Please spend a little time with this and ask any questions you might have – call or write, I’m here a lot!
Wonders of the Night Sky – Astronomy for Anyone
INTRODUCTIONS/BASICS
Please Take the Survey First
1. Introduction & Overview
a. Pam Hoffman/Everyday Spacer
i. Wonders Already Achieved
b. Class Flow…
*Answer Any Questions from the Previous Class
*Several Concepts Per Class – Feel Free to Offer Thoughts [structure yet loose]
*Everyone brings something to the table!
c. I’m available at…
*Business cards/ES*Party maps/social media/search/ES 2020 Calendar
2. Collect and Review First Survey
a. Talk About the Results?
3. Simplest Ways to Participate
a. From home
*APOD
*Spot the Station alerts
b. From your yard
*Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, etc.
*ISS, other satellites, rocket launches
4. What can you see in the sky?
a. From Home
*Sun *Brightest Stars
*Moon *International Space Station
*Planets *Rocket launches
*Asterisms – sometimes
b. Local Star Parties – all of the above and…
*The Milky Way Galaxy *Clusters – Globular/Open
*Constellations *Asterisms
c. Dark Sky Site – Mt. Pinos / Frazier Park / Joshua Tree – all of the above and…
*Almost too much *Milky Way Galaxy
*More visible naked eye *More precautions
Look for things this coming week – every day is different!
BASIC FIELD SMARTS/ETIQUETTE
1. At Home / At a Star Party / At a Dark Sky Site
Every day is different
Loosely divided by seasons: Summer now, Fall, Winter, Spring to follow
Summer – first half of the night June, July & August – every night has ½ the sky
Constellations, meteor showers, comets, rocket launches – most significant
Constellation vs. asterism – summer has some good ones
2. Dress in layers, water, food – as appropriate to the venue
At home – simplest, fully supplied location, easiest to plan
Star Party – takes a bit more planning, checklist is handy
Dark Sky Site – could be like camping – you must plan more carefully
3. Red light to stay dark adapted (white light is considered rude)
A few things to think about
Driving into and out of a location with active observers
Red light during the event/ white light is OK after to make sure everything gets out
Make sure everyone gets their car started! Better with cell phones
WONDERS TO SEE
We’ll delve into these more fully this time around…
1. From Home – biggest, brightest things in the sky/night sky
*Sun (carefully!) *Brightest Stars
*Moon *International Space Station (set timer!)
*Planets *Rocket launches
*Asterisms – sometimes
2. Local Star Parties – all of the above and…
*The Milky Way Galaxy *Clusters – Globular/Open
*Constellations *Asterisms
*Andromeda Galaxy ***Checklist!
3. Dark Sky Site – Mt. Pinos / Frazier Park / Joshua Tree
*Almost too much *Milky Way Galaxy
*More visible naked eye *More precautions
***Bigger checklist!
TOOLS – BASIC TO ADVANCED
1. Find online: Star Maps, Heaven’s Above, NASA resources
2. Find in stores: Farmer’s Almanac, Planisphere
3. Advanced: Cameras, specialized maps & books, apps for your mobile device
EQUIPMENT
Refer to the current ‘Sky Map’ printout – use as a checklist if you’d like!
We’ll cover what you can see with each of the following…
1. Naked eye
*Brightest stars *Asterisms *ISS and other satellites
*Rocket launches *Some comets *Globular clusters (really dark site)
*Double stars – really good eyes!
2. Binoculars
*Globular Clusters *Open Clusters *Jupiter & Saturn
*Nebula *Double stars *Comets
3. Telescope
*Andromeda Galaxy *Nebula *Double Stars
*Comets
TECHNIQUES or HACKS
1. Averted vision
*Night vision/rods & cones/more on the edges
*Switch eyes as you observe
2. Spread hands = degrees
*The Fingers handout & discussion
3. Tell time w/planisphere & divisions of the sky
*Look at the sky, fit the stars into the window/date usually known/can tell time
*Whole = 360° Half = 180° and Horizon to top = 90° and Halfway between them = 45°
Table to put stuff on, dimmer on the finder (Kaye had a dot & it was too bright),
AFTER THE CLASS/GOING DEEP
How you continue learning about this…
1. Plethora of tools, just some of my favorites
a. Skymaps.com – every month
b. Planisphere
c. Farmer’s Almanac
2. Tap into my sources
a. My email list
b. ES blog, meetups
3. Going Deep..
a. Archeoastronomy, astrophotography, astrochemistry
b. Trips to Mt.Wilson, JPL, etc.
c. I’d love to create something for you! What sounds interesting to you?
PLEASE ask me any questions before class. I want you to have fun, be safe and avoid any pitfalls out there in the field. I’m here for you!
Pam Hoffman
805-590-6356
Pam@EverydaySpacer.com
EverydaySpacer.com
It’s all About Action!
