20 votes

I saw the big dipper tonight

I live somewhere with relatively little light pollution, so on every clear night all the stars come out. I'm not a very good astronomer though, the big dipper is the only constellation I know. I don't usually go out at night, so seeing it is still a pretty neat thing for me. I also saw the north star by following the tail(?) of the spoon, it's a bit dim and hard to see.

Any amateur or professional astronomers here? What do you like to look for at night?

13 comments

  1. [2]
    sublime_aenima
    Link
    I love checking out the stars, especially when I’m lucky enough to get out of suburbia and into nature away from light pollution. I have an app called SkyView that allows my kids and me to...

    I love checking out the stars, especially when I’m lucky enough to get out of suburbia and into nature away from light pollution. I have an app called SkyView that allows my kids and me to identify stars, planets and the ISS. Just last night my daughter was telling me how much it meant to her to watch the lunar eclipse in January from my bed while snuggling with me and her brother. At the time I just thought would be a good distraction to the fact that their mom was in the hospital, but to her it was a special moment of bonding and comfort (that we all needed). Unfortunately all the smoke in the air and the neighboring light pollution made watching the meteor shower too difficult.

    8 votes
    1. zoec
      Link Parent
      This is so lovely! My heart melted.

      Just last night my daughter was telling me how much it meant to her to watch the lunar eclipse in January from my bed while snuggling with me and her brother. At the time I just thought would be a good distraction to the fact that their mom was in the hospital, but to her it was a special moment of bonding and comfort (that we all needed).

      This is so lovely! My heart melted.

      2 votes
  2. [2]
    spit-evil-olive-tips
    Link
    You can sign up to get email alerts when the International Space Station is visible overhead. It's not terribly common due to the inclined orbit of the ISS - you'll go a month or two without any...

    You can sign up to get email alerts when the International Space Station is visible overhead.

    It's not terribly common due to the inclined orbit of the ISS - you'll go a month or two without any at all, and then several nights back-to-back where it'll be visible. They're always around sunrise or sunset because it needs to be dark on the ground but still have the sun shining on the station for light to reflect off it.

    But when you can see it, it's breathtaking. Easily visible even with light pollution.

    6 votes
    1. Cirrus
      Link Parent
      Thanks for that, I signed up. Slightly unrelated, but did you know you can sign up for email alerts for earthquakes?

      Thanks for that, I signed up. Slightly unrelated, but did you know you can sign up for email alerts for earthquakes?

      1 vote
  3. [3]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    I'm very much an amateur star-watcher. The only two constellations I can recognise are Orion and the Southern Cross. If I'm ever having a random moment gazing upwards, I always look out for the...

    I'm very much an amateur star-watcher. The only two constellations I can recognise are Orion and the Southern Cross.

    If I'm ever having a random moment gazing upwards, I always look out for the Southern Cross. Strangely, I always see the two "Pointers" first, which point to the Cross itself - even though the Cross is a full constellation, and the Pointers are just two bright stars next to each other.

    And, I remember something I learned forever ago, about finding the southern celestial pole. Draw a line that connects the two Pointers, and then draw a line which perpendicularly bisects that line. Similarly, draw a line that connects the top and bottom stars of the Southern Cross. Extend the perpendicular bisector of the Pointers and the lengthwise line of the Cross until they cross. That's the southern celestial pole (or thereabouts).

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Cirrus
      Link Parent
      That seems so complicated! I'm glad it's easier up north.

      That seems so complicated! I'm glad it's easier up north.

      1. Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        It's not as complicated as it sounds! It's a lot harder to explain than to do. After a while, it becomes second nature.

        It's not as complicated as it sounds! It's a lot harder to explain than to do. After a while, it becomes second nature.

        1 vote
  4. [6]
    zoec
    Link
    Hi! It's nice of you to share your neat star-gazing experience. You're lucky, it's a blessing to have real dark nights. We're a bit late for the peak of the Perseid meteoroids now. If fortunate, I...

    Hi! It's nice of you to share your neat star-gazing experience. You're lucky, it's a blessing to have real dark nights.

    We're a bit late for the peak of the Perseid meteoroids now. If fortunate, I guess you may see some at night, especially past midnight.

    Mars is currently bright in the southern sky. I often describe its colour as "brick-red" or "ember-red". Can you find it?

    3 votes
    1. [5]
      Cirrus
      Link Parent
      I'm in the northern hemisphere, so I'm not sure if I can see mars. Can it be differentiated from all the other stars? Colour alone isn't much to go by, they all seem white to me.

      I'm in the northern hemisphere, so I'm not sure if I can see mars. Can it be differentiated from all the other stars? Colour alone isn't much to go by, they all seem white to me.

      1. [3]
        zoec
        Link Parent
        Mars's current Dec value is about -27 degrees. That roughly means that you can see if your geographical latitude is below 63 degrees (the lower your Lat., the higher you'll see it in the night...

        Mars's current Dec value is about -27 degrees. That roughly means that you can see if your geographical latitude is below 63 degrees (the lower your Lat., the higher you'll see it in the night sky).

        And Mars is very bright now, much brighter than the surrounding stars. It's unmistakable.

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          Cirrus
          Link Parent
          Hmm, so it seems I will be able to see it, but according to an article it'll be only 20 degrees above the horizon. That seems pretty low so I'll try to find some unobstructed space.

          Hmm, so it seems I will be able to see it, but according to an article it'll be only 20 degrees above the horizon. That seems pretty low so I'll try to find some unobstructed space.

          1 vote
          1. zoec
            Link Parent
            If weather permits, an hour or so after sunset, you can see a crescent moon beside Venus in the west, Jupiter higher up in the south-west, Saturn to south, and Mars rising in the south-east....

            If weather permits, an hour or so after sunset, you can see a crescent moon beside Venus in the west, Jupiter higher up in the south-west, Saturn to south, and Mars rising in the south-east. Planets lining up for you :)

            2 votes
      2. sublime_aenima
        Link Parent
        Yes we can! Jupiter and Mars have been beautiful lately. They look like bright stars to the naked eye so an app or knowledgeable friend are great to have.

        Yes we can! Jupiter and Mars have been beautiful lately. They look like bright stars to the naked eye so an app or knowledgeable friend are great to have.

        2 votes