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Re: R.A. and Dec

 

I was actually going to suggest the Cambridge Star Atlas. Great atlas.

Kent

----- Original Message -----
From: <2bookworms@...>
To: <backbayastro@...>
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 11:55 AM
Subject: [backbayastro] Re: R.A. and Dec


Thanks Ted and Kent! Your different perspectives were very
complimentary and helpful. Also I'll keep my nose burried in my copy
of Wil Tirion's book: The Cambridge Star Atlas.
One of these evenings I'm going to go over to Jarvis Road, and
actually find Uranus using it's RA / Dec!

Rick Bish


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Re: Current Comets

Woody, Denice K
 

And a trick I use to remember which is which is Declination is when you're
laying down flat and Right Ascension is ascending upwards towards the
sky.....

-----Original Message-----
From: S. Kent Blackwell [mailto:kent@...]
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 9:52 AM
To: backbayastro@...
Subject: Re: [backbayastro] Re: Current Comets

Hello Rick. Think of Right Ascension and Declination this way. When we draw
a map of the earth we use latitude and longitude lines. This greatly
assists in finding an accurate location. The same is done in the sky. We
draw imaginary lines across the sky. Those line running north and south are
called RA, or Right Ascension. Lines running east and west are DEC, or
declination. If you look at any detailed map of the sky you'll see these
marked on sky maps. I suggest you go to a library or bookstore near you and
see if any books are offered with good sky maps.

A couple of especially good star atlases for beginners are listed below. I
doubt you'll find either at a library or any local bookstores, but each can
be ordered. The Edmund is especially recommended for a beginner, and besides
the star maps is crammed with much useful information. It's beautifully
written by the late Sam Brown in the 1950s. In the late 1970s it was updated
by Terence Dickinson, and again in the late 1990s. I still refer to mine and
I've been observing more years than I care to remember.

Kent Blackwell

The Edmund Mag 5 Star Atlas
ID30091-18 $6.95
www.scientificsonlin.com
800-728-6999

Wil Tirion's Bright Star Atlas 2000
@$10
Wilmann-Bell
Richmond, VA
www.willbell.com
804-320-7016

----- Original Message -----
From: <2bookworms@...>
To: <backbayastro@...>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 9:19 PM
Subject: [backbayastro] Re: Current Comets


Hey Kent,
My name is Rick. I joined the BBAA in November and am still learning
some of the terminology. You and I have actually never met, but I did
have a question about the terms "Right Ascension and Declination."
The reason I'm asking you, is because you used those terms in you're
note about current comets.
At the end of the note, I was unable to imagine where those comets
would be (not your fault at all).
I've taken a couple of college astronomy courses and that's one thing
I needed more time to understand. I've heard lot of "sage" scientists
and astronomy people using those terms.
Could you (or anyone out there in BBAA Land, for that matter!)explain
the terms "Right Ascension and Declination" as if you were explaining
them to a 10-year-old? How do I find celestial objects this way?
Thanks!

Rick Bish


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Re: Moon map/atlas

 

Rob,
Thanks I've already found and down loaded it. I to sound old
because I'm not(although my teenagers think I'm neanderthalish) but
you can't beat paper(ie, books).
Joe
--- In backbayastro@..., "Rob Schonk" <robschonk@h...>
wrote:
Theres a great freeware atlas called Virtual Atlas of the Moon
available at:



Rob






From: twforte@a...
Reply-To: backbayastro@...
To: backbayastro@...
Subject: Re: [backbayastro] Moon map/atlas
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 09:57:19 EST

In a message dated 2/21/03 11:19:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
joepiotrowski@c... writes:

<< What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does
the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is
if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh! >>

Yes, this weather is depressing me!

Asking for the "best" anything in this hobby will evoke enough
disagreement
to make the United Nations look like a mutual admiration society.

