Soldato
- Joined
- 25 Sep 2012
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Not a great photo, I know it could be anything but its definitely Venus and Jupiter. Really got me thinking about getting a beginner telescope.
*** The Official Astronomy & Universe Thread ***
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Soldato
Anyone want some metalwork sandblasting? Bit of a chore getting it there, but I reckon it'd be pretty damn effective.
astrobiology.com
Silicate Cloud Features Observed By Webb On Exoplanet VHS 1256 b - Astrobiology
Researchers observing with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have pinpointed silicate cloud features in a distant planet’s atmosphere.
astrobiology.com
You would be REALLY disappointed with a beginner telescope!
Supermarkets etc don't sell telescopes, they sell scams and hobby killers.
Black list of telescopes. Bad telescopes not for beginner - Star Hunter - astronomer RUSLAN ILNITSKY
This list contains models of telescopes that, in my opinion, have serious shortcomings in the design, optical design or features of use, and which are not suitable for beginners. This black list based on my personal experience using various telescopes. Sellers in stores can either be silent...
star-hunter.ru
Myself have just gone through "small" upgrade from 110mm f/7.3 TAL-1 to Orion Optics VX10 Dobson.
After getting it only needed to wait week for first clear weather in last Thursday... (before that previous obsevring was in 7th of March)
Soldato
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2009
- Posts
- 8,029
Take the late Patrick Moore's advice and get a good pair of binoculars instead they're easily carried and manouverable. Telescopes are large unwieldy and unless you've got a good one with tracking they're best suited to bright objects like the moon and planets small cheap ones are worse than useless
Minimum size for a telescope would be 3'" objective (big) lens for a refractor (lens at each end) or 6'' for a reflector (large hollow tube with a mirror at one end and you look through an eyepiece on the side usually)
Minimum size for a telescope would be 3'" objective (big) lens for a refractor (lens at each end) or 6'' for a reflector (large hollow tube with a mirror at one end and you look through an eyepiece on the side usually)
If anyone with telescope is having holes in eyepiece kit/thinking about getting better eyepieces, Baader Morpheus eyepieces are in discount for this month.
Those are about the widest AFOV eyepieces with long eye relief.
Despite of on paper narrower AFOV (actually mostly 78°) they are more immersive than 82° eyepieces like TeleVue Naglers, or rather closely related Explore Scientific 82s.
Which compromise on eye relief to keep size down and as result you'll see only part of the field at once...
And need to "peek around corner" to see near field edges.
Also optical quality is very high with high contrast and sharpness.
APM superzoom is supposed to be very high quality zoom eyepiece, but getting 12.5mm Morpheus felt like upgrading telescope.
Those are about the widest AFOV eyepieces with long eye relief.
Despite of on paper narrower AFOV (actually mostly 78°) they are more immersive than 82° eyepieces like TeleVue Naglers, or rather closely related Explore Scientific 82s.
Which compromise on eye relief to keep size down and as result you'll see only part of the field at once...
And need to "peek around corner" to see near field edges.
Also optical quality is very high with high contrast and sharpness.
APM superzoom is supposed to be very high quality zoom eyepiece, but getting 12.5mm Morpheus felt like upgrading telescope.
Soldato
Updated Pale Blue Dot.
Original, taken by V'ger.
New one, taken by Cassini.
Original, taken by V'ger.
New one, taken by Cassini.
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Associate
Edited because I am not as funny as I thought I was, and I need to go to the hospital for my terminal pedantry...
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Soldato
I think it was taken in 2006?
Edit : Ignore, I realise now you mean it was a new one in relation to the original. D'oh
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Soldato
What's that, that I used to the word 'new' instead of updated and that your pedantry has become terminal?
Soldato
Is that as quick or quicker than terminal velocity?
Anyone want some metalwork sandblasting? Bit of a chore getting it there, but I reckon it'd be pretty damn effective.
Silicate Cloud Features Observed By Webb On Exoplanet VHS 1256 b - Astrobiology
Researchers observing with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have pinpointed silicate cloud features in a distant planet’s atmosphere.
Damm that's impressive the distances are mind boggling and they pull stuff out the bag like this.
Associate
I really enjoyed this podcast/youtube chat about the up coming Vera Rubin Telescope. From what I gather it's going to be able to map the whole southern hemisphere every 3 days, 100 times per year for 10 years. It can also swing around in about a minute to any interesting part of the sky. It's going to create huge amounts of data, we just have to be clever enough to know what to look for. Planet X won't be able to hide so that debate can be put to rest. New data for SETI and UFO talk
We need AI and quantum computing to be able to deal with the data I think. Exciting times.
Soldato
Oooh, shiny.
Cheops shows scorching exoplanet acts like a mirror
Data from ESA’s exoplanet mission Cheops has led to the surprising revelation that an ultra-hot exoplanet that orbits its host star in less than a day is covered by reflective clouds of metal, making it the shiniest exoplanet ever found.
www.esa.int
Associate
Meanwhile, on Mars.
JWST has identified that a planet K2-18b appears to have molecules in its atmosphere that are only produced by life (on Earth at least). It also appears to have oxygen and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. Only 120 light years away so an ideal spot for a holiday 
Tantalising sign of possible life on faraway world
Nasa's James Webb Telescope may have discovered a molecule thought only to be produced by life.
www.bbc.co.uk
Yeah, analysing an atmosphere at that distance I can imagine there is a lot of scope for error. But fingers crossed it does get verified. Can imagine the efforts that would then go towards analysing the planet further.
The planet's host star is in the constellation Leo for anyone who is curious.