LIGO: A Quest for Gravity Waves.
LIGO, Livingston. (All Photos by Author). We had to go there… last month’s NASA Tweetup at the Johnson Spaceflight Center saw us undertake the great American… [more]
Imaging Satellites: A Low-Tech Method.
Portable Satellite Tracking "Station". (All Photos by Author). We here at Astroguyz have been working for some time on an interesting technique for capturing photographs… [more]
Observing from the ‘Hood': Good Targets for Bright Skies.
If you’re like us here at Astroguyz HQ, you find yourself in the ‘burbs under increasingly brightening night skies. But you want to use that shiny new Christmas… [more]
Featured Posts
Astro-Challenge: Spot a Near Earth Asteroid & More!
Some interesting events are afoot this last week of January into February for those who track the passage of “Low Flying Space Rocks” plus dirty snowballs across the northern hemisphere winter skies. First up is a close pass of the Near Earth Asteroid 433 Eros. Fresh off of perihelion at a distance of 1.133 A.U. [...]
Astro-Challenge: The Stars of Apollo 1.
Apollo 1 & the mission patch that never flew. (Credit: NASA). What’s in a name? When it comes to stars in astronomy, a curious and often confusing system has arisen over the years; many stars are known by multiple designations from numerous surveys and catalogs done over the centuries, while many of the brighter stars [...]
Review: Boneyards by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
On sale now!!! Never get between a gal and her anacapa drive… this week, we take a look at book three and the final (?) installment from the Diving into the Wreck series, Boneyards, out this month from Pyr Books and written by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Fans of the series and this space will remember [...]
Astro-Challenge: The Ruddy Hues of UU Aurigae.
Carbon stars are some of our “surprise faves” to show off to folks when it comes to variable stars. Objects like V Hydrae and R Leporis, otherwise known as Hind’s Crimson Star exhibit a cherry red hue as they fatten up on carbon fusion and filter through red-wavelength light late in their stellar careers. This [...]
Book Review: The Rift Walker
If you think there cannot possibly be another good series with vampires at its core, you should have a look at the Vampire Empire series by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith. I began the series in the middle, because The Rift Walker came across my desk first. Although starting at book two works with this [...]
A Weekend of Sun, Fun & Astronomy at Delray Beach, Florida!
Delray Beach sunrise. (All photos in post by Author). Stargazing and traveling are literally a “match made in heaven”; as long as there’s a sky to be seen overhead, your observatory can be said to be where ever you make it. Such was the case this past weekend, when we bundled up the ‘scopes and [...]
Your Chance to see the “Moons”(?) of Venus!
Two degree FOV on January 13th… north is up. (Created by the Author in Starry Night). The planet Venus is going through some pretty fancy sky maneuvering this year. Starting off low to the south in dusk skies, it is about to shoot dramatically to high northerly declinations later this spring, and then dip down [...]
Review: Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon by Mark Hodder.
On sale this month! We made an interesting observation at last year’s Necronomicon convention. Trekkies and storm-troopers seemed noticeably absent, while goths, zombies, and steam-punkers seemed to be all the ‘rage’. It is of note that the Steampunk movement has yet to really have a flagship movie or television franchise… but that all could change [...]
Astro-Challenge: The Colorful Hues of Struve 3053.
Finding Struve 3053. (Created by Author Using Starry Night). Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas? Neither did we, at least in terms of an automated backyard observatory and a private mountain top to perch it on… but such is the game of astronomy.
AstroEvents- Hunting things that “Flash” in the January Sky.
Phobos-Grunt+meteor… a scene to be repeated this week? (Photo by Author; click to enlarge). 2012 is here, and the world shows no sign of ending as the heavens spin on their appointed rounds high overhead. But the diligent observer may be rewarded with several unique an spurious sights, both natural and manmade…
The Top Astronomy Events For 2012.
Comet Lovejoy from the ISS! (Credit: NASA). It’s here, the most vaunted astronomical post of the year; what’s happening in the sky in 2012! Just think; while your well-meaning but astronomically oblivious friends/co-workers/relatives fear the coming Mayan prophecy, YOU can be hip and “in the know” on upcoming astronomical events in 2012! (Hint; the end [...]
2011: The Year in Science.
No matter what your field or discipline was, 2011 stands as an amazing year for the history books. Change and transition seems to be the watch-word as regimes have been overthrown, the US space program sits at a crossroads, and cultural and social change has taken place worldwide.
Astro-Event(s): A Solstice, a Meteor Shower and a Bizarre Transit.
The Winter Solstice… here comes the Sun! (Credit: Art Explosion). T’was the night before Christmas, and no doubt dreams of high tech astro-gear is dancing thru the head of many a star stricken astronomer out there. But while you’re awaiting those astro-gifts, the universe marches on.
