Learn the Sky I

Did you ever wonder how people got around “back in the day” before all this technology? Columbus sailed to the New World without satellites, GPS receivers, or especially wireless internet. Magellan didn’t circumnavigate the globe by using Google Maps. They used what they had, especially the sky.

During the day, if you can see the sun, you can pretty much figure out what direction is what. And the same can be done at night. Did you know that if you can see the stars, you can’t get lost? By having a familiarity with the stars of the night sky, you can always tell what direction you are facing, and even know your general place on the earth.

When you were younger, and if you were in the Boy or Girl Scouts, you probably had to learn some of the night sky for a merit badge. Then some people just fell in love with the night sky and learned what they could themselves. That is one reason we astronomers are an adventurous bunch.

There are several ways to learn your way around the sky, and one of them is on a site which shows you how to identify stars and constellations, and how to find your way around.

There are several online sites to learn the sky, and a great one if you are just starting out is The Night Sky site, which shows some basic “find your way” items of interest. Go ahead and check them out to find “what’s up.” Then, on some clear night during the summer months, come on out to the Veen Observatory during a public viewing session to see the stars for real and up close. One of the features of the public nights are star and constellation tours by the astronomers present.

So go outside and learn the sky. Amaze your friends.

And don’t worry about getting lost. The stars are there to guide you.

The Universe (Saturn: Lord of the Rings)

The new episode of The Universe for this Tuesday is “Saturn: Lord of the Rings.” Here’s a preview…

Are the rings of Saturn a real celestial phenomenon or merely a cosmic Illusion? Technology allows the experts to get closer to the furthest planet visible to the naked eye. Old questions are answered and new ones arise. Does Saturn hold the key to Earth’s weather and will one of its moons supply us with all the oil we’ll ever need? Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to show what life would be like on other planets and to imagine what kinds of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres.

So please make the effort to watch. Just check your listings for when it’s playing, and if you can’t watch it then, use the magic of TiVo, DVR, etc. Heck, even a VCR if you still have one. These shows are worth it.

And as a side note, Saturn is slipping towards the sun from our vantage point, and will shortly be lost in the solar glare. But have no fear, Saturn will be a morning object in a short time.

The “Evening Star” Takes a Bow

If it’s clear, go outside just after sunset and take a look at the bright object to the west, and bid it a fond farewell. The Venus is leaving the evening sky soon.

In it’s travels around the sun, Venus spends part of the year in our evening sky, and part of the year in the morning sky. This year Venus has been a staple of the evening twilight since early spring, but in early August the planet slips into the glare of sunset and disappears from our sight, leaving Jupiter as the lone bright planet in the sky.

But take heart. Because of the angle of the ecliptic (the imaginary line the sun and planets travel in the sky) Venus will be quickly rising in the morning sky late in August and be a fixture for the rest of 2007 and much of Spring of 2008.

Venus and the Ecliptic at sunset, July 28

Venus and the Ecliptic at sunrise, August 28

So if you want to get your last glimpse of Undómiel, the Evenstar, run out and take a peek, before you have to get up really early to see Venus in a month.