telescopeobserver Anyone who has ever scanned the night sky looking at the moon, stars, and planets is well on their way to walking the path of a backyard astronomer. However, mastering the art of stargazing takes a little more effort. Beginners often learn the hard way that observing the universe is not as simple as 1-2-3. … Read more
Amateur astronomy is a hobby that offers peace, beauty and knowledge in the great outdoors (even that great outdoors is nothing more than your backyard.) This exciting pastime is freely available to everyone, when all you need is little more than a blanket for settling down, and a clear open view. That said, astronomy is … Read more
Taurus is one of the constellations of the zodiac. The name Taurus comes from the Latin word for ‘the bull’, which is the animal the constellation has always depicted. It is a big, prominent, and easily recognizable constellation which has been known since ancient times. Indeed, it is one of the oldest documented constellations. It … Read more
Whether you are looking for astronomy Christmas gifts, or gifts for astronomy lovers for another reason, you want a gift that will be both educational and fun. For children, you also want a gift that is durable and easy for small fingers to use. The best astronomy gift will even combine astronomy with another interest. … Read more
Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac. The 2nd century AD astronomer Ptolemy had listed Gemini as one of his 48 constellations. Gemini comes from the Latin word for “twins”, which the constellation represents, and is associated with the twins of Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux. The two most prominent stars in the constellation are also named for … Read more
The planets of our Solar System are one of the constant features in the night skies. Always in motion, they are fascinating to observe as they cross the heavens. Most of the planets are relatively bright, but some can be quite a fun challenge to observe. This ultimate planet viewing guide is the perfect resource … Read more
How do you condense the cosmos into knowable facts? This guide on cool and interesting astronomy facts comes pretty close! Discover mind-blowing and fascinating titbits on our Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, and the universe on the grandest scale. Sunny Solar System The Solar System is our humble abode in the great cosmos. Planets, dwarf … Read more
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star located 640.5 light years from Earth, in the constellation Orion. The star is located in the upper-left corner of Orion the Hunter, forming his shoulder. It is one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye. Ancient people took note of the spectacular star, and astronomers today continue … Read more
Cancer is a constellation which is part of the zodiac and is visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The name Cancer comes for the Latin for “the crab”, which the constellation traditionally depicts. It is actually quite difficult to make out any form of a crab within the constellation as most of the … Read more
Sirius is the brightest star that can be seen with a visual magnitude -1.46. It is also known as the dog star and even sometimes called the alpha canis majoris. Sirius is a bluish white star. The light distant is 20 times the energy of the sun. the star is most commonly seen in the … Read more