Rukl's Atlas of the Moon is very well regarded but is unfortunately
out of
print. It is sometimes available on the used book market. I used
the
Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas and found it quite easy to use
and learn
from. I also found a large format fold out map of the moon by
George
Phillip
for just a few dollars at Barnes and Noble. I removed the map from
its
binder and pasted it to a Styrofoam poster board that I could take
out to
the
scope. I found that to be a big help when I completed the Lunar
Club
certificate.

There are several shareware/freeware moon-related software
available and
dozens of sites dedicated to lunar observing. A. L. P. O. has a
lunar
section on their website You
might also
consider getting the league's lunar club pamphlet.

Good luck.

Ted

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Re: R.A. and Dec

 

Rick,
Not that I'm any great expert, especially compared to Kent but the RA
and DEC coordinates are usefull for marking the position on your star
atlas. Then you need to star hop to the proposed location. This
assumes you don't have a goto scope or digital setting circles which
would enable you to find something by RA and DEC alone. I am very
happy with my laminated Sky atlas 2000.0. I have some erasable
markers and I just draw comets,planets etc in right on the atlas
before going outside. I don't always find everything but at least it
gives me a chance.
Declination is just the angle from the celestial equator.By
convention this is 0 degrees.Imagine a line going out in all
directions from the earth's equator. North of the celestial equator
are positive angles up to a max of 90 degrees at the North Star.South
are negative numbers to negative 90 degrees.Because the stars move
because of the earth's rotation each star stays on the same DEC.If
you have an equatorial mount you can swing along the same DEC.For me
DEC is easy.It was also easy for ancient mariners since it only
depends on angles. That's why they had no problem with latitude out
in the middle of the ocean.The angle the north star makes with the
horizon is equal to your latitude.But remember the north star's
declination is 90 degrees. Straight up at your latitude is the
declination equal to your latitude(for Williamsburg it's about 37
degrees).
Right ascension is harder for me and them because it all depends on
the time of day. Its not measured in degrees but in units of time.
Hours,minutes, seconds.This is because the earth rotates in 24 hours.
That's why longitude was such a problem for seafarers.It was finally
solved with the use of better clocks.But since RA is a moving target
you are better off star hopping from known stars.
I keep the two separate in my head with a little look at the words
themselves. Stars seem to ascend in the east.An incline is a surface
at an angle.
Hope this helps rather than confuses.
Joe(brand new member)
--- In backbayastro@..., "Rick Bish <2bookworms@c...>"
<2bookworms@c...> wrote:
Thanks Ted and Kent! Your different perspectives were very
complimentary and helpful. Also I'll keep my nose burried in my
copy
of Wil Tirion's book: The Cambridge Star Atlas.
One of these evenings I'm going to go over to Jarvis Road, and
actually find Uranus using it's RA / Dec!

Rick Bish
Re: Nightwatch 28 Feb

 

Ted,
Is there a problem with using Chippokes at all or just for this
Friday? One of the more attractive things about the BBAA for me was
the nearness of Chippokes for the nightwatch program.I have access to
another site but there are no facilities(or lights) and I don't know
if the farmer would agree to a crowd. Skies are pretty good with only
a Williamsburg 20degree and Richmond 15degree glow.No visible lights.
Also it might be harder for those from Virginia Beach. How many folks
usually come to the Nightwatch?
Joe
--- In backbayastro@..., twforte@a... wrote:
In a message dated 2/22/03 10:21:51 AM Eastern Standard Time,
channelf@i... writes:

<< If we can't observe at Chipokes or Northwest River Park next
Firday. Has anyone consider going to Lands Ends?
>>

We probably won't be able to use Chippokes, and we don't want to
use NWRP, we
would have to be out by midnight ... a real waste of an almost new
moon. The
officers were considering either Land's End or Pettigrew.

