Since we're in a period of increasing solar activity, I'm hoping for some hot aurora action in the NY Tristate area. But while there are countless aurora forecast/advisory services, I can't find one for this area.
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posted by Quisp Lover
on May 22, 2013 -
7 answers
Where would be a good location in Eastern Massachusetts to see and photograph both the sunset and (full) moonrise on Sunday, June 23rd?
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posted by bondcliff
on May 21, 2013 -
6 answers
I've been told recently that collecting micrometeorites is as easy, basically, as placing a clean surface outside and picking through the debris you collect because thousands of tons of space dust and debris fall to Earth every day. That can't be all there is to it, can it? How do you know whether you're looking at Earth dust or space dust?
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posted by Sleeper
on Feb 27, 2013 -
4 answers
How can I find out which semester has the the largest number of clear nights? I'm teaching an observational astronomy class this term and am getting frustrated by the number of cloudy nights. Is this just life in New England, or would teaching it in the Spring be better?
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posted by Betelgeuse
on Nov 7, 2012 -
2 answers
[Astronomy-filter] Giving a speech about Astronomical Discoveries of 2012 to an informal group of friends. Looking for suggestions on 3 main points to cover. Your input greatly appreciated!
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posted by Draccy
on Oct 9, 2012 -
8 answers
When you look up on a starry night, you see more than a thousand points of light. How many of what we see with the naked eye are stars and how many are galaxies?
posted by megatherium
on Sep 11, 2012 -
9 answers
How many of the stars whose light we see at night are actually already dead/gone/disintegrated?
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posted by progosk
on Aug 18, 2012 -
7 answers
Batshit insane filter: I recommended to a friend, 1Q84, the best book I've ever read. He loved it. I had lunch with him this week and he said he thought he was in an alternative himself, as one night he looked up at the Big Dipper and it appeared to be backwards, pointing toward the south. Yikes, I had the same experience myself recently. Whats going on here? Is it an astronomy thing or will Tengo and Aomame appear soon?
posted by Xurando
on Aug 6, 2012 -
14 answers
How big/high up would something floating in the sky have to be to block out the sun to a sufficient extent to simulate "night?"
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posted by ethansh
on Jul 29, 2012 -
10 answers
Please recommend resources (books, websites, iPhone apps, etc.) for learning about astronomy: constellations, stars, dark energy, dark matter, black holes, space exploration, and the solar system.
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posted by hypotheticole
on Jul 17, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm teaching a high school astronomy course in the fall. I have around two thousand dollars to get a telescope. This purchase is the kind of thing that just bluescreens by brain. Please guide me.
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posted by Shutter
on Jul 11, 2012 -
8 answers
The Transit of Venus is June 5! Where is a beautiful, romantic spot for viewing within 30-60 minute drive of San Francisco?
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posted by aoleary
on Jun 4, 2012 -
10 answers
If all non-solar-system stars ceased to exist, how would things look different to us on earth? Would anything change?
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posted by juniperesque
on May 15, 2012 -
16 answers
Where can we get a clear view of the western horizon at sunset to see the transit of Venus, in or near or within a few hours' drive of Chicago?
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posted by booknerd
on Apr 25, 2012 -
5 answers
My housemate and I just saw a bright pinpoint flash (approx intensity and size of Rigel) in the sky, lasting about an eighth of a second, what's it likely to have been?
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posted by Ahab
on Apr 14, 2012 -
10 answers
If I've gotten the right impression, much of our currently visible universe will eventually be expanded away from us, never to be seen again. Do we already know how much and what parts of our present neighborhood we'll be left huddling with?
posted by Anything
on Dec 4, 2011 -
12 answers
What will the fate of Jupiter and its moons be during and after our sun becomes a red giant? (or, please forward me to reliable sources with information beyond a first-order Google search)
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posted by ch3cooh
on Nov 23, 2011 -
8 answers
I'm looking for a map that shows the variance between the standard time and 'local time' within the timezones around the world, or at least within the US.
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posted by TDIpod
on Oct 29, 2011 -
11 answers
When buying your first astronomy telescope, for the same given price (say $500) would you prefer a larger aperture (Dobsonian) or a basic computerised Go-To function?
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posted by wilful
on Sep 29, 2011 -
18 answers
Best eyepiece for viewing deep space objects with a Zhumell Z12 dobsonian reflector telescope?
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posted by nurgle
on Jul 26, 2011 -
2 answers
I'm interested in reading (or listening, viewing etc.) speculative science essays or hard science fiction that postulates complex, extraterrestrial life within our solar system.
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posted by nanojath
on Jul 15, 2011 -
15 answers
For our wedding reception we are aiming to name our tables after romantic (or pleasantly poetic) sounding astronomical entities.
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posted by Drama Penguin
on Jun 13, 2011 -
26 answers
I'm working on going back to school for Astronomy/Astrophysics, but I need help figuring out what classes to take at the Community College level here in San Francisco and how best to apply to a school like UC Berkeley. Complicating matters is the fact that I went to school for 4 years for film (don't ask) at Drexel University but didn't graduate. Luckily I spent my first two years at Drexel on a general science track. What I really need help with is figuring out what classes I should take at a school like City College of San Francisco. Also, when is the soonest I can/should apply to UCB? Alternately, what San Francisco adjacent schools have really good astronomy/astrophysics programs?
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posted by runcibleshaw
on May 28, 2011 -
11 answers
Can anyone tell me, well, ANYTHING about a person (hypothetically) standing on the sun?
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posted by argonauta
on May 16, 2011 -
44 answers
Martian Astronomer Filter--when Mars moves like
this in the sky from our point of view on Earth, how does the Earth appear to move from Mars' perspective?
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posted by JMB1138
on Feb 24, 2011 -
3 answers
Can anyone recommend good stargazing community sites for new stargazers?
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posted by missed
on Feb 10, 2011 -
3 answers
What was the size of the earth, proportionally to it today, before whatever hit it to create the moon?
posted by Sparx
on Jan 13, 2011 -
12 answers
I want to buy a telescope. Price range < $500. I know a thing or two about astronomy, but not much about telescopes.
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posted by tr0ubley
on Nov 10, 2010 -
13 answers
Astronomy Filter. I have a friend who has seen (what I think to be) several meteors this year. Trouble is, they were green. Also, they weren't the usual streak across the sky, more like a Roman Candle, with no tail. What are they?
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posted by IvanKalinin
on Oct 5, 2010 -
8 answers
I want to change my major from political science to astronomy, but I have no math/science background.
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posted by anonymish
on Sep 21, 2010 -
23 answers
What's the best way to safeguard my backups from the effects of a solar storm? Should I worry about that at all?
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posted by lord_yo
on Sep 11, 2010 -
9 answers
Astronomers: how to best determine the exact time to take a photograph of the full moon where the moon is situated between two earthly objects?
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posted by komara
on Jul 20, 2010 -
14 answers
