Night Sky

[track61]

I've just completed a house in the boonies of Korat. One of the benefits I have discovered already are the amount of stars visible as I sit in my beer drinking spot and, funny enough, drink beer. Their is too much light on the horizon to provide a deep field of view, but if I look directly overhead the are at least a million stars visibile, well..., a thousand anyway. Now, astronomy has never been my strong suit. I could always find the big dipper, milky way, north star etc but know little of anything else. I don't know what difference the time of month or year may have on what is visible at any one point on the planet. I have lived and worked in many places, some very isolated with great views of the night sky, and some in cities with no view at all. Even given my limited knowledge, this is the first time I remember not recognizing anything in my sight. Does anyone have an idea of what part of the sky I am looking at? What seems to be the Milky Way is just to the east and south of directly over head, but it fades pretty quickly so I am not even sure of this.

It's no biggy, but if there is an astronomy buff out there that can give me a clue and direct me to some astronomy for dummies, I am thinking about buying a telescope. The sky really is pretty, especially after 6 or 10 cold ones.

[taxexile]

download google sky , it is a part of the google earth programme , and you will be able to identify what you are looking at and even travel to far off galaxies.

[Cuban]

Star gazing is something I've done for many years, with the internet there are many tools to allow you to plot what should be in your field of view at any particular time of day/night and during the year. Being closer to the equater here you will get less seasonal veriation compared to the Northern Latitudes of North America or Europe but the air can be clearer here, light polution allowing !

There are a few sites that will send a daily email with things to watch for, sorry I'm in someone else's office today so can't give you the links/email ref. but the sites below will help.

Drop me PM if you want a few more pointers.

Good seeing.

http://www.distantsuns.dk/

http://www.space.com/nightsky/

[Tony Clifton]

I`ve also been a sky watcher for years.

I haven`t yet given Google Sky a try but there is free and easy to use software out there that allows you to figure out what you are looking at.

Start with binoculars mounted on a tripod before buying a telescope. Many who looked through my telescope were impressed by moon craters ( I could look at those for hours) but then expressed their deception when looking at colorless galaxies and celestial objects, starts that remained nothing but a dot of light.

You can also have lots of fun making long exposures with a digital cam mounted on a tripod. Experiment with the zoom, you sometimes are lucky to capture objects not visible to the naked eye, even through binoculars.

My next preference would be a scope that is motorized and tracks movement of objects and can be linked to a laptop.

[Cuban]

> Start with binoculars mounted on a tripod before buying a telescope.

Start by seeing if you are screwed by local bright lights or haze.

> Many who looked through my telescope were impressed by moon craters ( I could look at those for hours)....

The half moon is a great subject even with handheld binoculars, will give the drive to see more, the moon is a hobby by itself.

Viewing The Sun can also be a dedicated hobby, but please read up on the subject as using any optical aid can blind you in a fraction of a second, no second chances it just burns out the back of your eyeballs, no replacement. no shit. Bear this in mind if leaving open acces to your equipment as some Thais are likely to play when you are not there to control matters.

>...then expressed their deception when looking at colorless galaxies and celestial objects,

> starts that remained nothing but a dot of light.

Star Trek you ain't goin' see. People have been miss-led about the power of telescopes, for serious viewing you need to spend serious money. For me I stick to a bottle of cool beer and an armchair, face East a few hours before dawn you normaly have something to see.

Although stuff in orbit is naked eye visable (age dependant), there are sites that list orbial times and locations.

> You can also have lots of fun making long exposures with a digital cam mounted on a tripod.

> Experiment with the zoom, you sometimes are lucky to capture objects not visible to the naked eye...

This becomes a computer hobby as you start using more image processing to check out a grainy image for what might be a new supernova - may finds are still with what are called non-professional stargazers.

> My next preference would be a scope that is motorized and tracks

> movement of objects and can be linked to a laptop.

ETX do a simple set up, add a CCD camera to the lenes for a cheap set up.

[Cuban]

A typical email from Space Weather - a useful resource for sky watchers everywhere.

Space Weather News for Sept. 1, 2007

Congratulations to Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute and colleagues who correctly predicted this morning's outburst of Aurigid meteors from ancient Comet Kiess. The shower materialized on schedule and put on a vivid display, including many bright fireballs. So far, positive reports of meteor activity have been received from Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and western Canada. This list will grow; photos, videos and eyewitness reports are accumulating rapidly. Please visit http://spaceweather.com to experience the sights and sounds of the Aurigids.

If a friend sent you this alert and you would like to subscribe, click here: http://spaceweather.com/services/

[gampaan]

I've just completed a house in the boonies of Korat. One of the benefits I have discovered already are the amount of stars visible as I sit in my beer drinking spot and, funny enough, drink beer. Their is too much light on the horizon to provide a deep field of view, but if I look directly overhead the are at least a million stars visibile, well..., a thousand anyway. Now, astronomy has never been my strong suit. I could always find the big dipper, milky way, north star etc but know little of anything else. I don't know what difference the time of month or year may have on what is visible at any one point on the planet. I have lived and worked in many places, some very isolated with great views of the night sky, and some in cities with no view at all. Even given my limited knowledge, this is the first time I remember not recognizing anything in my sight. Does anyone have an idea of what part of the sky I am looking at? What seems to be the Milky Way is just to the east and south of directly over head, but it fades pretty quickly so I am not even sure of this.

It's no biggy, but if there is an astronomy buff out there that can give me a clue and direct me to some astronomy for dummies, I am thinking about buying a telescope. The sky really is pretty, especially after 6 or 10 cold ones.

In Thailand, the big dipper etc. are going to be alot closer to the horizon than you are probably used to. Polaris, the north Star will be about a fist's width high held at arm's length above the horizon. Not the best place to view it. Overhead is always the best place for viewing anyway. The higher the better. Get some star charts, they're everywhere, and a pair of binoculars. Start by learning the sky that you can see. Binoculars are the best way to start because you can just hang them around your neck and check things out. They will give you an amazing look at things you can't see with your eye also. A telescope has to be brought out and set up and if it is a hassle, you won't use it except maybe a time or two. Start with binocs, and see how much you like it from there..

good luck and clear skies.........

[Bicko]

I live in a very remote village in Buri Ram. The night sky is incredible and no other lights to diminish what we can see. I spend a lot of time attempting to identify what is up there.

I am very excited about the fact that my 22 year old Grandson will be visiting with us over Christmas and New Year. He is a 3rd year University student in Astronomy at the University of Queensland. Hoping to learn a bit more about what i am looking at.

He tells me that it is a fascinating and very interesting science.

[Tony Clifton]

Up until recently, I had a half-decent view of the night sky right in front of our house but it was ruined when the village heads decided to install twice the lighting needed for the park.

I'd now have to drive out at night. I used to set up my telescope anywhere at night back home but won't do it here. Too dangerous.