Stargazers amongst us?

**pajeff02** · 08-26-2009, 11:14 AM

Anyone else scope out the night sky? I blew the dust off my telescope last night for the first time in about two years and spent a while viewing the moon. Incredible to view it when it is not full as the contrast line from light to dark really sets off the moonscape. I believe last night was a waxing crescent.

Also took a look at Jupiter and could definitely see three of its moons. There was possibly a fourth close in, but I could not be sure. I did not wait until full dark so my seeing conditions were not the best. Still amazes me watching satellites pass overhead (not with the scope -- they are far too fast). I only caught one last night. Most nights I can find 5 or 6 in a short period of time.

**TransAm11973** · 08-26-2009, 03:04 PM

i was in germany last week visiting family. Went for a walk with my wife and we could see the milky way. It was so clear, I had never seen it in person before just pictures. What was really cool is that as I am looking up at it, a shooting star went down the long axis of the milky way. It was great, never seen anything like it. The whole concept of stars etc. and their distance away is just a mind f--k. Always looking back in time at old light...crazy

**Smittro** · 08-26-2009, 03:35 PM

It takes nearly 10min for the suns light to reach the earth @ 93 million miles away..

**Smittro** · 08-26-2009, 03:40 PM

Here check this out:

http://www.nightskyinfo.com/

http://stardate.org/nightsky/planets/

Astronomy is one of my many hobbies..

**ibanez7** · 08-26-2009, 04:55 PM

i dig looking at the stars/universe and learning about it.

I even catch myself looking at the stars with the t-tops off as I drive... (for a half second)

its fun to take girls stargazing in the camaro....

i need to buy a new telescope... what the best for under a few hundred?
luckily where I live I am far enough north to catch the northern lights in Jan/feb... sadly can barely see the little dipper anymore.

**86 IROC-Z** · 08-26-2009, 05:19 PM

**LS1Powerhouse** · 08-26-2009, 05:23 PM

I love space and the idea of an ever expanding universe. That's why I'm going to school for Astrophysics

**gd1996** · 08-26-2009, 05:34 PM

It hurts my head when I look at the stars and think too much like how space has no ending and so on... I used to always just lay out the deck and look at them. I live sorta in the country but near small towns that block some of the view with the lights. I always try to catch the meteor showers.