starsinmyeyes

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Posts posted by starsinmyeyes

  12. Posted

    Sorry Guys. The comet visible in the morning sky through binoculars in the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere is Comet Linear. This little puppy got too excited! :laugh:

     

    Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere can view Comet Neat 10 degrees above (southern hemisphere) and below (northern hemisphere) Procyon at the moment. Fuzzy spot visible by eye and great in binoculars.

  14. Posted

    Do you think the kids will enjoy reading and understanding decimals if we play this game in maths class? I think this site is going into the maths program tomorrow!

     

    Thanks! :laugh:

  15. Posted

    Top 20 from my era.

    1. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel

    2. (They Long To Be) Close To You, Carpenters 3. Let It Be, Beatles

    4. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head, B.J. Thomas

    5. I'll Be There, Jackson 5

    6. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross

    7. War, Edwin Starr

    8. Get Ready, Rare Earth

    9. American Woman Guess Who

    10. Band Of Gold, Freda Payne

    11. Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Three Dog Night

    12. Everything Is Beautiful, Ray Stevens

    13. Make It With You, Bread

    14. Hitchin' A Ride, Vanity Fair

    15. Thank You (Fallettin Me Be Mice Elf Again), Sly & The Family Ston

    16. The Love You Save / I Found That Girl, Jackson 5

    17. Cracklin' Rose, Neil Diamond

    18. Candida, Dawn

    19. ABC, Jackson 5

    20. Spill The Wine, Eric Burdon & War

  16. Posted

    Comet Bradfield is also visible in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE as well. Visible in the pre-dawn sky in the direction of the sun rise at about 3 am-5.30 am. You will find the comet within on hand length of horizon (with arm stretched at full length) in the direction of the sunrise. Scan this area with the binoculars and hopefully you will see the comet. If you can't find the comet, try to scan higher, lower or further along than you think.

     

    The tail is a good 10-15 degrees long with the head of the comet a bright bluish-white. Hope everyone gets to see this one. It is spectacular!

  17. Posted · Edited by starsinmyeyes

    Jeanway

     

    I posted this in another thread. Hope this helps.

     

    It takes a long time to research which scope will suit you. Camera shops are not really the best place to buy one. You need to be sure that you can trust they sell good quality scopes with a guarantee that you can go to them for help or service. See below about authorised dealers.

     

    Meade has a questionaire that you can try to see what size and type of scope may be suitable for you and your situation. There are other brands like Celestron, Televue, Takashi ......

     

    There is a invaluable book called 'Starware' by Phillip Harrington which also has a questionaire and all sorts of wonderful advice and cautions when purchasing. I strongly recommend this book! Borrow it from your library or state library as it is quite expensive to buy ( AUS$90 in 1999) before you buy anything! Sky and Telescope magazine has a site Sky and Telescope which has articles and questionnaires to help you decide on the telescope you want factoring in your budget.

     

    There are many factors to think about:

    level of interest

    budget

    type of mount

    sturdiness of mount (this is where most scopes fall down- as the mount is unsturdy and vibrates rendering the scope useless!)

    quality of optics

    viewing only or astrophotography as well

    portability

    ease to set up in the dark

    parts you will not lose in the dark!

    viewing planets mostly/deep sky objects or both

    computer control or not

    dobsonian/german equatorial mount

    schmidt cassegrain/schmidt newtonian/refractor/reflector........

     

    I wouldn't buy one just on the spur of the moment as you will regret it. It took me three years of steady research, talking to other amateurs and taking opportunities to look through different types of scopes and sizes of scopes to finally decide.

     

    To test drive different scopes find a local person with a scope or local astronomical group. Look through their scopes at different objects- planets, deep sky objects like galaxies, clusters and nebula. Ask about the factors I listed above. You will see a range of scopes in action and get to feel how they work and if you will be comfortable with it. Ultimately it will be your decision because everyone will favour a certain telescope over another.

     

    This is a great site for understanding telescopes Adelaide Optical

    Also has a great page to give you an idea of what you see with different scopes and different sized scopes What I Can See Through the Telescope

    Also a great Jargon Decoder

     

    I did my research online using these sites listed here, Sky and Telescope magazine, astronomy group and the Starware book. When I found the telescope I liked, I found the company website eg: www.meade.com then found listed authorised dealers near where I live or in my case- another state. From there I

    emailed/phoned the dealer questions which I still had.

     

    The purchasing of the telescope was done over the phone. I don't recommend ordering online. Only because you don't get a feeling about the company or get to ask questions. I do strongly recommend only purchasing from an authorised dealer. Ask the dealer the arrangements they have in place if anything does need repairing or replacing somewhere down the track.

     

    One final word: If the telescope offers the option for a better/or ultra high coating on the optics take that option. This will add to the cost but it is worth it. Also ask if there is a case/bag to purchase for that telescope model (especially if you are going to transport it). Helps keep the scope in good nick and protects the optics.

     

    If you are still unsure or if want to ask questions just post here or email me. Buying a telescope is bamboozling. I've been there and done that! :naughty:

  19. Posted · Edited by starsinmyeyes

    I thought I would put a thread here to advertise celestial events and add details to let everyone know.

     

    Feel free to add events for both the southern and northern hemisphere. Make sure you add dates, universal time or specify which local time you are using. Also include safe viewing tips and any tips which will make the event worthwhile.

     

    For information on safe solar viewing follow these links:Pinhole Projector

    Binocular Projection

     

    First of all:

    27 April, 2004 Northern Hemisphere:

    Comet Bradfield is visible in the eastern horizon at the moment just before dawn. Visible in binoculars- reportedly tail 10 degrees and rose coloured. Sky map included in spoiler.

