quality astronomy/telscope websites?

December 27, 2004 10:08 PM

Any mefi's out there able to point me to some quality astronomy/telscope websites? Small/niche/indie sites also welcomed. (mi)

I received a telescope for Christmas this year, not what I expected but quite appreciated. My problem is this: I've read my share of layman's astro-physics books, but never really got into astronomy itself. I know of a few sites like The Sky, but I don't really know what I'm doing with this thing. So far I've managed to nearly blind myself looking at the moon tonight without a filter. Scope is decent as far as I can tell, though only 80mm in diameter (Celestron Nexstar 80GTL)

posted by efalk to computers & internet (15 comments total)

Might celestia help?
posted by interrobang at 10:15 PM on December 27, 2004

The scope came with some software, as far as tracking things and being able to print skymaps, and can download to the scope's control unit (it has an autotracker).

But I looking for more basic information on scopes and astronomy. As Denzel Washington said in Philadelphia, "Explain it to me like i was a six-year-old."
posted by efalk at 10:24 PM on December 27, 2004

Start here with web sites: http://skyandtelescope.com/

Then pick up this book (available at any large book store or from Amazon, etc.: Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson.

Rest assured, regardless of how uncomfortable it may feel, you can't hurt your eyes by looking at the moon through a telescope without a filter. (The Sun, on the other hand is a no-no without a properly designed FULL-APERTURE solar filter. Until you learn what that is, never, repeat NEVER point that scope anywhere near the sun.)
posted by AstroGuy at 10:24 PM on December 27, 2004

Nightwatch, by the way, is a complete beginners course in amateur astronomy. It covers everything you need to begin. Heavy on equipment use and finding your way around the sky, light on astrophysics.
posted by AstroGuy at 10:27 PM on December 27, 2004

That's about what I was looking for, thanks astroguy.
and thank you as well interrobang.

Though anyone else with a favorite site or book, feel free to add to my reading list.
posted by efalk at 11:27 PM on December 27, 2004

StarDate has a good beginner's guide, plus you can listen to the NPR broadcast.
posted by rxreed at 12:42 AM on December 28, 2004

darksky is a worthwhile org to join and space.com has tons of great info on using telescopes :)

Also look for a local group near you!
posted by gren at 4:56 AM on December 28, 2004

Space Weather has e-mail warnings and seasonal maps which are a great help.
posted by jasonspaceman at 5:50 AM on December 28, 2004

this is a great little book, but appears to be out of print. you might also enjoy burnham's (an old classic).
posted by andrew cooke at 5:55 AM on December 28, 2004

also, you might check whether there's a local astronomy club of some kind nearby, or even an observatory - someone who can show you around the sky a bit.
posted by andrew cooke at 5:57 AM on December 28, 2004

If you don't take an intro course at a local University, MIT has a free intro course online.

Astronomy Magazine has a nice introduction.
posted by orange clock at 7:04 AM on December 28, 2004

A wonderful work for those with new, small aperture telescopes is Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope -- and How to Find Them.

ObDisclaimer: I'm honored to be a friend of one of the authors and the illustrator.

But it's a very, very well written book, aimed exactly at those with your problem. The best way to get into astronomy is to start with the naked eye, then binoculars, then telescopes -- those who jump in with a telescope are often frustrated in trying to get the 'scope aimed. (They also tend to have crap optics, worse, even crappier tripods.)
posted by eriko at 7:20 AM on December 28, 2004

Burnham's is a wonderful classic. I have two sets. But I owned it several years before I really appreciated it. It is a reference of all the deep-sky objects visible with a medium-sized (8-inch or so) scope. It's not really a book for a total beginner, but it's something you grow into. If you have a little time to kill, here is a long, great (but somewhat depressing) article about its author.

And of course, I should have mentioned, look for a club in your area. Books are essential and web sites are good, but nothing beats actually getting out under the sky with other experienced people to really learn about astronomy. Plus you'll get to look through a lot of telescopes larger than your own.
posted by AstroGuy at 8:42 AM on December 28, 2004

Sky & Telescope is a very good magazine, and they recently launched a sister magazine, Night Sky, which is oriented more specifically toward beginners. Either or both of these are excellent choices. I'm not as regular a reader of Astronomy magazine but it's also well respected and worth a look.

I very much second the suggestion of Dickinson's Nightwatch, an excellent book. You may also like The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, which he wrote with Alan Dyer. It offers additional information and is a nice complement to Nightwatch. After these I also second the suggestion that you check out Guy Consolmagno's (and eriko et al's) Turn Left at Orion for some good suggestions of interesting things at which to point your new telescope. (Nice work on this great book, eriko! Thanks!)

On the net I suggest you explore the many astronomical forums in Yahoo! Groups (you may even find one for your specific telescope!). Cloudy Nights offers equipment reviews and articles from experienced amateur astronomers. Heavens-Above has charts for finding various sights, as well as tools to find when various visible satellites and spacecraft will be passing overhead at a given location (lots of fun!). Astromart has a great classified ad section which amounts to a large online astronomical swap meet. You can buy, sell, or trade all sorts of equipment there with reputable amateurs who take great care of their stuff.
posted by Songdog at 7:48 PM on December 28, 2004

I'd also ask this question on the Bad Astronomy boards. Lots of good astronomers hang out there.
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:18 AM on December 29, 2004