stargazing at night

[vhelp]

so i was walking by my kitchen window and noticed a bright dot in the sky. i stood waiting in case its a plane or something else. i took out my binaculars and my 60x zoom scope, but honestly, i couldn't make it out all all. i hate reading where people/writers say you can easily see these things through any binaculars. you can't. anyway.

i was wondering, what do you stargazers use to track what is out at what night, or know what will be viewable on a certain night.

i am actually looking to know what planet this one is. i'm in new york. when i look out my window, there are other buildings in my view, and if you look toward it, i would say that that star or planet is just over the trees. it is in the direction of sunrise, when i wake up. hope that helps.

[ranchhand]

Probably Venus, sometimes called the "morning star". It's fun spotting planets at different times of the year.
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

[redwudz]

Venus and Mars and most times, Jupiter, are easily visible. Venus is very silvery and bright, and low on the horizon. Mars a very light brown and Jupiter a pale white. All the planets are in line on the 'plane of the ecliptic' so if you can find two, you will know where the others are. The plane is the same angle as the earth's tilt, about 23 degrees, if I remember correctly. The 'plane' also goes through the constellations of the zodiac, so easy to locate them also.

I used a small, inexpensive plastic wheel device with the stars on it, a Philips Planisphere, to find the constellations and visible stars. You set the time of year and local time and it shows what's visible against the star background. It makes it easy to find the constellations. Most bookstores probably still carry them for students. Also a pocket book is usually available with all the information you need.

One problem is 'light pollution' in the cities. Out in the country, especially on a moonless night, a lot more stars are visible and you should be able to find a fair number of constellations and recognize them.

[_Al_]

i was wondering, what do you stargazers use to track what is out at what night, or know what will be viewable on a certain night.

I use this one: http://stellarium.org/ , it is free and very good

you can input your location (or whatever city they have listed there) and then you just either orient yourself by some cardinal direction or Moon or Polaris to sync your point of view and screen,
whatever objects you see on screen are moving live! (zoom in and there it is),you can see trajectory, you can see underneath horizon etc... it gives you plenty of info what you are looking at

[yoda313]

Can't help you with it on the 14th. If it was sunday it could have been the international space station - no joke.

That went by overhead in southeastern michigan on Sunday Night about 7:40 pm. Pretty neat to see it without binoculars or a telescope.

Of course no detail just a big dot flying overhead. But it wasn't blinking and it didn't have a vapor trail behind it. Plus it was lots higher than any jet.

I remember seeing the space shuttle when it was linked up with Mir before Mir flamed out. Must have been early to mid 90s I believe.

[vhelp]

One problem is 'light pollution' in the cities. Out in the country, especially on a moonless night, a lot more stars are visible and you should be able to find a fair number of constellations and recognize them.

you are correct. man. 16 years ago i lived in a town where i had to walk 2 miles from the bus stop to my house at 11:30pm at night. and did that for 15 years. anyway. every night i used to see so many stars and constallations. pleadeas and so on, and admired them all, the view, etc. today, going back down that same road, i can't see *any* stars any more

i'm thinking about getting another telescope. my first one ever was in 97' and was a 60mm, 150x power. man, the moon was assume to look at. i remember when the moon keep drifting in my site and i had to keep tipping the scope to track it. it was fun.

i want to rig a camera, a cheap one, not sure how to go about it, since it would be really clunky at first. homemade. but it would be really nice if i can manage it and see the video on my computer. i wonder if they make amature kits that you build.

[yoda313]

i want to rig a camera, a cheap one, not sure how to go about it, since it would be really clunky at first. homemade. but it would be really nice if i can manage it and see the video on my computer. i wonder if they make amature kits that you build.

I wouldn't be surprised. Just google it or check on youtube. I'm sure you can "macgyver" it somehow.

Also if you are really into it why not do some research and see if you have any amateur astronomy clubs in your area? There are some here in southeastern Michigan that do stargazing events at a local state park every so often. I am sure there must be something similar in your area.

Probably wouldn't hurt to check out a local community college to start out looking for clubs like that. Doesn't hurt to ask.

[vhelp]

i'd be curious to see some examples of how people are doing it.

not sure how to phrase a search term in google to get the exact hits i'm looking for.

[redwudz]

One source of astronomical cameras:
http://www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/pc/4/58.uts

If you have a camera already: http://www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Camera-Adapters-T-Rings/pc/4/62.uts

I'm not endorsing this company, I just found it on a search and it seemed a good place to start.

EDIT: I also noticed some articles on the above pages to the upper right under 'Community' concerning setups for photography.

[vhelp]

thanks. i saw some similar items/ideas. some i can get through amazon--my method of purchasing things. i think my biggest problem is stabalization. i need a much better tripod. one that allows easy/fluid telecope manuvers and without any wobble during high magnifcation. i don't have a telecone yet. i threw out my old 150x one a few years ago. i want to replace it with something much better and not so long in length. i like those really short ones that you can lay on a table, but they are pricy.

this one is not so bad.


* This grab-and-go TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope provides powerful views of the Moon and bright planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.

but there's still a lot more to search and browse around for before finalizing on the purchase.

[yoda313]

more to search and browse around for before finalizing on the purchase.

As long as you aren't in a hurry why not look up some nearby hobby shops? Probably won't have better prices than amazon or ebay but you can ask questions to "professional" amateurs that way.

It helped me for when I was getting back into playing guitar. Sometimes real people do make a difference even if you end up buying online.

[vhelp]

i have already considered that. there used to be an astronamy and telescopy store in white plains newyork. but that closed a long time ago. and another photography shop in a mall, but that closed too. i asked if they moved or an alternative but the new owners were clueless to even care. anyway. i will do some more research during the week.

[yoda313]

the new owners were clueless to even care. anyway. i will do some more research during the week.

That's too bad. Good luck on it though.