Easy Astronomy Blog

What exactly is the definition of astronomy?

Astronomy can be defined like this :

The scientific study of the universe and the objects in it, including stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Astronomy deals with the position, size, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial objects. Astronomers analyze not only visible light but also radio waves, x-rays, and other ranges of radiation that come from sources outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

So basically, astronomy is the study of everything that is in outer space including stars, planets, constellations, comets, the solar system, etc. It is a fascinating science that more and more people are constantly interested in. These people are called astronomers. They observe outer space with tools like cameras, binoculars and telescopes.

If astronomy interests you and you don’t have much equipment to observe the night sky, you might be interested in taking a look at my Orion Skyquest XT8 telescope review.

Orion Skyquest XT8

Here is a great telescope, the Orion Skyquest XT8.

For those of you with a modest budget, it is an excellent choice. At a price tag of around $330 for the regular XT8 you get a formidable tool. If you didn’t already know, the Skyquest series of  Orion telescope is already legendary. The XT8 uses the same Dobsonian design as the original Intelliscope. The XT8i adds an optional computerized object location system that lets you easily point the scope to any of the more than 14,000 objects in the included celestial database. Nebulas, galaxies, star clusters and planets are easy targets for the XT8i.

The XT8 consists of a 44.5-inch enameled steel tube that contains a 203mm (8-inch) primary mirror. Two eyepieces are included; the XT8 also accepts 2-inch eyepieces. A 2-inch Crayford-style focuser with rack-and-pinion system provides focusing. A 9×50 power finder scope is included for manual object location.

Moving the scope to the observing location is relatively easy, given that a large handle is mounted on the back of the rocker box. However, the placement of the handle is below the center of gravity. The tube wants to swing upwards when you try to pick it up. You can solve this problem by positioning a web belt around the base and tube while it is ‘in transit’. You can also install a retrofit for smoother azimuth movements. This modification consists of the addition of six ‘milk jug washers’ on the central bolt between the upper and lower baseplates.

The tube is constructed of rolled metal with a black enamel finish. It is painted flat black on the inside. The end caps are cast aluminum, making for a very nice looking product. The tube has what Orion calls a navigation knob at the top. It is quite convenient for positioning the scope, especially when tracking a planet. The dust cap (included) fits snugly atop the tube and a shower cap keeps dust out.

The XT8i includes a computerized system that uses a set of guide arrows that show you which direction to move the scope to quickly center an object. Once the object is centered, you must move the scope by hand to keep the object centered.

The Orion SkyQuest XT8 Intelliscope is a good first telescope for individuals who are new to astronomy, and an ideal choice for experienced users who want a scope that is sizable yet easily portable.

This telescope is available for purchase at Telescope.com.

The one thing we love the most worldwide of astronomy is a good puzzle. And if there had been ever a confusing and yet very powerful force of nature that we witness in the night skies, it is the coming of the mighty comet.

The arrival of a comet within view of Earth is an event of global significance. Witness the large media attention the Haley or Hale-Bopp have had when they have come within of these superb space objects is concurrently scary and awe inspiring.

Above all, it is during these comet viewings the astronomer comes out in all of us. But what is a comet? Where did it come from? And how does it get that magnificent tail?

We should never confuse comets with asteroids. Asteroids are little space rocks that come from an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Whilst still quite surprising to see, they recede in comparison to the arrival of a comet. Asteroids also have received substantial study by the systematic community.

Not as much is understood about comets. As a rule, comets are significantly bigger than asteroids. The composition of a comet is a mixture of nebulous, gasses, ice, dust and space waste. One scientist called the composition of a comet as similar to a “dirty snowball” as the composition is so diverse and changeable. The center or nucleus of a comet is generally quiet solid but the “snowball” materials frequently make a “cloud” around that nucleus that may become quite giant and that extends at great lengths behind the comet as it moves through space. That trailing plume is what makes up the comet’s superb tail that makes it so exciting to observe when a comet comes inside view of Earth.

The origins of comets is similarly puzzling. a number of theories about where they come from but it is clear where they originate from outside our solar system, somewhere in deep space. Some have speculated they are fragments left over from the organization of planets that get loose from whatever gravitational pull and are sent flying across space to ultimately get wrapped up in the gravity of our sun bringing them into our solar system.

Another theory is they come from a gaseous cloud called the Oort cloud which is cooling out there after the organization of the sun. As this space debris cools, it is getting arranged into one body which then gathers acceptable mass to be attracted into the gravity of our solar system turning into a fast moving comet plunging toward our sun. However, thanks to the strong gravitational orbits of the many planets in our solar system, the comet does not always right away collide with the sun and often takes on an orbit of its own.

