Fundamentals of Stargazing

Science of Stargazing – Quasars

As a stargazer, you will sometimes be asked how far you can see with your telescope. The answer is “billions of light-years” if you are looking at a quasar. About a dozen of these strange, energetic objects are visible in a small telescope, and while they don’t look much different than stars, they are remarkable because they lie at distances that a...

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Deep Sky Tours – January

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

This month we do something different. In keeping with the tours of the night sky in the “opposite hemispheres”, this month’s review of deep sky objects looks at the ten best sights in the far southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere for observers who live in the opposite hemisphere. The list of sights refers you to notes from earlier in the cour...

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Sky Tours (South) – A View of the Northern Stars

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

This month you get a whirlwind tour of the stars of the far-northern hemisphere, stars which are forever hidden by the Earth under your feet. It’s good to know a little about the other part of the sky because there is much to see there. And with a little luck you may get to travel north of the equator to see the northern skies.
The maps for the nor...

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Sky Tours (North) – A View of the Southern Stars

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

This month you get a whirlwind tour of the stars of the deep-southern hemisphere, stars which are forever hidden by the Earth under your feet. It’s good to know a little about the other part of the sky because there is much to see there. And with a little luck you may get to travel south of the equator to see the deep southern skies.
The maps for t...

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Solar System Observing – Comets

Filed Under: Fundamentals of Stargazing

In our look at the solar system this month, we examine comets, perhaps the most unpredictable and visually striking objects in the night sky and one of the most fun to observe. It's always hard to tell when a reasonably bright comet will make an appearance, but when it does, you want to be prepared. This section will get you ready for the next 'Gre...

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