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Astronomy is one of the oldest, most popular branches of science. Unlike practitioners of medicine ... read more »
Images from outer space are among the most popular scientific artifacts today, capturing the ... read more »
Buying telescopes, binoculars, cameras and other accessories is a big investment, ... read more »
Wouldn't it be great if you could actually find something other than the Big Dipper? The Web is your personal planetarium, helping you find constellations, planets and objects in the night sky.
- Most active observatories and planetariums have stargazing information on their Web sites. Find the site of the facility closest to you, as its information will pertain to your particular swath of the sky.
- If you print anything to reference in the field, make sure to put a red filter on the light you're using to illuminate it. It can take 30 minutes for your eyes to fully readjust to darkness after a white Maglite blast.
- When stargazing in cities or suburbs, be sure to use star maps that employ brighter objects as their points of reference, as dimmer objects can be rendered invisible by light pollution. Better yet, pack up the telescope and head somewhere with less luminary static. National parks, which enforce strict lighting ordinances, provide good vantage points.
The mantra of believers in extraterrestrial life rings true about astronomy buffs the world over: ... read more »
Developments in astronomy happen at the speed of light. While scientists scramble to make sense of ... read more »
In 1995, the comet Hale-Bopp was concurrently discovered by two men: Alan Hale, a Ph.D.-holding ... read more »