Book Review: Hearts of Smoke and Steam
I had a very difficult time putting down Hearts of Smoke and Steam, Book 2 in the Society of Steam and sequel to The Falling Machine. The Paragons were not in such a great state at the end of The Falling Machine, and Lord Eschaton and his Children were making strides. Tom, The Automaton, was [...]
2011: The Year in Science Fiction.
The Emerald Crusader finally makes it big. (Credit/Copyright: Warner Bros/DC Comics). The tumultuous year that was 2011 is about to come to a close… perhaps you’re rightfully wondering why you’re not commuting by jet pack by now, or glad that the post-apocalyptic vision of Road Warriors has yet to occur.
AstroEvent: The Geminids Round Out 2011.
2011 has been quite a year, both terrestrial and otherwise. This week sees the last of the big scheduled astronomical happenings of the year in the form of the Geminid meteor shower. This shower is one of the yearly standbys along with the Perseids that are always sure to produce. The Geminids have a long [...]
Book Review: Down to the Bone
What a great way to end a series. Down to the Bone is Book Five in Justina Robson’s Quantum Gravity series, and in my opinion, is the best of the bunch. Lila Black — the sexy, shape shifting, polygamous, cyborg heroine — and [...]
Astro-Event: A Fine Total Lunar Eclipse.
Our photo of last December’s total eclipse. Mark your calendars; this Saturday, December 10th a total lunar eclipse graces our fair planet, and a good swath of humanity will get to see it. This particular eclipse occurs at sunset/moonrise for observers in central Europe, the UK, and north-eastern Africa westward, and just before sunrise/moonset for [...]
Review: Astronomical Calendars for 2012.
Two of the best! It’s that time of year again; time for a roundup of astronomical calendars for the coming year, the perfect gift for that special space-obsessed someone. Equipped with a good wall calendar, you and yours never need miss that obscure asteroid occultation or opposition ever again.
Mars Curiosity: Return of the NASATweetup!
A scale model rover and its destination. (All photos by Author unless otherwise noted). You could just imagine our excitement. A little more than a month ago, the email appeared informing us that we had been selected to attend the NASATweetup at the Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Mars Curiosity! Long time fans [...]
Astro-Event: R Geminorum Rising.
Mira, a prototype variable similar to R Gem as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. (Credit: NASA/ESA). Tired of observing M31 for the nth time and ready to do some backyard astrophysics? Eventually, we all go there; you may have even read a recent “how-to” post of our not-so-secret addiction: variable star observing.
Review: The Hooded Observing Vest from Dark Sky Apparel.
The Hooded Observing Vest in Action! Looking for the perfect gift for that astronomy-obsessed someone in your life this Xmas? (OK… we don’t call ourselves obsessed, but you know…) No doubt you’ve heard that same someone complain about the neighbor’s million candle-watt power floodlights, or accompanied them in a 100 mile quest for truly dark [...]
AstroEvent: An Antarctic Partial Solar Eclipse.
Animation of the November 25th Eclipse. (Credit: NASA/A.T. Sinclair). Opting out of the “Black Friday” shopping madness? We’ve got good news. In addition to the launch of the Mars Curiosity spacecraft and complementing NASATweetup on November 25th, a partial solar eclipse occurs deep in the southern hemisphere. Maximum partiality will be 90% just off of [...]
Review: Alpha Centauri by William Barton and Michael Capobianco.
A Science Fiction Classic! This week, we here at Astroguyz are taking a break from bringing you the cutting edge commentary on up and coming science fiction and groundbreaking works of science that you’ve come to know and love and are instead reaching into our way back machine and reviewing a tale from our copious [...]
15.11.11-Hunting for Phobos-Grunt.
Have you seen me? (Artist’s concept. Credit: ROSCOSMOS). By now, you’ve heard the news; Russia’s Phobos-Grunt (Grunt meaning Soil) spacecraft is stuck in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Launched on November 8th out of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the Zenit rocket designed to place the Mars-bound spacecraft worked flawlessly, and then… silence. Since that fateful evening, engineers have tried [...]
Astro-Event: Catching a Good Meteor Shower on a Bad Year.
This week’s astro-event holds a special place in our lifetime of observing memories. In 1998, we deployed to Kuwait (a definite switch of scenery!) from our home station of Eielson AFB, Alaska during an escalation with Iraq that was to become Operation Desert Fox. But to this day, what has stuck in many airmen’s minds [...]
Review: Planesrunner by Ian McDonald.
