Making a Newtonian Reflecting Telescope for less than 50$USD December 27, 2007
Posted by webmaster in : Astronomy on the Cheap , add a comment
Stove-pipe Telescope plus Lab!
Most amateur astronomers harbor a secret passion to, at some point, build their own telescope. Constructing a telescope puts you in a select realm of Amateur Telescope Makers (ATMS), and gives you intimate knowledge of how telescopes and optics really work. Another plus is as with anything, be it a house or a scope, if you want features to your own exact specifications, your always best off to build it yourself. Mass produced equipment generally means compromise. And until about the 1950s (when the concept of mass producing everything first came in vogue), if you wanted your own telescope, you had to build it from scratch. (more…)
View your own Star of Bethlehem December 22, 2007
Posted by webmaster in : Astronomy: a Philosophy , add a comment
Venus at dawn. (Credit: flickr).
Over the years, much ink (real and cyber) has been spilt over the astronomical origins of the Star of Bethlehem. Biblical references are scant in regards to what the wise men may have seen; we know that the star “went before them…” every morning until it lay over the manger; the rest was history. But what was it?
Adventures along the Maine Solar System Model December 11, 2007
Posted by webmaster in : The Vagabond Astronomer , 1 comment so far
(Note: all photos are by author.)
Ever wanted to cruise the solar system? A new project in Northern Maine enables you to do just that! Located in Aroostook county, the Maine Solar System Model is the largest complete representation of our solar system in the world. Conceived by the Univeristy of Maine at Presque Isle and completed in the traditional “9″ planet configuration in June 14th of 2003, the model is based on a 1:93,000,000 mile scale, meaning that a mile on the model essentialy equals one astronomical unit. (more…)