astronomy night at astronomy night at AwendaAwenda

shedding light on astronomyshedding light on astronomy

16 Aug 0716 Aug 07

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 2 of 20

introductionintroduction

Blake NancarrowBlake Nancarrow

amateur astronomer & photographeramateur astronomer & photographer

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada memberRoyal Astronomical Society of Canada member

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 3 of 20

tonighttonight’’s agendas agenda

what is astronomy?what is astronomy?

CanadaCanada’’s contributions contribution

what we can seewhat we can see

equipment we needequipment we need

additional resourcesadditional resources

upcoming eventsupcoming events

45 minutes45 minutes

please ask questionsplease ask questions

I have questions for youI have questions for you……

II’’ll stay afterwardsll stay afterwardsfor a few minutesfor a few minutes

then off to the dock!then off to the dock!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 4 of 20

what is astronomy?what is astronomy?

scientific study of celestial bodiesscientific study of celestial bodies

disciplinesdisciplines planetary sciencesplanetary sciences

astrophysicsastrophysics

cosmologycosmology

physics, chemistry, biology, geography, weatherphysics, chemistry, biology, geography, weather

research is mostly observationalresearch is mostly observational

(do not confuse with astrology)(do not confuse with astrology)

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 5 of 20

Canada contributesCanada contributes

technologytechnology CanadarmCanadarm 1 and 21 and 2

peoplepeople our intrepid astronautsour intrepid astronauts

QuQuéébecbec--born Hubert Reevesborn Hubert Reeves

cometcomet--hunter David Levyhunter David Levy

researchresearch Canadian Impact Crater ProgramCanadian Impact Crater Program

Dafydd Williams, M.D.from Saskatoon

on STS-118

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 6 of 20

who who ““doesdoes”” astronomy?astronomy?

stargazersstargazers

amateur astronomersamateur astronomers

professional astronomersprofessional astronomers

everybody!everybody!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 7 of 20

what do you need to do astronomy?what do you need to do astronomy?

telescopetelescope

observatoryobservatory

digital setting circlesdigital setting circles

computercomputer

lots of moneylots of money

very dark skiesvery dark skies

chargedcharged--couple device cameracouple device camera

expensive digital cameraexpensive digital camera

get a good pair of eyeballsget a good pair of eyeballs

a braina brain

some timesome time

cloudless skycloudless sky

a map or charta map or chart

comfy seatingcomfy seating

comfy clothingcomfy clothing

oh, antioh, anti--mosquito mosquito armourarmour!!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 8 of 20

what kind of telescope should I buy?what kind of telescope should I buy?

wait!wait!

big decisionbig decision

can be verycan be very expensiveexpensive

frustratingfrustrating

discouragingdiscouraging

buy binoculars first!buy binoculars first!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 9 of 20

expectationsexpectations

too hightoo high powerful eyepiecespowerful eyepieces

dark adaptationdark adaptation

cool down timecool down time

film / CCD sensitivityfilm / CCD sensitivity

““aperture feveraperture fever””

““faint faint fuzziesfuzzies””

M74 (Hubble Space Telescope; processed)typical amateur telescope view

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 10 of 20

expectationsexpectations

too lowtoo low really expensivereally expensive

itit’’s hard to dos hard to do

need to know mathneed to know math

lingo & termslingo & terms

need lots of timeneed lots of time

cancan’’t see anything in cityt see anything in city

Venus and Moon 14° apartfrom my back yard

double star Albireofrom my back yard

my plot of asteroid Vestaover 7 daysfrom my backyard

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 11 of 20

what can I see?what can I see?

SunSun

solar eclipses solar eclipses [CAUTION!][CAUTION!]

patterns (constellations)patterns (constellations)

aurora (i.e. Northern Lights)aurora (i.e. Northern Lights)

our galaxy (Milky Way)our galaxy (Milky Way)

shooting stars (meteors)shooting stars (meteors)

lunar eclipseslunar eclipses

MoonMoon

artificial satellites (e.g. Iridium)artificial satellites (e.g. Iridium)

Space Station!Space Station!

space shuttle!space shuttle!

5 planets!5 planets!

star clusters! (e.g. Pleiades)star clusters! (e.g. Pleiades)

a galaxy! (Andromeda, M31)a galaxy! (Andromeda, M31)

and more!and more!

with just your eyeswith just your eyes……

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 12 of 20

your next stepsyour next steps

learnlearn major constellationsmajor constellations

some some ““bigbig”” starsstars

learn Greek (learn Greek (ΩΩ) & Arabic () & Arabic (ZubenelgenubiZubenelgenubi))

watch for watch for ““wandering starswandering stars””

visit a star partyvisit a star party

make a make a planisphereplanisphere

get a good primer bookget a good primer book

start a notebook or start a notebook or blogblog

join me at the dock!?join me at the dock!?

