introduction to astronomy · stargazing . beginnings •learning the sky •observing tools •what...
TRANSCRIPT
Stargazing
Beginnings
• Learning the Sky
• Observing Tools
• What you will see
Learn the Sky
• 88
Constellations
– Only about half
visible in the
Northern
Hemisphere
• Bright stars
– About 25-30
Stars
How can you learn the sky?
• Astronomy Clubs
• Books
• Star charts
• Software
Observing Tools – Eyes
• Eyes
– Young eyes
• ~0.3”-0.4” telescopes
– Older Eyes
• ~0.25”-0.3”
There are two types of Telescopes
Refractor telescopes
They use glass lenses
Reflector telescopes
They use mirrors and lenses
Parts of a Telescope
Tube - a long tube, made of metal, plastic, or wood
Objective Lens (in refractors) or Primary Mirror (in reflector) - collects lots of light from a distant object and concentrates it to a point or focus.
Eyepiece - takes the bright light from the focus of the
objective lens or primary mirror and "spreads it out" (magnifies it) to take up a large portion of the retina.
More Telescope Parts…
1. Finderscope 2. Focuser 3. Eyepiece 4. Release Control For Mount 5. Mount Base or Mounting Plate 6. Outer Tripod Leg 7. Tripod Leg Extension 8. Tripod Support Brace 9. Accessory Tray 10. Tripod Leg Clamp 11. Mount Axis 12. Mount 13.Mirror Cell – Primary 14. Telescope Tube 15. Slow Motion Control Lock 16. Finderscope Eyepiece 17. Finderscope Bracket
Observing Tools - Telescopes
• Telescopes
– Refracting
– Reflecting
– Catadioptric
What will you see?
• Eyes
– Stars to about magnitude 6-7
– A few non-stellar objects
• Andromeda Galaxy
• Planets and the Moon
• A few star clusters and nebula
What will you see - 2
• Binoculars
– You’ll be able to see
objects 16-32 times
more faint!
– Galaxys, Globluar
clusters, nebula, etc.
What will you see - 3
• Telescopes
– Now you will be able
to see objects up to
100’s of times more
faint
– Ability to see fine
detail (resolution)
Galaxies
Planets
Nebula
Comets