviewers are often misunderstood, so this review gives you everything you need to know about getting started with binoviewing. You also get tips for urban observing and a look at the Bortle Dark Sky scale. Click her...

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Science of Stargazing – Variable Stars

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

While not as visually dazzling as nebulae, star clusters, or galaxies, variable stars are fascinating physical systems with enormous importance in astronomy. Variable stars are all over the sky, and you’ll visit a few of the more famous variables in the coming months. You’ve already met perhaps the most important variable star, δ Cephei, in the sky...

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Deep Sky Tours – September

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

Much of the tour of the deep sky this month takes you around the small but amazingly rich northern constellations Cassiopeia and Cepheus. These star groups lie along the northern reaches of the Milky Way, so like Sagittarius, they are packed with open star clusters and nebulae along with a few interesting and astronomically important stars. Deep-so...

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Sky Tours (South) – September

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

This month you tour the small and sparse zodiacal constellation Capricornus, just east of the much richer Sagittarius. You also look into the deep southern sky to see the small and intriguing constellations Indus, Pavo, and Octans. Click here to download notes for 'Sky Tours (South) - September' (PDF, 1 MB) Click here to download audio for 'Sky To...

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