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 13 of 20

good print mediagood print media

NightWatchNightWatchTerence Dickinson, FireflyTerence Dickinson, Firefly

The Backyard AstronomerThe Backyard Astronomer’’s Guides GuideTerence Dickinson & Alan Dyer, FireflyTerence Dickinson & Alan Dyer, Firefly

Star WatchStar WatchPhilip Harrington, WileyPhilip Harrington, Wiley

subscribe to an astronomy magazinesubscribe to an astronomy magazineSkyNewsSkyNews –– a Canadian publication (bia Canadian publication (bi--monthly)monthly)

ObserverObserver’’s Handbooks HandbookRASC (annual)RASC (annual)

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 14 of 20

good web sitesgood web sites

Royal Astronomical Society of CanadaRoyal Astronomical Society of Canadarasc.carasc.ca

free monthly map, targets by eye, free monthly map, targets by eye, binosbinos, scope, scopeskymaps.comskymaps.com

sky conditions predictionssky conditions predictionscleardarksky.comcleardarksky.com

satellite, Space Station, Shuttle trackingsatellite, Space Station, Shuttle trackingheavensheavens--above.comabove.com

the space agenciesthe space agencieswww.space.gc.cawww.space.gc.ca, , www.nasa.govwww.nasa.gov

my my ““dark skiesdark skies”” blogblogcomputercomputer--ease.com/darkskiesease.com/darkskies//

Warning. Shameless plug!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 15 of 20

visit a club meeting or star partyvisit a club meeting or star party

CanadaCanada Royal Astronomical Society of CanadaRoyal Astronomical Society of Canada

chapters in every provincechapters in every province

other clubs (e.g. NYAA)other clubs (e.g. NYAA)

U.S.A. & aboardU.S.A. & aboard many societiesmany societies

start your own sidewalk astronomy club!start your own sidewalk astronomy club!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 16 of 20

letlet’’s reduce light pollutions reduce light pollution

turn off lights, use sensorsturn off lights, use sensors

lower wattagelower wattage

aim light down, get new fixturesaim light down, get new fixtures

practice at home and workpractice at home and work

savesave electricityelectricity

money!money!

birdsbirds

the nightthe night

ourselvesourselves……

http://darksky.org

http://flap.org

http://www.toronto.ca/lightsout/

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 17 of 20

upcoming eventsupcoming events

AugustAugust

20: Charleston Lake Astronomy 20: Charleston Lake Astronomy Night with Terence Dickinson Night with Terence Dickinson and park staffand park staff

22: 22: PerseidsPerseids meteors endmeteors end

23: 23: FacebookFacebook Greg GardnerGreg Gardner’’s s Lights Out OntarioLights Out Ontario

28: total lunar eclipse28: total lunar eclipse

29: 29: VestaVesta and Jupiter in and Jupiter in conjunctionconjunction

SeptemberSeptember

2: Moon passes Pleiades2: Moon passes Pleiades

77--9: Algonquin star party9: Algonquin star party

1414--15: Fall15: Fall’’ n Stars partyn Stars party

NovemberNovember

9: Ceres at opposition9: Ceres at opposition

1313--20: 20: LeonidsLeonids meteorsmeteors

DecemberDecember

Mars getting bigger!Mars getting bigger!

at opposition on 24that opposition on 24th

Buy a 2008 RASC calendar.Makes a great birthday or Xmas gift.(hint)

Warning. Shameless plug!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 18 of 20

conclusionconclusion

get out thereget out there

it is your Universeit is your Universe

I bid you I bid you ““Clear skies!Clear skies!””

thanksthanks……

whowho’’s coming to the dock?!s coming to the dock?!

NaturalNaturalHeritageHeritageEducationEducation

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 19 of 20

see you at the docksee you at the dock

clothingclothing warmthwarmth

mozziesmozzies

dog on leashdog on leash

bring your bring your binosbinos (optional)(optional)

no white flashlightsno white flashlights

no other white lights, please!no other white lights, please!

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 20 of 20

distancesdistances

MoonMoon 380,000 km380,000 km

SunSun 150,000,000 km150,000,000 km

MercuryMercury 58 Gm58 Gm

VenusVenus 108 Gm108 Gm

MarsMars 230 Gm230 Gm

JupiterJupiter 780 Gm780 Gm

SaturnSaturn 1,400 Gm1,400 Gm

ISSISS 350 km (above 350 km (above gndgnd))

IridiumIridium 780 km780 km

centre of Milky Waycentre of Milky Way 33 33 klykly

61 61 CygniCygni 11 11 lyly

VegaVega 37 37 lyly

AntaresAntares 136 136 lyly

PolarisPolaris 466 466 lyly

ZubenZuben ElgenubiElgenubi 56 56 lyly

ZubenZuben ElschemaliElschemali 1,040 1,040 lyly

M7 OCM7 OC 800 800 lyly

M6 (Butterfly) OCM6 (Butterfly) OC 1.6 1.6 klykly

M31 (Andromeda)M31 (Andromeda) 2.5 2.5 MlyMlyplanet distances are from SunGm = gigametres = million kmly = light year = 9,500,000 Gm/y

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 21 of 20

Milky Way, Milky Way, ScorpiusScorpius, , AntaresAntares, M6, M7, M8, M6, M7, M8

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 22 of 20

Moon, lunar Moon, lunar eclipeseclipes

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 23 of 20

Moon, Venus, Mars, conjunctionsMoon, Venus, Mars, conjunctions

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 24 of 20

artificial satellites, Station, Shuttleartificial satellites, Station, Shuttle

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 25 of 20

LeonidsLeonids, meteors, meteor showers, meteors, meteor showers

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 26 of 20

Pleiades, Pleiades, HyadesHyades, star clusters, star clusters

14 Aug 07 astronomy at Awenda 27 of 20

a galaxy 2.5 million a galaxy 2.5 million lyly awayaway