Ted
Re: Moon map/atlas

 

Dale,
Thanks.I can't make the March meeting. I will be speaking at the
April meeting and would love to look at it.Since the general opinion
is that Rukl's is the best but it is out of print, the one you
mention sounds like the next best choice from what I can see on the
net.
Joe
--- In backbayastro@..., "Dale Carey" <stargaz@e...>
wrote:
Joe
We have a large hard back book called "Atlas of the Lunar
Terminator."
It brakes down every mnt. and crater one by one. Good way to get
your
"lunar cert." I can bring it to next meeting on the 6th or catch
up with
me at home near Super K on Holland rd.
Dale
----- Original Message -----
From: joseph_piotrowski <joepiotrowski@c...>
To: backbayastro@...
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 11:18 PM
Subject: [backbayastro] Moon map/atlas


What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does
the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is
if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh!
Joe


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Service.
Re: Moon map/atlas

 

Theres a great freeware atlas called Virtual Atlas of the Moon available at:



Rob






From: twforte@...
Reply-To: backbayastro@...
To: backbayastro@...
Subject: Re: [backbayastro] Moon map/atlas
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 09:57:19 EST

In a message dated 2/21/03 11:19:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
joepiotrowski@... writes:

<< What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh! >>

Yes, this weather is depressing me!

Asking for the "best" anything in this hobby will evoke enough disagreement
to make the United Nations look like a mutual admiration society.

Rukl's Atlas of the Moon is very well regarded but is unfortunately out of
print. It is sometimes available on the used book market. I used the
Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas and found it quite easy to use and learn
from. I also found a large format fold out map of the moon by George Phillip
for just a few dollars at Barnes and Noble. I removed the map from its
binder and pasted it to a Styrofoam poster board that I could take out to the
scope. I found that to be a big help when I completed the Lunar Club
certificate.

There are several shareware/freeware moon-related software available and
dozens of sites dedicated to lunar observing. A. L. P. O. has a lunar
section on their website You might also
consider getting the league's lunar club pamphlet.

Good luck.

Ted

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to


_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.

Re: R.A. and Dec

Rick Bish <[email protected]>
 

Thanks Ted and Kent! Your different perspectives were very
complimentary and helpful. Also I'll keep my nose burried in my copy
of Wil Tirion's book: The Cambridge Star Atlas.
One of these evenings I'm going to go over to Jarvis Road, and
actually find Uranus using it's RA / Dec!

Rick Bish
Nightwatch 28 Feb

larry_channel <[email protected]>
 

If we can't observe at Chipokes or Northwest River Park next
Firday. Has anyone consider going to Lands Ends?
Re: Moon map/atlas

 

There is a book considered THE definitive atlas of the moon. It's aptly
titled "Atlas of the Moon" (strange, huh?) by Antononin Rukl, published by
Astronomy magazine. Now for the bad news. It's out of print, and I've seen
them go for as much as $100 on Astromart (a great source of used astro
goodies). Supposedly a new edition is on the way, but I've heard that rumor
for more than a year and still haven't see the book. If you see one at a
used book store grab it!

www.astromart.com

Kent Blackwell

----- Original Message -----
From: <joepiotrowski@...>
To: <backbayastro@...>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 11:18 PM
Subject: [backbayastro] Moon map/atlas


What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh!
Joe


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to


Re: Current Comets

 

Hello Rick. Think of Right Ascension and Declination this way. When we draw
a map of the earth we use latitude and longitude lines. This greatly
assists in finding an accurate location. The same is done in the sky. We
draw imaginary lines across the sky. Those line running north and south are
called RA, or Right Ascension. Lines running east and west are DEC, or
declination. If you look at any detailed map of the sky you'll see these
marked on sky maps. I suggest you go to a library or bookstore near you and
see if any books are offered with good sky maps.

A couple of especially good star atlases for beginners are listed below. I
doubt you'll find either at a library or any local bookstores, but each can
be ordered. The Edmund is especially recommended for a beginner, and besides
the star maps is crammed with much useful information. It's beautifully
written by the late Sam Brown in the 1950s. In the late 1970s it was updated
by Terence Dickinson, and again in the late 1990s. I still refer to mine and
I've been observing more years than I care to remember.