    Click for Spoiler:

    skymap_north2.gif

     

     

     

    5th May 2004 Southern Hemisphere:

    There is a Total Lunar Eclipse visible for all af Australia in the early hours of Wednesday May 5th. The eclipse lasts from 4.48 am -8.12 am AEST. Totality lasts from 5.52 am to 7.08 am. For most parts of Australia the moon sets before the end of the eclipse.

     

    Eastern Australia

    Eclipse begins 4.48 am, Totality begins 5.52 am, Totality ends 7.08 am, Eclipse ends 8.12 am (local time).

     

    South Australia/Northern Australia

    Eclipse begins 4.18 am, Totality begins 5.22 am, Totality ends 6.38 am, Eclipse ends 7.42am (local time)

     

    Western Australia

    Eclipse begins 2.48 am, Totality begins 3.52 am, Totality ends 5.08 am, Eclipse ends 6.12am (local time)

     

     

    Moonset Times

    Adelaide 7.02 am

    Brisbane 6.19 am

    Canberra 6.48 am

    Darwin 7.00 am

    Hobart 7.12 am

    Melbourne 7.11 am

    Perth 7.02 am

    Sydney 6.37 am

     

     

    Transit of Venus across the sun- 8th June 2004 (Venus passes in front of the sun) This last happened 1882. This was also the event viewed by Lieutenant James Cook in 1769 when he sailed to Tahiti to record the event. After viewing the event he continued on his journey to discover the unknown south continent and discovered New Zealand and New South Wales (Australia). The transit will be best seen in Europe, Asia, and most of Africa. In Australia we will see the beginning of the transit only. For people in New Zealand the sun will set before the transit begins.

     

    Transit begins: sunset

    Adelaide 2.38 pm 5.11 pm

    Brisbane 3.07 pm 5.00 pm

    Canberra 3.08 pm 4.58 pm

    Darwin 2.39 pm 6.28 pm

    Hobart 3.08 pm 4.43 pm

    Melbourne 3.08 pm 5.07 pm

    Perth 1.10 pm 5.19 pm

    Sydney 3.07 pm 4.53 pm

     

    The transit can be viewed following the safe solar viewing techniques I posted in previous posts about this year's solar eclipse.Pinhole Projection and Binocular viewing or using a telescope with a properly fitted solar filter on the objective (major) lens not the eyepiece.

     

    For everyone around the world; it may pay to do a search and see if lunar eclipse and venus transit times are posted. ENJOY!

  21. Posted

    Normal

    Saturday, February 26, 2050

     

    Pessismist

    Friday, December 6, 2030

     

    Sadist

    Friday, February 26, 2010

     

    Optimistic

    Friday, May 17, 2069

     

    Have to think... Glass is half full, Glass is half full, Glass is half full, Glass is half full, Glass is half full, Glass is half full, Glass is half full, Glass is half full, ...

  22. Posted

    It worked... well it did the 2nd time...DUH! 9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...9X5=45 ...9x5=45....9x5=45...

  23. Posted

    5th May 2004

     

    Hi Guys

     

    There is a Total Lunar Eclipse visible for all af Australia in the early hours of Wednesday May 5th. The eclipse lasts from 4.48 am -8.12 am AEST. Totality lasts from 5.52 am to 7.08 am. For most parts of Australia the moon sets before the end of the eclipse.

     

    Eastern Australia

    Eclipse begins 4.48 am, Totality begins 5.52 am, Totality ends 7.08 am, Eclipse ends 8.12 am (local time).

     

    South Australia/Northern Australia

    Eclipse begins 4.18 am, Totality begins 5.22 am, Totality ends 6.38 am, Eclipse ends 7.42am (local time)

     

    Western Australia

    Eclipse begins 2.48 am, Totality begins 3.52 am, Totality ends 5.08 am, Eclipse ends 6.12am (local time)

     

     

    Moonset Times

    Adelaide 7.02 am

    Brisbane 6.19 am

    Canberra 6.48 am

    Darwin 7.00 am

    Hobart 7.12 am

    Melbourne 7.11 am

    Perth 7.02 am

    Sydney 6.37 am

     

     

    ALSO BIG NEWS

    Venus will transit the sun on 8 June 2004. (Venus passes in front of the sun) This last happened 1882. This was also the event eagerly viewed by Lieutenant James Cook in 1769 when he sailed to Tahiti to record the event. After viewing the event he continued on his journey to discover the unknown south continent and discovered New Zealand and New South Wales (Australia). The transit will be best seen in Europe, Asia, and most of Africa. In Australia we will see the beginning of the transit only. For people in New Zealand the sun will set before the transit begins.

     

    Transit begins: sunset

    Adelaide 2.38 pm 5.11 pm

    Brisbane 3.07 pm 5.00 pm

    Canberra 3.08 pm 4.58 pm

    Darwin 2.39 pm 6.28 pm

    Hobart 3.08 pm 4.43 pm

    Melbourne 3.08 pm 5.07 pm

    Perth 1.10 pm 5.19 pm

    Sydney 3.07 pm 4.53 pm

     

    The transit can be viewed following the safe solar viewing techniques I posted in previous posts about this year's solar eclipse.Pinhole Projection and Binocular viewing or using a telescope with a properly fitted solar filter on the objective (major) lens not the eyepiece.

     

    For everyone around the world; it may pay to do a search and see if lunar eclipse and venus transit times are posted. ENJOY! :frusty: