And now for something completely different..

[Miller Time]

One of my other hobbies is astronomy, it's something I've recently gotten into and get a great deal of enjoyment from. In the mornings as I leave for work I see Venus in the sky before sunrise, really an amazing sight this time of year. It's the third brightest object in our sky, behind only the sun and moon. It looks a lot like a star as it's reflecting the sun's light back to us, and it's often called the "morning star" because of it's brightness.

This morning when I looked, I noticed another point of light close by that was too bright to be a star. I went back inside to get the camera and take a quick picture before going to work, and looked it up later to see what it was. It is actually Venus and Jupiter, and they will be close in the morning sky for the next two weeks or so.

The picture can't do it justice, so look in the Southeastern sky up 30 - 45 minutes before sunrise to see this for yourself. Next Monday (Feb 4) it will be a really amazing sight as the crescent moon with also be close, marking out a triangle in the morning sky.



Venus above, Jupiter below and to the left.

[Cajun]

That's really cool, I saw them this morning too. I didn't realize you were into astronomy. I was in the local astronomy club back in Dallas and I had access to a KILLER darksky sight up in Oklahoma as well as the club's 20" Cassegrain. I personally have an Orion 4.5 inch reflector that I origianlly bought for the darksky sight since there wasn't always access to the 20" scope. We set it up in our yard at times, but my problem at home is my nightlight, it's not switched so you have this fake sun glaring all the time. If it were switched, I could see pretty well to the south and southwest. I've tried hitting the sensor with my spot light, but just about the time you dark adapt, it pops back on. Where do you generally go to observe?

[Miller Time]

I joined the Charlotte Amatuer Astronomers Club last year. http://www.charlotteastronomers.org/

They have an observatory in Taxahaw, SC that has pretty good skies. It's near Pageland, which isn't far from you. I actually drive within a mile of your place when I drive out there, so it's probably 20 minutes from Monroe. They have three telescopes for club use - an 8" refractor, a 16" Cassegrain, and a really impressive 24" Newtonian. All are mounted with tracking platforms, the 8" is in a building with a rotating dome lid, the 16" has a roll away shed cover, and the 24" is in a building with a roll away roof. The 16 and 24 have computerized object locators as well.

It's a great group, and if you can get to the observatory it's a great bargin too! Yearly dues are $35, and they have monthly meetings with some interesting speakers. For an additional $10/year, you get access to the observatory scopes. I haven't been doing much lately with it so cold at night, but in the fall I was out a few times and the skies are amazing.

Here is the 24:

[Cajun]

That's way cool, I'll have to check them out and probably join. I assume you can bring your own equipment to the darksky sight. They have some very nice club equipment though and the cost to join is basically nothing.

Here's my old club's website.
http://www.texasastro.org/

Ever use a "clear sky clock"?
http://cleardarksky.com/c/CharlotteNCkey.html?1

We need to get together and talk astronomy I think.  :wink:

[Miller Time]

It's definitely the best $45 you can spend! They have concrete pads out there that are open for members to use, so you can bring your own gear. I only have a cheap refractor for now, I've had my eye on a 10" dobsonian and will probably get one when the weather warms up again. There are some great people in the club and when someone else is out there they like to show objects off to people, so I've had plenty of good times.

Yep, I've used the clear sky clock - CAAC actually sponsors one for their site: http://cleardarksky.com/c/TaxaSCkey.html?1

 :lol:

[RC Shocker]

On a clear night I can see the Charlotte skyline from my balcony  :wink:

[Threadlocker]

Chris,

Do you know a guy Named Gale Rigsbee? He lives in Weddington and Builds those things. Last time I was over there he had 2 of them that had to hauled on Trailers they were so big.

Steve

[Cajun]

Chris,

Do you know a guy Named Gale Rigsbee? He lives in Weddington and Builds those things. Last time I was over there he had 2 of them that had to hauled on Trailers they were so big.

Steve

I'd like to meet him! Can you introduce me next time you go over there?

[katfish317]

I have seen the planets alot lately and had wondered what they were since they were staying so bright in the morning sky.  I showed my son and wife them this morning and they both thought it was really cool.  My wife and I have talked before about getting a telescope for us and now for the kid also.

[Cajun]

Great bang-for-the-buck beginner scopes:
http://www.telescope.com/control/main/

This is what my personal model is:
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=reflectors/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=09007

Works good for planets and moon and fairly close stars/nebula/clusters with a few eyepieces and filters. You should be able to see most of the Messier Catalog.
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/Messier.html
Rings of Saturn are very easy, you can see the polar caps on Mars, Jupiter's weather bands (it should be possible to see Jupiter's Great Storm, but I haven't been that lucky yet). The moon looks like you could touch it. The are a few easy mods you can do that make it really perform much better too. I want one of there bigger dobs too, I was able to use one of these at a star party in Texas once:
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=27189

Nice scope for the price!

[Miller Time]

Chris,

Do you know a guy Named Gale Rigsbee? He lives in Weddington and Builds those things. Last time I was over there he had 2 of them that had to hauled on Trailers they were so big.

Steve

:lol: Yeah, he is the president of the CAAC - Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club. The observatory is named after him, he actually built the 24" and refurbished the other two.

He's an amazing guy, a ton of knowledge and just the most helpful person you'll ever meet. The first night I went out he spent over an hour helping me collimate this cheap telescope I had. Even reworked the focuser on it and then stayed around to show me several things.

If you ever get a chance to meet him and talk a little, you'll leave with a smile.

[katfish317]

Thanks for the info Cajun!!  I might look around on the net somemore and get ideas and let the wife look too, as she wants to be informed about it I'm sure.

[orangecrush]

Not quite related to astronomy but I thought ya'll would like these pics from NASA.

[orangecrush]

[orangecrush]