Kent Blackwell

The Edmund Mag 5 Star Atlas
ID30091-18 $6.95
www.scientificsonlin.com
800-728-6999

Wil Tirion's Bright Star Atlas 2000
@$10
Wilmann-Bell
Richmond, VA
www.willbell.com
804-320-7016

----- Original Message -----
From: <2bookworms@...>
To: <backbayastro@...>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 9:19 PM
Subject: [backbayastro] Re: Current Comets


Hey Kent,
My name is Rick. I joined the BBAA in November and am still learning
some of the terminology. You and I have actually never met, but I did
have a question about the terms "Right Ascension and Declination."
The reason I'm asking you, is because you used those terms in you're
note about current comets.
At the end of the note, I was unable to imagine where those comets
would be (not your fault at all).
I've taken a couple of college astronomy courses and that's one thing
I needed more time to understand. I've heard lot of "sage" scientists
and astronomy people using those terms.
Could you (or anyone out there in BBAA Land, for that matter!)explain
the terms "Right Ascension and Declination" as if you were explaining
them to a 10-year-old? How do I find celestial objects this way?
Thanks!

Rick Bish


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

Re: Moon map/atlas

Dale Carey
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Joe
We have a large hard?back book called "Atlas of the Lunar Terminator."
It brakes down every mnt. and crater one by one.? Good way to get your
"lunar cert."? I can bring it to next meeting on the 6th or catch up with
me at home near Super K on Holland rd.
Dale

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 11:18 PM
Subject: [backbayastro] Moon map/atlas

What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh!
Joe



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the .

Re: Nightwatch 28 Feb

[email protected]
 

In a message dated 2/22/03 10:21:51 AM Eastern Standard Time,
channelf@... writes:

<< If we can't observe at Chipokes or Northwest River Park next
Firday. Has anyone consider going to Lands Ends?
>>

We probably won't be able to use Chippokes, and we don't want to use NWRP, we
would have to be out by midnight ... a real waste of an almost new moon. The
officers were considering either Land's End or Pettigrew.

Ted
R.A. and Dec

[email protected]
 

Could you (or anyone out there in BBAA Land, for that matter!)explain
the terms "Right Ascension and Declination" as if you were explaining
them to a 10-year-old? How do I find celestial objects this way?
Another way to visualize Right Ascension and Declination is to imagine a
sphere surrounding the earth at a distance, so that all of the sky is
represented at a single distance on that sphere.

Now imagine the latitude and longitude lines on the earth projected out to
that sphere. The Earth's equator would form a circle around the center of
the sphere, and since the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees on its axis, that
"celestial equator" is also tilted and so will appear at different elevations
at different times of the year. The equator projected to the celestial
sphere marks 0 degrees declination.

We then mark off equal increments (degrees) of declination from that equator
to the "poles" that are defined by the Earth's axis of rotation. Polaris,
near the north celestial pole is (almost) at 90 degrees declination, but as
we know, is not at the "top" of the sky known as the "Zenith" but is at an
elevation equal to the observer's earthly latitude due to that tilt of the
Earth. Orion's belt is very nearly at zero degrees declination.

On Earth we start the lines of Longitude from an arbitrary point called the
"prime meridian" selected because it goes through the Greenwich Observatory.
In the sky we arbitrarily mark the zero-hour of Right Ascension at the "first
point of Aries" which refers to the point where the "Ecliptic" (apparent path
of the sun) crosses the celestial equator and known as the "Vernal Equinox,"
the day (March 21), that marks the start of spring and is one of the two
dates of about equal day and night. (The other being the Autumnal equinox
about 23 September) By the way, it is called "the first point of Aries"
because that is the constellation that contained the Vernal Equinox at the
time the system was conceived. Due to precession, it is no longer in that
constellation. Look for zero hour R.A. along the Eastern edge of the great
square of Pegasus.

The Earth turns on its axis every 24 hours. It, therefore, takes 24 hours
for the sky to make a complete revolution around an observer on Earth,
advancing 15 degrees an hour. So we divide the sky into 24 segments of 15
degrees each and call the segments "hours." Extending the "clock analogy,"
we divide the hours into minutes and the minutes into seconds.

As Kent already explained, you then use these coordinates in the sky to
define an objects position exactly the way you define the location of a spot
on the earth.

