OK, I'm back!

I've been very frustrated the last several nights because I was wanting to watch the Venus/Jupiter conjunction as well as check for auroras...although according to the maps I am way out of the viewing area, there have been out-of-the-ordinary occurrences of them this far south in the past, of which I have been an observer, so I was hoping to keep a watch out...but it's been raining and cloudy for three days and nights! Not that I'm complaining--we are coming out of a severe 3 year drought here, and every drop of rain is welcome.

So I will spend some of the time I would have been out looking at the sky to give a bit of background and report my equipment.

I've been a stargazer since I was a child, but never learned very much about them until a few years ago when, in order to finish my degree, I had to choose a science class to take. Fortunately, there was a beginner astronomy course! I enjoyed the class very much, and became a committed stargazer the moment I learned Orion--and how many other constellations I could find using The Great Hunter as a guide!

My first piece of equipment was a laser pointer, purchased for me by my son for my birthday. It has had a lot of use! With it, I began to teach my two younger daughters the constellations.

Shortly thereafter we bought a pair of good binoculars and spent a few nights watching for meteors and trolling the sky with those binoculars and the laser pointer. Binoculars are great because while giving you a big slice of sky to look at, they also bring the sky closer so that you can see what you've been missing with the unaided eye--i.e. the myriads of stars that are really up there, where you thought there was only darkness--and also seem to pop them into 3D. A 'scope will not do that for you, however big it is.

What was fun and educational about the binocs was finding something, and then looking it up once the night was over to find out what it was you were seeing. Try that sometime...you'll learn a LOT more than if you try to look it up ahead of time and find it. I remember one of the most dazzling discoveries was the Double Cluster in Perseus.

The final project for the astronomy course was huge. We were to make a porfolio of constellations and star information for which we were given extremely detailed instructions. In the end, I decided to do it in such a form that I could show it to my grandkids. I spent 30 hours that weekend, with a pile of bright colored file folders, some star patterned material, glue-on jewels and sparkly fabric paint from the craft store, and my computer and printer, making the portfolio.

I got an "A", and an "awww!" from my teacher. She loved that I was making it for my grandchildren.

I decided, though, at the time I was making it, that I wasn't really going to be satisfied with this form of it, and I have since begun making a scrapbook form of it. Maybe I will post pics of that at some point.

That fall the girls and I decided to give ourselves a telescope for Christmas. We bought it early, though, so we could use it during our yearly Reformation Day party (Oct. 31), and let all the kids/neighbors look through it. Of course, it turns out I use the thing more often than anyone. The girls will go out stargazing with me, but after seeing a few small, sparkly things in the lens, they are good to just patiently gaze through the binocs or with the naked eye at the beauty and let me drive the 'scope around the sky looking for stuff.

There's Stargirl! Makes me think of the daughter of Ramandu in Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

I live at 30 41 N, 98 24 W, and in an area which is not bad for light pollution. There is a lot in front of my house which is fine for viewing if I can place myself just right to avoid the street light and if I don't care about seeing too much of the northern sky/horizon. Right now, the street light is out!

Within the last couple of years a subdivision has gone in nearby which has failed as of yet to sell many of the prepared lots. The good news for us is that if we move the set up over there, we've got a great 360 view, and no street light. The lots are set on cul-de-sacs, one of which is set higher than much of the surrounding country. We just load everything up in the old Cherry Fairy (suburban) and park on the cul-de-sac, unload everything onto the asphalt, and we're set to see it all!

About a year ago I found the forums over at http://www.astronomyforum.net/ and discovered that, at the time, they had a contest going on where they would award you a certificate for observing Messier objects. Not too long after, I was able to document my first 30 M objects and receive my certificate. I was not too far from earning the 60M certificate, but they stopped the contest, for reasons I am not sure about.

That is pretty much all the Messier objects one can see from my location with my size scope, so I'm satisfied. I began to keep an observation journal to document my finds, and when I am able to get out and observe I update it. I use OneNote for the journal and Starry Night and Stellarium to help identify and document (by taking screen clips) what I've seen.

Most recently, I was treated by a friend to the "Starlight Nights" book, and it has rekindled my obsession. This week we will visit Enchanted Rock state park (God willing). Stargirl will go with us, and we hope to do some viewing as well as teach my son-in-law some of his constellations. Should be fun! Now...we wait to see if the weatherman is right and the sky will clear for one night...

