resources in astronomy or, where to find what you need!
TRANSCRIPT
Resources in Astronomy
Or, where to find what you need!
Information, please
“I don’t even know where to start”
“There is just too much too learn”
“I know what I want, but not where to get it”
“okay, I know what to do. I search the Internet, check out all the books from the library, buy what they do not have, attend all star parties within 1000 miles, buy a 16” dob, call Tom,
Steve and George every clear night, get a CCD and two computers, move to AZ, and not go
broke or crazy”
What’s out there?
Information repositories abound: Library Bookstores Internet Clubs and/or Friends Software
Getting Started
You are in the right place Talk to club members Attend star parties
Talk to club members again
Attend more star parties
Determine what you really like to do Understand what you really can do
HVA
Many knowledgeable members (even Steve) Wide variety of telescopes Even wider variety of interests Star Parties every month, weather permitting HVA website is chock full of articles
www.hvaastronomy.com
Other Clubs in the area
Night Sky 45 in Salem http://nightsky45.com
Eugene Astronomical Society http://www.eugeneastro.org
Rose City Astronomers in Portland http://www.rca-omsi.org
…and many others in Oregon
Okay, done that…
Check out the local library Corvallis library has more than 200 titles in
Astronomy and Astrophysics Star Charts and Atlas are in the reference
section Real cool books in oversized books area! Numerous astronomy related magazines Perfect place to go on our many rainy days
(and nights)
Learning more
World Wide Web Just about everything you would ever want to
know is out there somewhere
Software Software exists to teach you and help you get the most out
of your equipment Some free, some real $$$
Astronomy on the Web
A Google search on astronomy returned 7,810,000 results. Astronomy Picture of the Day was first!
Yahoo has 32 relevant categories More than 1000 sites listed in these
categories AltaVista found over 12,000,000 results?
Phrase your question properly
Know what you know and what you don’t know
Stay focused, don’t let the Web tempt you
Save good sites in your favorites (bookmarks)
Remember to have fun
Sites for general astronomy
www.space.com www.nineplanets.org www.astronomy.net edu-observatory.org
See the handout for many, many more
Sites for children
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/ http://www.kidsastronomy.com/ http://www.astronomywebguide.com/links_kids.html
Sites with lots of links to follow
http://www.starastronomy.org/Links/ http://my.voyager.net/~stargazer/personal.html http://astronomylinks.com/ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
Software
Plot the sky Plan an observing session Control your telescope For your PC or your PDA Learn about astronomy Some is free, some not so free
Free Software
Cartes du Ciel http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/
Celestia http://www.shatters.net/celestia/
Links to free (and pay) astro software http://freeware.intrastar.net/astronomyone.htm http://www.cox-internet.com/ast305/software.html http://www.cvc.org/astronomy/freeware.htm http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/software/article_329_1.asp
Not so free software
TheSky www.bisque.com
Guide http://www.projectpluto.com/
MegaStar http://www.willbell.com/software/megastar/index.htm
Starry Night http://www.starrynight.com/
NGCView http://www.rainman-soft.com/
Learning the Craft
Ask Questions Local clubs are the best
Attend Star Parties Look through lots of telescopes
Be Patient Astronomy will develop into a life long passion