Hope that helps.

Ted
Re: Moon map/atlas

[email protected]
 

In a message dated 2/21/03 11:19:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
joepiotrowski@... writes:

<< What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh! >>

Yes, this weather is depressing me!

Asking for the "best" anything in this hobby will evoke enough disagreement
to make the United Nations look like a mutual admiration society.

Rukl's Atlas of the Moon is very well regarded but is unfortunately out of
print. It is sometimes available on the used book market. I used the
Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas and found it quite easy to use and learn
from. I also found a large format fold out map of the moon by George Phillip
for just a few dollars at Barnes and Noble. I removed the map from its
binder and pasted it to a Styrofoam poster board that I could take out to the
scope. I found that to be a big help when I completed the Lunar Club
certificate.

There are several shareware/freeware moon-related software available and
dozens of sites dedicated to lunar observing. A. L. P. O. has a lunar
section on their website You might also
consider getting the league's lunar club pamphlet.

Good luck.

Ted
Moon map/atlas

 

What's the best moon atlas/map to use to explore the moon? Does the
club library have any? How about stuff from the Internet?That is if
we ever see the moon or stars again.Sigh!
Joe
Re: Current Comets

Rick Bish <[email protected]>
 

Hey Kent,
My name is Rick. I joined the BBAA in November and am still learning
some of the terminology. You and I have actually never met, but I did
have a question about the terms "Right Ascension and Declination."
The reason I'm asking you, is because you used those terms in you're
note about current comets.
At the end of the note, I was unable to imagine where those comets
would be (not your fault at all).
I've taken a couple of college astronomy courses and that's one thing
I needed more time to understand. I've heard lot of "sage" scientists
and astronomy people using those terms.
Could you (or anyone out there in BBAA Land, for that matter!)explain
the terms "Right Ascension and Declination" as if you were explaining
them to a 10-year-old? How do I find celestial objects this way?
Thanks!

Rick Bish
Re: Seeing/Saturn

Dickinson, Bill
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Yes I'm planning on it.

?

Bill Dickinson

?

-----Original Message-----
From: twforte@... [mailto:twforte@...]
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 5:42 PM
To: backbayastro@...
Subject: Re: [backbayastro] Re: Seeing/Saturn

?

In a message dated 2/20/03 5:21:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,
dickinson@... writes:

<< I must say the seeing up here in Richmond the last few weeks has been
awful.
I believe that the snow and ice on the ground has a real mixing effect on
the atmosphere. I miss the steady skies of Tidewater.?
? >>

This has been my worst couple of months for observing in a long time.? The
weekends have been really crummy here for the past several weeks.? I hope we
have better luck at the East Coast Star Party.? Will you be there, Bill?

Ted


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Dale's scope for sale

Dale Carey <[email protected]>
 

Orions 5" Mak-Cass 1540mmFL F12.1
14.5" long standard equipment - 6 x 26 finder
25mm plossl 45* correct angle diagonal and
fully padded case with acc. pockets. I'm including
a Badder solar filter and case that I made.
New from Orion $349.00 + ship not incl. filter
This one is $295.00
or will take a Pentax 10.5 eyepiece + 100
or 120/127mm F5 refractor OTA
Need faster lens for photography This is a great scope.

Looks brand new.
Kent's Telescope For Sale

 

I'll bet that caught your eye. No, the 25" is not up for sale (yet).
I do have the following. The mirror has a fine figure, and the scope
is in very good condition. It's about 5 years old. I've included
current prices as a reference. The package price is $375.

8" f/6 Dobsonian (white tube) ($449 for the current model, plus $50
shipping)

7.5mm & 26mm eyepieces

6x30 Orion finder on twin ring mount. This is far better than on the
new Orion 8" Dobs. Those finders are single ring-mounts which often
get out of alignment.

Orion Reflex Finder (currently sells for $35)

Orion Collimating Eyepiece (currently sells for $35)

Cover (currently sell for $40)

Kent Blackwell
57601 - 57620 of 57722