Future goals are: learning some actual star names in the constellations, and possibly locating and observing some variable stars.

mm

I quite enjoyed reading your account, Mother-Music. Sounds like you've had lots of fun! And it appears Stargirl gets out a bit more than my own scope (which sadly hasn't been granted a name).

I hope you enjoy reading Starlight Nights. I first read it as a teenager and focused primarily on the astronomical stuff. But in the decades since I've discovered there are lots of levels to that book - not just astronomy, but insights into other aspects of nature, some philosophical thoughts on life in general, and a nostalgia for a time rapidly disappearing into the past.

Here's hoping you get some clear skies out at the state park! (Our state parks are among my favorite observing spots as well, and I have fond memories of stargazing surrounded by Lake Superior or waterfalls or boreal forests...)

Speaking of clear skies, yesterday we shattered the previous record high set way back in 1878; it got up to a pleasant 66F/19C. That meant only one thing: a backyard campfire with friends (Ryadian's family) followed by an evening of stargazing. Venus and Jupiter were highlights, as was ruddy Mars. We tried for Mercury and Northern Lights, but did not see either.

It is clear as a bell today, since noon! I warned my son-in-law that even though he would be tired from driving 14 hours to get here, if the sky was clear we were going out--we may only get this one chance!

I do hope it is clear at least for a while at the park tomorrow night. A darker sky would make it so much nicer.

mm

Interrupting the conversation briefly to say, for the first time in my life I saw a meteor streak across the sky in broad daylight. That thing was hot. Bright white and kind of greenish. It burnt out before it hit the ground but it was really neat to see all the same.

That sounds awesome! Thanks for the report. (I'd love to see something like that someday).

Yesterday's rain has cleared off, and I'm looking forward to seeing Venus and Jupiter at their closest (3 degrees apart) this evening. Venus is the brighter object to the right (as seen from the Northern Hemisphere).

I was admiring Jupiter and Venus last night when I was out walking Fiona. And not only were they super close together, they were perfectly horizontal as well. Very neat!!

Here's the situation: I have a not-so-bad site. Yes, there's some light pollution from surrounding small cities, but they are blocked pretty well by the surrounding hills. This doesn't give me access to the best horizons, but on good nights I can see most stars above about 10 degrees.

From the lot in front of my house I have a good east and south view, but west and north are obscured by trees and my house (house faces south). My house is a two-story. Getting on the roof would put me above all the surrounding street lights and most of the trees, and open up my view to the west and north.

Here's what I've wondered: how possible would it be to build something on top of my house to hold my scope? Could it be turned into an "observatory"? What are some ideas for designing such a thing? I've thought of everything from a simple railed platform secured to the ridge of the roof, to an enclosed, climate controlled observatory.

This is all subject to moneys and time available, of course, but it never hurts to dream and bat around ideas with friends who understand about optics and what have you.

I use binoculars and an Orion Starseeker 130mm GoTo. Someday, funds permitting, I might upsize to a larger dob.

I can post pics of the house, if there is interest.

I should mention that I live in Central Texas. I don't think that leaving Stargirl (my 'scope) set up is an option unless the structure is climate controlled to at least some extent...it probably gets upwards of 150 degrees up there on many hot July afternoons.

I would assume that is a consideration? Would somebody share with me if that extreme temperature would do damage to Stargirl?

Anyone game to comment?

mm

Mother-Music, 'tis wonderful to see you here! I'm enjoying reading your very interesting posts about your astronomy experiences. Thinking it would be great to get a lazer pointer (with care ), and I'm asking for stronger binoculars for my birthday. The old ones we have (7 x 35) are okay, but I'd quite like 10 x 50.

The astronomy course sounds fascinating, M-M, particularly the final project, which I would love to see sometime! How special that you created it with your grandchildren in mind. And the scrapbook too.

"Stargirl" ... very nice. Yes, I will refrain mentioning the related character we made such fun of at a Moot, which I am positive you have heard about. Did a clear night grace you for star-gazing at the State Park?

