Astronomy thread/Kìng a teri tanhìyä tìftia

[Toliman]

This is interesting pun:

Star Gamma Cassiopeiae (bright star at the center of the distinctive "W" shape of this constellation) hasn't traditional Arabic or Latin name.
Howewer American astronaut Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom nicknamed the star Navi after his own middle name spelled backwards. The star was used as an easily identifiable navigational reference point during space missions. Originally this name was used only for this purpose, but after tragic fire on Apollo 1 (Grissom and two other astronauts died) is this name sometimes used (in his honor).

It's simillar to Na'vi (only apostrophe missing   ) and beyond this star is blue (spectral type B0 IV).

[Vawmataw]

Oh, that prophetic pun!

[Toliman]

Oh, that prophetic pun!

And for us this can be a little compensation for us invisible Alpha Centauri. This star is from our countries cirkumpolar. 

[Vawmataw]

Same thing here.

[Toliman]

And blue color of this star can be good distinct in telescope.  

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Similarly was nicknamed two other stars after two other astronauts from Apollo 1:

REGOR for Gamma Velorum after Roger Chaffee (Roger - Regor)
DNOCES for Iota Ursae Majoris after Edward H. White II. (II. = second - Dnoces)

Name Dnoces is today practically unused, but name Regor is used for Gamma Velorum relatively often.

Generaly, stars are not named after people, but this is impressive exception.

[Toliman]

This is interesting movement animation of many asteroids in our Solar system:

http://www.asterank.com/3d/

http://www.asterank.com/

[Dreamlight]

Wow.  That's freakin' amazing.

[Toliman]

  THE (UN)OFFICIAL CLOUDY NIGHTS ASTRONOMICAL GLOSSARY 

http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/articles/the-unofficial-cloudy-nights-astronomical-glo-r2971

But some from this exactly describe current cloudy weather 

[Vawmataw]

HRH!

Albedo: A large muscular man from New Jersey who collects gambling debts with a hammer.

Stop! Hammer time!

[archaic]

Crown and Flint: Perfect name for an astronomy pub.

I'd go there for a couple of glasses.

[Toliman]

Clear skies:
1) That which is *never* at your current location, wherever that location may be.
2) The period of time during the full Moon.
3) Very rare astronomical event to be cherished for a long time Equation to predict odds of clear skies C= M x W / E x D where C = odds of clear skies M= Moon Phase (note new moon = zero) W = Number of hours you have to work the next day (use zero if you have the day off) E= Effort which takes into account the distance you have to drive and the size and number of telescopes that you set up (The more effort the bigger the number) D=Desirability which is defined as a combination of the darkness of the skies and the rarity of the event ( Lunar eclipses and meteor showers bring especially high values to D)

But I also must say that it's cruel true. (my experiences)  

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

Thanks for that extremely useful guide. I've always wondered what all those terms meant

[Vawmataw]

Betelguese: Goopy stuff that gets on your mirror/lens/corrector plate after a large insect lands there.
Big Bang: Result of a Gas Giant, q.v
Black hole: 1)Your eyepiece budget. 2) The bit of driveway that always trips you up in the dark.

[Toliman]

Collimator: Device for intimidating newcomers from ever owning a Newtonian telescope.

Very apposite.    Many people are afraid of collimation.  At the same time, collimation is not difficult.

Great Red Spot: Appears on your pants leg after you whack your shin on your tripod in the dark.

So then Great Red Spot can be easily visible by naked eye 

[Vawmataw]

So, yesterday night I went out with my telescope. I observed Saturn, Jupiter and Venus through the telescope.

Also, I dreamt that I wanted to buy a $1000 Dobsonian telescope. It had the particularity of being able to zoom in and out with a single eyepiece.

[Toliman]

Also, I dreamt that I wanted to buy a $1000 Dobsonian telescope. It had the particularity of being able to zoom in and out with a single eyepiece.

I wish you compliance of this dream  . With $1000 you can have very big Dobsonian telescope  (primary mirror arround 12 inch).

[Toliman]

^ BTW, before one week, I dreamt that I moved to Atacama Desert ... forever 

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Interesting random: Radiant of meteor shower Perseids is (on celestial sphere) almost on place where our Sun would be on sky from Alpha Centauri. 

Spoiler

Spoiler

[Vawmataw]

^ BTW, before one week, I dreamt that I moved to Atacama Desert ... forever 

OMG! :O

[ayeers]

i found cool android app in google play 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid

Spoiler

Spoiler

[Vawmataw]

Nice! There are many good apps in the app stores.
I also heard about Star Walk.