Re: [Utah-astronomy] End of the Planisphere?
Joe Wrote: Personally, I'm more interested in seeing (and photographing) amazing objects in space than I am in memorizing constellations. If we lived in another part of the galaxy I'd still be interested in examining the same classes of objects but the constellations would be far different. Do beings on every inhabited planet have to bother memorizing the designs just because their ancestors did? Hi Joe, I think learning the constellations is important for beginners... or anyone for that matter, because it helps to orient oneself in the night time sky. It helps to narrow down sections of the sky, and make it easier to find what one may be looking for, or at. I can glance up into the night time sky and in seconds orient myself and determine what I'm looking at, and where to go from there. Many people, not knowing the constellations are well... just lost. They only see bright, twinkling lights in the air. Besides.... its fun. Looking up into the summer sky and seeing the constellations is like seeing old friends once again. I think my favorite is actually an astrerism: The Summer Triangle, a combination of Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle and Vega... the Vegetarian. Okay... that last one was a joke. Party on Wayne! Jon
Jon, I agree it's good to learn them if you have the time; and the few I do know really help me orient myself. But my approach is to get right to finding things any way I can, and start imaging. But you have a great point. -- Joe --- On Tue, 3/1/11, stormcrow60@xmission.com <stormcrow60@xmission.com> wrote:
From: stormcrow60@xmission.com <stormcrow60@xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] End of the Planisphere? To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 7:38 AM Joe Wrote: Personally, I'm more interested in seeing (and photographing) amazing objects in space than I am in memorizing constellations. If we lived in another part of the galaxy I'd still be interested in examining the same classes of objects but the constellations would be far different. Do beings on every inhabited planet have to bother memorizing the designs just because their ancestors did?
Hi Joe, I think learning the constellations is important for beginners... or anyone for that matter, because it helps to orient oneself in the night time sky. It helps to narrow down sections of the sky, and make it easier to find what one may be looking for, or at. I can glance up into the night time sky and in seconds orient myself and determine what I'm looking at, and where to go from there. Many people, not knowing the constellations are well... just lost. They only see bright, twinkling lights in the air. Besides.... its fun. Looking up into the summer sky and seeing the constellations is like seeing old friends once again. I think my favorite is actually an astrerism: The Summer Triangle, a combination of Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle and Vega... the Vegetarian. Okay... that last one was a joke. Party on Wayne!
Jon
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With this crowd, Joe deserves to be teased for his comment about the "ancients". Perhaps we should call him "Joey". Wayne is correct that most amateurs don't know the constellations very well many can't find named stars well enough stars to align their telescopes. But the main thing most of the amateurs I've met are missing is the appreciation of dark adaptation. They arrive late and leave early at star parties with headlights blazing both ways. The even drive home to pick up gear they forgot to bring. Again headlights blazing both ways. It's frustrating to observe with them because they have never experienced full dark adaptation and they don't respect or understand the efforts others are making to achieve it. You can't do it if you are constantly or even occasionaly looking at a display screen. Rubilith won't cut it, you have to turn off the lights and adapt to the dark. Even brief using a red LED flashlight will set you back a good half an hour in adaptation. Anything you can see with a telescope is greatly enhanced if you are fully dark adapted. Some times I like to observe with just 10x50 binoculars and a folding patio chair. When I reorient the chair I make loud whining noises like a slewing LX200 just so I fit in with the rest of the crowd. But without the charts and the lights they need and without the cranky electronic devices (I own and have used many), you can become dark adapted. The first time it happens to you it will change your life and your attitude towards observing forever. Only then can we appreciate what the "ancients" knew long ago. DT
I'm glad you posted that. All this time I thought it was a combat flashback or something... (J/K!) The nice thing about SPOC is that you don't have to worry about dark adaptation at all... (not kidding). On 3/1/11, daniel turner <outwest112@yahoo.com> wrote:
When I reorient the chair I make loud whining noises like a slewing LX200 just so I fit in with the rest of the crowd.
I always enjoy watching Leo (the HA Rey Leo) walk through the sky during the year.
Joe Wrote:
Personally, I'm more interested in seeing (and photographing) amazing objects in space than I am in memorizing constellations. If we lived in another part of the galaxy I'd still be interested in examining the same classes of objects but the constellations would be far different. Do beings on every inhabited planet have to bother memorizing the designs just because their ancestors did?
Hi Joe, I think learning the constellations is important for beginners... or anyone for that matter, because it helps to orient oneself in the night time sky. It helps to narrow down sections of the sky, and make it easier to find what one may be looking for, or at. I can glance up into the night time sky and in seconds orient myself and determine what I'm looking at, and where to go from there. Many people, not knowing the constellations are well... just lost. They only see bright, twinkling lights in the air. Besides.... its fun. Looking up into the summer sky and seeing the constellations is like seeing old friends once again. I think my favorite is actually an astrerism: The Summer Triangle, a combination of Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle and Vega... the Vegetarian. Okay... that last one was a joke. Party on Wayne!
