Introduction to Astronomy

Beginnings

• Learning the Sky• Observing Tools• What you will see• Advanced observing

Learn the Sky

• 88 Constellations– Only about half

visible in the Northern Hemisphere

• Bright stars– About 25-30

Stars

How can you learn the sky?

• Astronomy Clubs– www.hvaastronomy.com

• Books• Star charts

– Planispheres

• Software

Observing Tools - 1

• Eyes– Young eyes

• ~0.3”-0.4” telescopes

– Older Eyes• ~0.25”-0.3”

• What if you wear glasses?

Observing Tools - 2

Binoculars– What to know

about• Roof Prisms• Porro Prisms• Coated/Uncoated• BAK4, BAK7• Magnification

Observing Tools - 3

• Telescopes– Refracting– Reflecting– Catadioptric

What will you see?

• Eyes - ~0.25” Telescopes– Stars to about magnitude 6-7– A few none stellar objects

• Andromeda Galaxy• Planets and the Moon• A few star clusters and nebula

• But you want more!

What will you see - 2

• Binoculars - ~2”-4” Telescopes– Same stuff as with

naked eyes, but…..– You’ll be able to see

objects 16-32 times more faint!

– Galaxys, Globluar clusters, nebula, etc.

What will you see - 3• Telescopes - ~4”-20+”

– Same stuff as with eyes and Binoculars, but….

– Now you will be able to see objects up to 100’s of times more faint

– Ability to see fine detail (resolution)

Galaxies

Nebula

Comets

Planets

• Cameras• Variable Stars• Meteors• Asteroids• Supernova• Spectroscopy

Advanced Observing

Meteor Showers

14h 27m +78.0 Usually weak

Meteor Shower Dates

Delta Aquarids

Ursids Dec 17-25 Dec.22 5

33 years; exceptional.

Geminids Dec 7-15 Dec.13 75

Leonids Nov15-20 Nov.17 10

03h 47m +22.0 flat maximum

Very bright: Peak every

07h 31m +32.0 Medium speed; Bright

10h 11m +22.0

06h 27m +15.0 Very swift; with trains

03h 47m +14.0 Double radiant; very slow;Taurids Oct 20-Nov30 Nov.4 10

Orionids Oct 16-27 Oct.22 25

17h 25m +57.0

Perseids J ul 23-Aug 20

Giacobinids Oct 6-10 Oct.8 5

Aug.12 75 03h 08m +58.0 Swift; excellent

Aquarids J ul 15-Aug 25 Aug.6 822h 15m -15.0 Double radiant; faint

22h 07m -06.0 meteors

20h 39m -10.0 Bright yellow; slow

Piscis Australids J ul 15-Aug 20

Capricornids J ul 15-Aug 25 Aug. 2 5

Double radiant; rather

faint meteors

22h 43m -30.0

Aug.7 10 23h 07m +02.0

J ul.31 5

J ul.29 20

17h 23m -20.05

22h 39m -17.0

Capricornids J ul 10-Aug 15 J ul.25 5 21h 03m -15.0 Yellow; very slow

Ophiuchids J un 17-26 J un. 20

Swift

Eta Aquarids May 1-10 May. 6 35 22h 23m -10.0 Very swift persistent train

Lyrids Apr 19-25

Corona Australids Mar 14-18 Mar.16 5

Quadrantids J an1-6 J an.3 60

Shower Best DatesMaximum Shower

ActivityApproximate Meteors/Hr

J ul 15-Aug 15

RA/Dec: Notes

Apr. 22 10

15h 30m +50.0 Medium speed; blue

16h 24m -48.0

18h 10m +32.0

Solar (Our Sun) Spectrum

Questions?• Milky Way Galaxy

– Mass: 1012 solar masses– Center: Direction: α = 17.8h, δ = -29° (Sagittarius)– Distance: 29,000 lt. yrs.– Diameter: 326,000 lt. yrs.– Velocity: 370 miles/sec relative to 3°K background radiation– toward α = 10h, δ = -20° (southeast Hydra)

• Some Close Galaxies of the Local Group– Large Magellanic Cloud 163,000 lt. yrs.– Small Magellanic Cloud 196,000 lt. yrs.– Leo I 750,000 lt. yrs.– Leo II 750,000 lt. yrs.– M31, M32 2.3 million lt. yrs.– M33 2.4 million lt. yrs.

• Most Distant Object Readily Visible in an Amateur Telescope– 3C275 2 - 3 billion lt. yrs.– (quasar) (typically requires 10-in. or larger telescope)

Free Software

• Virtual Moon• http://www.astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html

• Planetarium– WinStars

• http://site.voila.fr/winstars/english/index2.html

– Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts)• http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/index.html