Awesome for the burned-out streetlight! And finding the Messier objects! W

Brief notes of my own:

*Mars is so red and beautiful now in the evening's eastern sky
*Venus and Jupiter's conjunction in the west was amazing last night. Thankful for a clear sky!
*seeing Saturn rise in the east about 9:30 p.m. (EDT) is lovely. I look forward to when our youngest son gets home from university at the end of April so he can get out the telescope to see its rings.
*The few cloudless nights we've had, I continue to head over to a schoolyard close by that has an extra clear view of low in the west, where I've been able to spy Mercury as it disappears into the low western sky.

Thanks for the further info on Leo, stargazer. Also, your backyard campfire and stargazing time sounds wonderful.

Did anyone see the northern (or southern) lights? Ooh, I love that photo of the auroras over Split Rock Lighthouse! So beautiful and mysterious.

Ithi, I'm glad you're getting a chance to look at the night sky.

What a treat this must have been, fantasia. Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a meteor mid-day!

Mother-Music, not being overly versed in observatories and such, I am unable to really comment further, but I hope that somehow this dream comes to fruition some day. It would be amazing to have something like this readily available ... and even climate-controlled so you can just leave Stargirl up there. Kudos to you for beginning to pursue this!

Jo and all;

Over at the astronomy forums I have already been blessed with expert but depressing news: building a platform on top of the house would most likely have no real good results on my stargazing: due to vibration ("it will vibrate like a tuning fork"), and heat escaping back into the atmosphere ("it will cause you to see the stars as if looking at them through boiling water"), the roof is a bad choice.

Meh. It's ok. It really takes me less than 5 minutes to be set up out in the lot in front of the house. If I want northern and western exposure, I'll just hop up to the cul-de-sac.

I will try to take pictures of both projects--the original one for class and the scrapbook version--and put them up online here soon.

mm

I meant to comment on your inquiry, Mother-Music, but got distracted.

Alas, what you've heard coincides with what I've heard as well. The big issue with scopes is that they reach thermal equilibrium - the same temperature as the air around them - so that the image doesn't 'boil.' This is true whether you have observatory or just keep it in your house, garage, etc. If the temperature difference is large, this can take several hours.

The roof site might also suffer from continued heat (or cooling) coming from the house itself.

I'm glad you've been able to spot Mercury, jo! I've missed it this apparition; too many trees and houses and twilight. [/whine]

I did, however, have a nice view of the Jupiter-Venus conjunction last evening, and hope to spot it again tonight (along with a -2 Iridium flare at 2053). It was almost like a pair of unevenly matched eyes in the western sky, though Venus looked more golden white compared to Jupiter's bluish hue (often, those colors are reported as the opposite ).

The only Northern Lights view I've had recently was the one at my brother's house last month. The many city lights here tend to wash out all but the really good displays.

My ISS viewing chances are in hiatus right now, but next week it'll return to morning visibility. Not sure I'll be awake for it then.

Well, I was very blessed that the sky cleared enough to see the conjunction last night, as well as several constellations which my son-in-law was able to accurately locate since our little educational seminar on Sunday night!

Yesterday afternoon I took 15 minutes to photograph the projects I mentioned a few posts ago. There are quite a few photographs, so I secured permission from johobbit to double post just this once, in order to make perusing the pictures and projects more clearly.

Below, find the pictures of the first project, originally assigned as the final exam project for the astronomy course.

The above is a composite shot of the expandable file folder, and several file folders both opened and closed.

Inside one folder, right hand page. Fabric paint, craft crystals and labeling form a reasonable facsimile of the constellation, with assigned details added.

Inside the same folder, left hand page. Copy/paste photos and typed information according to the assignment.

Front of folder: part of the assignment was to include the legend or story that is associated with the constellation. I tried to make it somewhat personal.

In addition, there was an introductory folder containing a letter to the children/grandchildren and a poem we were required to write. Since these are included in the second project as well, I left off photographing them--you should be able to read them in the next post, which, I warn you, is much longer due to more pictures.

mm

The following are pictures of the subsequent "scrapbook" project, based off the original above.

Here is a picture of the letter page: you can't read it, but I've also posted a view below that you CAN read...you just can't get a full view of the page in the readable version.

Next is the introduction page, and a picture of the poem tab opened so it can be read.