Jon
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I enjoy watching each of the seasons main constellations go across the sky; Orion in the winter along with Gemini, Auriga to name a few winter ones. Spring I agree, I love watching Leo move across the sky (when I can see the sky that is) and Virgo. Summer, nothing like watching Sagittarius, Scorpius, Hercules, Altair and Cygnus to name a few jot across the sky. Fall, love watching the Great Square of Pegasus, Andromeda, Perseus and Cassiopeia. Perhaps one of the funnest though is to watch how Ursa Major changes by season. From now through about May/June there are some wonderful galaxies up in Ursa Major (not just the typical Messier) that are worthy of observing. I guess for me it is how I connect to the sky. Until recently I had to star hop in order to find objects and I often find that I still do that as much as using my push to systems. I enjoy finding an object by hand and am the most comfortable doing that. Good thing to cause in the winter on the 14" in the field the display can freeze up and cause me to not be able to see it so hopping is still a necessity. We'll, until I began using a oven mit gove to ensure the LED display doesn't get too cold. On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 2:49 PM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
I always enjoy watching Leo (the HA Rey Leo) walk through the sky during the year.
Joe Wrote:
Personally, I'm more interested in seeing (and photographing) amazing objects in space than I am in memorizing constellations. If we lived in another part of the galaxy I'd still be interested in examining the same classes of objects but the constellations would be far different. Do beings on every inhabited planet have to bother memorizing the designs just because their ancestors did?
Hi Joe, I think learning the constellations is important for beginners... or anyone for that matter, because it helps to orient oneself in the night time sky. It helps to narrow down sections of the sky, and make it easier to find what one may be looking for, or at. I can glance up into the night time sky and in seconds orient myself and determine what I'm looking at, and where to go from there. Many people, not knowing the constellations are well... just lost. They only see bright, twinkling lights in the air. Besides.... its fun. Looking up into the summer sky and seeing the constellations is like seeing old friends once again. I think my favorite is actually an astrerism: The Summer Triangle, a combination of Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle and Vega... the Vegetarian. Okay... that last one was a joke. Party on Wayne!
Jon
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-- Jay Eads
This is all true and I do enjoy the constellations, as they form interesting figures. It's just that I don't find it worth my time to memorize obscure ones because I always have other things to do that seem more important, whether in the field or at home. Thanks, Joe --- On Fri, 3/4/11, Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] End of the Planisphere? To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Friday, March 4, 2011, 1:05 PM I enjoy watching each of the seasons main constellations go across the sky; Orion in the winter along with Gemini, Auriga to name a few winter ones. Spring I agree, I love watching Leo move across the sky (when I can see the sky that is) and Virgo. Summer, nothing like watching Sagittarius, Scorpius, Hercules, Altair and Cygnus to name a few jot across the sky. Fall, love watching the Great Square of Pegasus, Andromeda, Perseus and Cassiopeia.
Perhaps one of the funnest though is to watch how Ursa Major changes by season. From now through about May/June there are some wonderful galaxies up in Ursa Major (not just the typical Messier) that are worthy of observing.
I guess for me it is how I connect to the sky. Until recently I had to star hop in order to find objects and I often find that I still do that as much as using my push to systems. I enjoy finding an object by hand and am the most comfortable doing that. Good thing to cause in the winter on the 14" in the field the display can freeze up and cause me to not be able to see it so hopping is still a necessity. We'll, until I began using a oven mit gove to ensure the LED display doesn't get too cold.
On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 2:49 PM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
I always enjoy watching Leo (the HA Rey Leo) walk through the sky during the year.
Joe Wrote:
Personally, I'm more interested in seeing (and photographing) amazing objects in space than I am in memorizing constellations. If we lived in another part of the galaxy I'd still be interested in examining the same classes of objects but the constellations would be far different. Do beings on every inhabited planet have to bother memorizing the designs just because their ancestors did?
Hi Joe, I think learning the constellations is important for beginners... or anyone for that matter, because it helps to orient oneself in the night time sky. It helps to narrow down sections of the sky, and make it easier to find what one may be looking for, or at. I can glance up into the night time sky and in seconds orient myself and determine what I'm looking at, and where to go from there. Many people, not knowing the constellations are well... just lost. They only see bright, twinkling lights in the air. Besides.... its fun. Looking up into the summer sky and seeing the constellations is like seeing old friends once again. I think my favorite is actually an astrerism: The Summer Triangle, a combination of Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle and Vega... the Vegetarian. Okay... that last one was a joke. Party on Wayne!
Jon
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-- Jay Eads _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
participants (6)
-
Chuck Hards -
daniel turner -
erikhansen＠thebluezone.net -
Jay Eads -
Joe Bauman -
stormcrow60＠xmission.com