Out this December from Pyr Books! Ever wonder why this existence of ours just doesn’t seem to make since most of the time? Believe me, the thought has crossed our minds here at Astroguyz HQ as we see the likes of the Kardashians and what not trending. Perhaps there’s a multitude of universal possibilities out [...]
The Passage of Asteroid 2005 YU55 & How to See It.
Image of a crescent 2005 YU55 constructed using Arecibo radar on its 2010 passage. (Credit: NASA/Cornell/Arecibo). A large Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) makes an approach this week closer than our Moon, and with a little luck and skill, you may just be able to spy it. The object in question is 2005 YU55, an Apollo [...]
Review: Science Illustrated Magazine.
Science in Vivid Focus! (Photo by Author). Way back in the 80’s, in the era of floppy disks, Apple IIe’s and hair rock was a magazine called Science Digest. It was one of the first periodicals to combine cutting-edge scientific research with a glossy, Reader’s Digest-meets-National Geographic style of approach for the masses. This was [...]
November 2011: Life in the Astro-Blogosphere.
A “Warhol Moon!” (Photo mosaic by Author). Wow, can you believe that 2011 is coming to a close? It seems that it was only yesterday that we where installing Windows 98 and fretting about Y2K, and now we have a decade plus of the 21st century under our belts… this month brings a pair of launches headed [...]
Astro-Event: On the Path of Comet Garradd.
We had great skies at our recent local Star Party this past weekend. Hot on the heels of the NecronomiCon, we zipped out to the relative darkness that is Starkey Park in Pasco county and set up for what turned out to be our third star party in 24 hours. Amidst Jupiter approaching opposition, a [...]
Review: Drive & Curiosity by Istvan Hargittai.
Out from Prometheus Books! Ever wonder what separates research scientists from us “ordinary mortals?” Is it insight and a world view outlook that’s different than the average person, or are they simply willing to “fail longer” before becoming ultimately successful? Insight into the scientific mindset is the core concept of this week’s review, Drive and [...]
Constellations of Yore.
Hunting Cerberus… (From Johann Bode’s 1801 Uranographia, in the Public Domain). Sure, you’re familiar with the constellations of Orion and Ursa Major. Or perhaps you even know the difference between a constellation and an asterism such as the “Teapot” or the “Sickle” of Leo, or maybe you can even successfully pronounce such tongue-twisting names as [...]
25.10.11- Astroguyz at the 2011 NecronomiCon!
The ultimate in solar protection! We came, we saw, we hung out with zombies and folks dressed like Iron Man at the 2011 NecronomiCon convention in Saint Petersburg, Florida this past weekend! A great time was had by all, as we celebrated all that was science, science fiction and fellow genres of horror and fantasy.
Astro-Events: An Opposition and an Occultation!
Looking west from Astroguyz HQ Oct 27th at sunset. (Created by the Author using Starry Night & Paint). This week marks the return of the King of the Planets to evening skies, as well as a close lunar-planetary grouping for well placed observers and a chance to spy an unusual asteroid.
Review: Denying Science by John Grant.
On Sale Now! Ever wonder why smart people believe in dumb things? And we’re not talking the latest drivel about whose in rehab trending on Google or Yahoo, but how folks miss out on what should be basic scientific knowledge needed to interact in modern society, such as the Earth going around the Sun, man [...]
18.10.11: All Hail the Necronomicon!
Invading planet Earth this weekend! In the Saint Petersburg, Florida area this weekend? Let me turn you on to one of Tampa Bay’s premiere events; the Necronomicon, a convention of all things science fiction, fantasy and horror which celebrates its 30th anniversary in a ‘fest of all things wacky and weird. This year, Hugo award [...]
Astro-Events: Of Comets and Meteor Showers.
Locating the Orionid radiant; (Photo/graphic by Author). Early October saw one for the record books, as the obscure Draconid meteors put on a show for northern hemisphere observers topping a zenithal hourly rate of 338 ±15 per hour centered on October 8th, 20:04 UT. While not quite approaching storm levels, that’s the most impressive showing [...]
16.10.11: Tales of a Tiny Moon.
A Distant Hunter’s Moon! (Photo by Author). We thought we’d take this brief weekend moment to share with you the recent fruits of our astro-labor. As good fans and followers of this space know, last Tuesday’s Hunter’s Moon also marked the visually smallest of the year, as Full phase was reached only hours before apogee.
Review: The Glorious Golden Ratio by Alfred S. Posamentier & Ingmar Lehmann..
On sale now! At the heart of all science is the mathematics that makes it “tick”. And while math drives the universe, some of the curious relationships that arise are, well, just down-right bizzaro. Such is the topic of this week’s review entitled The Glorious Golden Ratio by Alfred S Posamentier & Ingmar Lehmann and [...]