I am working on the Sagittarius page now--Sagittarius is my favorite because it looks like a teacup. That is the theme I am going with on the information page: it will have a little teacup, and information will be written on the napkin.

Before you ask: no, there's not really any method to which constellations I am choosing to put into the scrapbook. I chose Orion because so many other constellations can be found using The Hunter as a guidepost. Other than that, it is pretty random.

mm
Next is a page of scriptures about stargazing...

Turn the page to see information about Orion. I love these papers I found in a scrapbook store. Some of them have little stars on them.

Opposite is the constellation page:

I have close ups of the information page if you're interested in reading what is written there.

Below find the Canis Major/Minor information page:

Again, close ups are available. Here is the constellation page:

Here is the Star Classification fold out, uhm...folded out ;P

The Gemini information page:

The Gemini constellation page:

That's all that is complete so far. Now I am working on the page for Sagittarius. It is my favorite because it looks like a teapot. The info page will be themed with a teacup and information written on the napkin.

mm

Thanks for sharing your artwork, Mother-Music. It's a fascinating blend of artistic talent and scientific info (a combination I don't have, though I try sharing my thoughts in prose ) I can see it becoming a family treasure to be passed on.

I like the Canis Major and Minor dog pictures.

Some friends capped off today's glorious weather by hosting a blazing evening bonfire. Multiple neighbor kids joined us for hot dogs and S'mores, and after sunset we showed them the view of Jupiter near Venus. Very pleasant, except for some unwelcome guests: some mosquitoes - in March!

And Abby and her family really enjoyed the spectacular -8 Iridium flare near Mars (their first one) once darkness fell.

Ok...so. Iridium flares? I see them tracked on my Starry Night, but I've never actually gone out looking for them, and they weren't mentioned in the astronomy course. I know what they ARE, I just don't know what I'm looking for. A flash? A traveling light? My understanding is that one has to be looking at just the right place at just the right time to see them. Is that right?

Also: Can someone suggest a list of easily identifiable variable stars, viewable with the naked eye, binoculars, or a small scope like mine? I'd like to get started watching some.

mm

Your impressions of Iridium flares are generally correct, Mother-Music; unlike the ISS or other satellites that can remain visible for up to 7 minutes, Iridium flares are bright flashes that last only seconds (though with practice and experience, you'll be able to watch the satellite for a while before and after it flares, extend visibility to perhaps a minute, and total path length from 15-30 degrees).

Once you've seen one - especially one of the glorious -8 flares - you'll have no trouble identifying them in the future.

Unlike the ISS, your location is crucial for accurate predictions - just a few miles can make a significant difference. (I've found that city name is adequate, as long as you're in the town; if you're in a rural location the nearest town might work - or you can enter the precise coordinates from your GPS).

Time to a few seconds is also important; look away and you might miss it (though a -8 will likely catch your peripheral vision). For this, your cell phone always knows what time it is, so it can provide the accuracy you need.

I've found the predictions on heavens-above.com (once you enter your town name or coordinates) to be extremely reliable. As an example I'll use the prediction for last night's flare:

Search Period Start: 11:20, Friday, 16 March, 2012
Search Period End: 12:20, Saturday, 17 March, 2012
Observer's Location: Eden Prairie ( 44.8547°N, 93.4706°W)
Local Time: Central Daylight Time (GMT - 5:00)

Date 16 Mar
Local Time 2153
Intensity (Mag) -8
Alt. 48°
Azimuth 111° (ESE)
Satellite Iridium 62

The local time will be DST, if your area is currently observing it.
Intensity, or brightness, is measured in magnitude; the lower the number the brighter. -8 is almost as good as it gets for Iridium flares.

Next is where to look: altitude (0 is the horizon and 90 is overhead) and azimuth (measuring clockwise along the horizon with north = 0, east = 90, etc). If you're familiar with the altitude-azimuth system for locations, you're right at home here.

Lastly it tells you which Iridium satellite you're seeing.

Your interest in variables puts you in some famous company, Mother-Music, including author Leslie Peltier. I've found a list of 12 'top' variables, including famous ones like Algol and Delta Cephei:

The Top 12 Naked-Eye Variable Stars

Included are links to other helpful articles about estimating brightness, predictions for maxima and minima, etc.