ISRO, NASA, ESA and other space agencies have made headlines with a series of extraordinary launches that will shed new light on the Universe. In fact, the Indian space agency ISRO launched the XpoSat satellite yesterday to study black holes, magnetars and more. Find out how to start observing the stars too.
(Conversation) There are few things more peaceful and relaxing than spending the night under the stars. During the holidays, many people avoid the city lights to go camping. They enjoyed the dark sky dotted with countless stars.
As a child I loved trips like this, which helped solidify my interest in the night sky and all things space.
One of my greatest joys as an astronomer is sharing the night sky with people. There is something wonderful about helping people see the cosmos through a telescope and glimpse the many wonders of the universe. But we can also share and enjoy the night sky with our eyes, pointing out the constellations and planets or experiencing the thrill of seeing a meteor shower.
It’s easy to get caught up in astronomy matters, and a question I get asked often is, “How can I get more involved in stargazing?” Here’s how to start an interesting and long-lasting hobby that won’t fail to cost you a fortune.
Study the night sky
If you’re a budding astronomer, a good start is learning to navigate the night sky. When I was younger, this meant getting a planisphere (a star map, you can make your own here) or a good textbook.
Nowadays, there are tons of great apps to help you navigate the night sky.
A good example of such an app is Stellarium, a planetarium program that allows you to observe the night sky from the comfort of your room or plan your nightly observations in advance.
To memorize the night sky, you can try star skipping. Choose bright, well-known, easy-to-find constellations and use them as clues to help you identify nearby constellations.
Study one constellation a week and after a year you will know most of the constellations visible from your location.
Let’s use Orion as an example. The slider below shows photos of Orion’s Stellarium soaring high into the sky on a summer night. I’ve added arrows to show how you can use Orion (shown in the center of the map below) to fly across the summer sky.
To study the constellations around Orion, your task is relatively simple. Set out on a clear, dark summer night and find Orion far to the north. The three stars of Orion’s Belt are fantastic landmarks for Orion’s neighbors.
If you follow the path to the upper right, you will reach Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky and the brightest star of Canis Major, the great hunting dog. Hold the rope and turn left and you will find Canopus, the second brightest star in the sky.
Now return to Orion’s Belt and follow the line down to the left. You’ll see a V-shaped group of stars, including the bright red Aldebaran. It is the Hyades star cluster (with Aldebaran as a foreground intruder) that forms the head of the Taurus bull.
Continue and you will reach the Pleiades, often called the Seven Sisters, a beautiful star cluster easily visible to the naked eye.
Let’s go back to Orion again. This time you will draw a line from Rigel (the bright star in the upper left corner of Orion’s square body) through Betelgeuse (the bright red star in the lower right corner of the square) and continue towards the horizon. This will take you to Gemini, the twins.
Using Orion as a reference point, you can orient yourself to a large number of constellations (the blue line shows Lepus, the rabbit; the white line shows the little hunting dog).
As you jump among the stars, you will slowly but surely learn to navigate the night sky until the constellations become familiar to you.
Virtual observation
Looking at the sky with the naked eye is great, but it’s also great to zoom in and see more detail.
What if you don’t have access to your binoculars or telescope? Fortunately, software like Stellarium can provide a great virtual viewing experience.
Imagine wanting to see the rings of Saturn: a spectacular view even through a small telescope. You can do this easily with Stellarium. Find Saturn using the search bar and click to view information about the planet.
Click the cross symbol to “freeze”, then zoom in. The more you zoom in, the more you’ll see. You can also move the watch forward or backward to see how the planet’s moons move in their orbits or the tilt of Saturn’s rings changes over time from our perspective.
Virtual observing sessions are so simple: just move your finger across the sky until you find something you want to see and zoom in.
A hobby best shared
Virtual observation sessions are great, but pale in comparison to real observation sessions. I recommend using a planetarium program like Stellarium to figure out what you want to see and then start seeing it for yourself.
Astronomy is a great hobby that is best shared. Most cities have their own astronomy clubs, which usually welcome visitors who want to observe the night sky.
I joined the local astronomy society, the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society in England, when I was just eight years old. I owe them a lot. The team members were so helpful to a little boy who had so many questions and I truly believe I would not be where I am today without their help. As a member, I have seen firsthand what an amazing amateur astronomy community it is.
The society holds weekly astronomy lectures led by club members and visiting astronomers from local universities. We also regularly observe the night sky using the association’s telescope, a giant telescope that the members themselves built.
People who love their hobbies do nothing but share their hobbies with others. Members of astronomical societies make excellent night sky guides and often have incredible equipment that they are happy to share with you.
Both astronomy clubs and universities often offer public night sky viewing events, which are a great opportunity to observe the sky through a telescope with an expert guide to help you find the most impressive views to share.
So if you want to learn more about the night sky, contact your local astronomy society – it could be the start of something special.
(Conversation)
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2024-01-02 05:58:39
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