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Astronomy: Expert Guides and Resources
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Articles & Books From Astronomy
Cheat Sheet / Updated 07-03-2024
Stargazing is a fascinating hobby, but there’s an awful lot to gaze at up there. Eighty-eight constellations and hundreds of other objects both bright and faint mean that wherever you look when you’re stargazing, there’s something to see. If you want to make sense of it all, and make sure that your kit is properly set up, this Cheat Sheet is here to help.
Uncover the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse—and more!Prepare to say, “oh my stars!” The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is visible in North America on April 8th and won't be making its next appearance until 2044. 2024 Solar Eclipse For Dummies shines light on this stellar event you won't want to miss and gives you an approachable look into the extraordinary science and history of eclipses.
Article / Updated 10-19-2023
Digital cameras are now the preferred tools for photographing meteors. But digital meteor photography requires a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR), which is an expensive camera (point-and-shoot cameras and cellphone cameras don't work very well, except in the rare case when you can catch a brilliant fireball) and a lot of trial-and-error experimenting until you get it right.
Article / Updated 10-19-2023
A comet is a stuck-together mixture of ice, frozen gases (such as the ices of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide), and solid particles — the dust or "dirt" shown here. Historically, astronomers described comets as having a head and tail or tails, but with additional research, they've been able to clarify the nature of a comet's structure.
Article / Updated 10-19-2023
Hundreds of operating satellites are orbiting Earth, along with thousands of pieces of orbiting space junk — nonfunctional satellites, upper stages from satellite launch rockets, pieces of broken and even exploded satellites, and tiny paint flakes from satellites and rockets.You may be able to glimpse the reflected light from any of the larger satellites and space junk, and powerful defense radar can track even very small pieces.
Article / Updated 10-19-2023
When you're outdoors on a dark night and see a "shooting star" (the flash of light from a random, falling meteoroid), what you're probably seeing is a sporadic meteor. But if many meteors appear, all seeming to come from the same place among the stars, you're witnessing a meteor shower. Meteor showers are among the most enjoyable sights in the heavens.
Article / Updated 10-19-2023
If you're just starting to become interested in astronomy, get into the astronomy hobby gradually, investing as little money as possible until you're sure about what you want to do. Here's a plan for acquiring both basic skills and the needed equipment: If you have a late-model computer, invest in a free or inexpensive planetarium program.
Article / Updated 10-19-2023
The Space Age, generally considered started by the launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik, is defined by the events surrounding space exploration and development of space technology. This list maps out major events of the Space Age:1957 The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth.
Article / Updated 09-14-2023
Here are some favorite facts about astronomy and, in particular, Earth and its solar system. With the following information under your belt, you may be ready to handle the astronomy questions on television quiz shows and inquiries from friends and family. You have tiny meteorites in your hair Micrometeorites, tiny particles from space visible only through microscopes, are constantly raining down on Earth.
Article / Updated 09-05-2023
You’ve probably noticed that September just “feels” like a time of transition. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the time of the year when temperatures cool off, birds begin gathering for migration, and the trees start showing color. Yusufdemirci / Adobe StockAll of this occurs around the autumnal equinox, between September 21 and September 24 (in 2023, the equinox is the 23rd) marking the start of fall for people in the Northern Hemisphere.
