Learn Astronomy for free- well almost free!
Astronomy for Free! Well almost! - by TelescopeMan
Astronomy For Free - Well Almost!
WhatsUP! by TelescopeMan
I always get asked, " What can you see with that telescope?". Well-- hundreds of sky objects from my driveway in Rockwall, Texas! In fact my computer GOTO telescope has 30,000 objects listed in the hand-controller. You can bet that 20,000 of them are invisible here in Rockwall due to our light pollution; but that still leaves about 10,000 possible objects.
http://www.meade.com/lx90-acf/index.html Meade LX90 Telescope product specs
Do you really need one of these gadgets to learn the sky? Of course NOT! All you really need are your eyes and a good free sky map or a low cost field manual. Here are several Internet locations with free SKY MAPS that will help you learn the sky for FREE!
http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html Skymaps.com prints a new free map every month that you can download and print.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ Sky and Telescope's main web site page is filled with links to help the beginner learn the sky. They also have a free interactive sky maps that you can print for any date and time.
Astronomy magazine also has a great web site with sky maps and hints for the beginner, http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ I would suggest that you register at both web sites and sign up for their weekly free email newsletters.
If you just wonder what some of these objects look like then these two web sites have pictures of many well known stellar and non-stellar objects.
http://www.seds.org/MESSIER/ All about that French guy that cataloged the sky back in the 1700s.
http://www.astrosociety.org/resources/ngc.html And here are photos of over 7000 sky objects from the NGC (New General Catalog). This list was developed by J.L. Dreyer in 1888, and his IC (Index Catalog) in 1895 - 1908
Http://www.astronomyforum.net the friendly place to learn about the Astronomy hobby.
Now the best small book is actually TWO books -- "Turn Left at Orion" and "Nightwatch". Both are available on Amazon.com, and will get you going "learning" the night sky. So, the next time someone asks "What can you see in that telescope?" -------- say, "Oh, about 8000 different things on a good clear night!
http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundred-Telescope/dp/0521781906
http://www.amazon.com/NightWatch-Practical-Guide-Viewing-Universe/dp/1552093026
Remember to keep looking up to see the greatest show on Earth right over your head every night!
Clear Skies!
TelescopeMan
