If you'll never get a telescope . . .
Some of us will never be able to get a telescope. Telescopes don't fit into every life style or budget. You might be a kid, and kids can't usually afford them. And, that is why I made this blog. Though we will talk about telescopes from time to time, I have made this blog for those who don't have them. I just want you, if its your desire, to become familiar with the constellations above you -- so you can tell your friends and neighbors (if you're a kid); or show your kids, or grand kids, if you're an adult.
When I began learning about Astronomy, I was SO GLAD to learn that there are only 88 constellations up there --- and --- none of us ever sees all of them --- so you'll never have to learn them all! (unless you are a real Astronomer who travels all over the world). I live in the Northern Hemisphere (in North America), so I never see the southern sky. My dearest friend lives in Australia, and another lives in New Zealand. They only see a few things that I see.
Also, the Sun and planets all follow the same path through the sky. That path is called the ECLIPTIC. The ecliptic goes through only 13 constellations---twelve of those constellations are known as the ZODIAC.
Some people prefer to only learn those 12 constellations, plus Orion and the Big Dipper---that way they can find the planets, as they come around through the year. Right now, Jupiter is in the head of TAURUS. If you do have a telescope, this is the time to look at it and see it's 4 visible moons; because, Taurus is quickly moving away to the Northwest, and will soon be gone for the year.
Though the picture here on the right, is actually showing the path of the Moon (last February), it was the only picture I could find that shows Jupiter---in relationship to the eye of Taurus. But it is a good picture to help us notice that the Moon and the planets follow the same path (the ECLIPTIC).
credit: Google Images
If you don't have a Telescope, Jupiter looks like this: :-)
Credit: Google Images
Kids, there is a fun way to remember Jupiter's moons --- from the closest to the farthest: The moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. A funny sentence to remember those is: "I Eat Green Catepillars." "I - Io / Eat - Europa / Green - Ganymede / Catepillars - Callisto."
Adults, it works for us too! Sometimes, when looking at Jupiter through a telescope, We'll only see 3 moons---that is because a moon can be behind (or even in front of) Jupiter. In the very strong telescopes, if a moon is in front of Jupiter, they can often see the shadow of that moon on the tops of Jupiter's clouds.
Ganymede and Io with their shadows on Jupiter . . . Ganymede is the largest moon in our Solar System, and Io is the most volcanic moon in our Solar System.
Io, just a little larger than our moon, Luna . . .
Back to the subject of this post---"if you know that you will NEVER get a telescope", I have become aware of the most awesome binoculars to tell you about. An Astronomy Club friend brought one of these binoculars to a "star party" last month; and "Orion's Nebula" looked more amazing through those binoculars than through any telescope I have ever used! I now have them on my "Bucket List!" They are worth saving for, and most binoculars this powerful cost $100's more. These are now on sale. Binocular Link If you find that you can't hold them still, they are made where you can attach them to a tripod.
For those of you who have no binoculars or telescopes, I want to leave you with a picture of Orion's Nebula . . . (and pictures are always better than what we can see with our eyes), because cameras are more sensitive than our eyes, and they can see the colors of the various gases that are found in gassy nebulas. (actually "nebulae"). Even with telescopes, we can only see things in black, white and grays.
The most amazing images of the Orion's Nebula . . . (and of everything else that has been found out in our Universe), can be found on the Hubble Telescope website.
<-- The link to that website is right here on this site --- here on the left, under my story. You'll also find the links to get Sky Charts; and the "Astronomy Picture of the Day" there.
