Brian Ventrudo

Sky Tours (South) – August

Winter continues south of the equator, but the sting of cooler weather is offset by the thick band of the Milky Way nearly overhead at mid-southern latitudes. This month you examine the constellations along the Milky Way from Cygnus, just above the northern horizon to the constellation Sagittarius almost directly overhead in the early evening hours...

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Sky Tours (North) – August

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

This month, the tour of the constellations follows the arc of the Milky Way Galaxy starting from overhead, as seen in the northern hemisphere, and down towards the southern horizon. Along the way, you tour the constellations Cygnus and Aquila, Scutum and Sagittarius. Click here to download notes for 'Sky Tours (North) - August' (PDF, 1 MB) Click h...

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Solar System Observing – Meteors and Meteor Showers

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

The Perseid meteor shower ranks as the main stargazing event this month, as it does every August. The Perseids is the best of dozens of meteor showers that occur each year, with dozens of meteors visible every hour during the evening of August 11 and through to the morning of August 12. Observing meteor showers is an enjoyable way to spend an eveni...

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Stargazing Tools – Eyepieces (Part 1); Light Pollution Filters

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

There’s a bewildering array of eyepiece types and manufacturers on the market, so choosing an eyepiece can seem like an overwhelming task. But with the basics you will learn here, you can make a more informed decision when it comes to selecting eyepieces to match your equipment and interests. You also get an overview of 'light pollution' or 'nebula...

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Science of Stargazing – Star Distances and Motion

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

There was a time, less than 200 years ago, when astronomers had not yet measured the distance to the stars. It's a tricky measurement, but the basic idea of how to find the distance to the stars is fairly simple. Also this month you also get an overview of the motion of stars in the galaxy, and a look at observing double stars, one of the most unde...

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