The life expectancy of comets varies widely. Scientists refer to a comet that is expected to burn out or impact the sun within two hundred years as a brief period comet whereas a long period comet has a life expectancy of over two hundred years. That comet that is anticipated to us as earth dwellers but in terms of stars and planets, this could be a brief period comet while a space object indeed.

Scientists across the globe have put together some pretty impressive probes to find out more about comets to help our understanding of these visitors from beyond. In 1985, for instance, the United States put a probe into the path of the comet Giacobini-Zinner which passed through the comets tail gathering tremendous scientific knowledge about comets. Then in 1986, a global collation of scientists managed to launch a probe that was able to fly close to Haley’s comet as it passed near Earth and continue the research.

While science fiction writers and tabloid newspapers like to alarm us with the possibility of a comet impacting the earth, scientists who understand the a world collation of comets and what changes their trails let us this is improbable. That is good because some comets reach sizes that are the size of a planet so that impact would be ravaging. For the moment, we will enjoy the fun of seeing comets make their rare visits to our night sky and marvel earth, scientists who understand the spectacular shows that these visitors from beyond put on when they are visible in the cosmos.

What do you know about Jupiter, Venus, or Mars? At planet-facts.com, all the important facts are there and you can compare all nine planets in our solar system. Make sure to also read about planet Pluto facts.

Whether you are a beginner or old pro at scanning the stars and planets, you are probably aware that there are different types of telescopes used for star gazing.  If you haven’t guessed already, it is the refracting and reflecting telescopes that reflect the two basic models of telescopes utilized by today’s neophyte and professional star gazers.   Of these two telescopes, the refracting telescope has a history dating back centuries as our ancestors used this type of telescope to explore the heavens.   This telescopes origins can be traced back to the 15th century and is still a very important telescope design in the twenty-first century.  The truth be known, the refractor telescope is one of the oldest telescope designs still in use by today’s astronomers.

The Basics of a Refractor Telescope

The refracting telescope, also known as a refractor telscope, has multiple concave lenses which allow the incoming light to be refracted, resulting in images that are more distinct and greater in size.  These qualities give the appearance that the actual images appear much bigger than viewing with the naked eye.   These refractors gather the incoming light and bend it, allowing you to view objects from a distance.  This magnification is what provides you with the ability to clearly view the stars and night sky. Even though refracting telescopes may have a lot of bells and whistles, the reality is that they are just a series of concave lenses that refract the light.

The Advantages of a Refracting Telescope

This is a well tested and constantly improved design that has endured for centuries.   Throuhout the years, its design was constantly tweaked, resulting in continuous improvement of its design and magnification characteristics.  This was a helpful, providing astronomers with the opportunity to determine the refracting telescope design’s strengths and weaknesses.

It’s well known that the design of the refracting telescope has been improved dramatically since the fifteenth century.  Even with the improvement of refractor technology, it is the size of the refractor telescope that still poses a potential concern.  The need to dramatically increase magnification for astronomical research has resulted in larger and larger lens size.  This can result in the potential for defects or sagging.

The truth is that refracting telescopes have proven themselves across the centuries and, to attest to their value, have remained one of the most popular designs among astronomers.  Regardless of the type of telescope you choose to scan the cosmos, the ongoing use and popularity of the refracting telescope provides assurance that it will be with us for decades to come.

Buying a Refracting Telescope

Your quest to find the ideal refractor telescope at an affordable price can seem like a daunting task.  But what we found was that visiting telescope and astronomy websites that provide telescope user reviews can be very helpful in making your decision.  So, whether you are considering a child telescope or professional model, be sure to do your research and you will be assured of enjoying many hours of star gazing pleasure.

I discovered an awesome website and wanted to share it with all of you. It is an online store focused exclusively on astronomy!

www.starrynightstore.com
There are all kinds of products from softwares to scopes to books and DVDs. Do not think this is a little creepy online store. These guys have a serious reputation and an excellent customer service. Shipping is very fast, your products are shipped the same day if your order is received by noon Pacific Time. And the best part is they have a 100% satisfaction guarentee. If you are not satisfied in anyway by your product within 30 days, just return it and you will receive a full refund.

Definitely visit and add to your bookmarks! www.starrynightstore.com

A small, dense object only 12 miles in diameter is responsible for this beautiful X-ray nebula that spans 150 light-years. At the center of this image made by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory is a very young and powerful pulsar, known as PSR B1509-58, or B1509 for short. The pulsar is a rapidly spinning neutron star that is spewing energy out into the space around it to create complex and intriguing structures, including one that resembles a large cosmic hand.

In this image, the lowest energy X-rays that Chandra detects are red, the medium range is green, and the most energetic ones are colored blue. Astronomers think that B1509 is about 1,700 years old and is located about 17,000 light-years away.

Taken from Astronomy.com

The dominant gas in Saturn’s atmosphere is hydrogen, but small quantities of helium and methane have also been identified. If life support on Saturn came into discussion, we’d have to agree that the conditions are very different from those on Earth. Saturn has a lower density than water; thus, were there a lake or ocean, Saturn would be vanished in it. Chances for life support remain standing in what Saturn’s moons are concerned, though, but research is in progress, and until more scientific evidence is obtained, everything is pure theory.

Saturn is a very windy place, which is definitely a feature to stand out; just think of wind blowing at about 1,100 miles per hour in in low and central latitudes. But at first glance, nothing seems as spectacular on Saturn as the ring system that surrounds the planet. There are three main ring sectors scientists have classified so far: we can actually speak of three rings in fact, with two brighter and one fainter. The spacecrafts that have studied Saturn and its orbiting celestial bodies indicate that there are thinner rings in the structures we perceive as large, and they are not continuous at all.

The very source of the rings of Saturn remains a mystery for the moment; what renders them so special is that many of them are smaller or larger icebergs, having a significant water quantity trapped in their structure. Other ring areas consist of dust mainly that present characteristics of electrostatic charging, thus enabling the appearance of spokes. Very fine dust particles connect to make these spokes, but they don’t last for long and disappear as quietly as they formed. Then, there is a close relationship between some of the rings and smaller Saturn moons that appear to have an impact on the dust presence in certain areas. Moreover, the revelations science had with the discovery of Saturn’s moons are neither the first nor the last, who knows what will show up next?

Researchers have seen the best evidence yet for a pair of black holes orbiting each other within the same galaxy.

While such “binary systems” have been postulated before, none has ever been conclusively shown to exist.

The new black hole pair is dancing significantly closer than the prior best binary system candidate.

The work, published in the journal Nature, is in line with the theory of the growth of galaxies, each with a black hole at their centre.

The theory has it that as galaxies near one another, their central black holes should orbit each other until merging together.

But evidence for black holes nearing and orbiting has so far been scant.

Dancing cheek-to-cheek

As matter falls into black holes, it emits light of a characteristic colour that in turn gives information about the direction in which the black hole is moving.

Read the rest on BBC News

Who discovered Saturn? Was this planet known to the ancients or is it modern science that brought it to our attention? To be honest, in the old times people were better informed on the movement of the stars than we are today, and the presence of Saturn must have been noticed even with primitive telescopes. In fact, Galileo is widely known as the scientist who discovered Saturn in 1610, since in his descriptions he even wrote a theory about the rings. According to his words, there were some little ears on each side of the planet, and he thought they were globes. Yet, later on, the white rings were identified and have remained the most spectacular solar system formation ever since.

The globe explanation given by Galileo started from a confusion he didn’t know how to explain. He was the astronomer who discovered Saturn, but at the same time he thought there were three planets, not one. The clarification of the rings’ presence was provided in 1655 when Christiaan Huygens realized that what Galileo referred to as globes were actually rings, but their structure became apparent twenty years later with the discovery made by Giovanni Domenico Cassini. He was the one to initiate the theory that Saturn’s rings were broken or discontinuous, consisting of fragments of different sizes.

Presently we know that the rings consist of ice, rocks and other interplanetary debris, which only contributes to underlying the truth of the early theories. Who discovered Saturn then? In conclusion, we have to admit that the discovery of the solar system has been in progress since we’ve started looking at the stars, and we are far from getting to the bottom. Every year seems to get something new for us to discover: and even if more than forty satellites have been discovered around Saturn, more remain hidden to our eyes for now. Thus the question is not about who discovered Saturn, but what surprises are there in stock for us?

Galileo as the person who discovered Saturn deserves all our respect and consideration, but he is not the only one. The spacecraft which captured the the close image of Saturn for the first time was called Cassini after the astronomer who understood and theorized the pattern of the rings around this planet. Yet, thousands of people unknown to the public are presently involved in space programs; maybe their names are not known to history, but their contribution is just as great and important. With every step we take towards knowing our universe, we claim one more Victory in the exploration of the unknown.