A couple of days ago I came across this very interesting and “cool” website! Part of the Zooniverse (there is a link to Zooniverse on the links page). From the Zooniverse website, “Galaxy Zoo – The original Zooniverse project. Help astronomers figure out how galaxies form and evolve by classifying their shape. Over 50 million classifications so far but we need more!”
You register at the Galaxy Zoo website and then you can participate by classifying galaxies. They show you how and then you just classify when you have time. You can save the galaxies that you like the most to your own “gallery”. You can get very technical info on each galaxy, but don’t expect the Messier number!
There are also other things you can participate in, such as merging galaxies and detecting supernovae. Enjoy!
The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, but observers can be disappointed if conditions are not just right. The point from where the Quadrantid meteors appear to radiate is located within the extinct constellation Quadrans Muralis. On modern star charts, this radiant is located where the constellations Hercules, Boötes, and Draco meet in the sky. The shower can appear almost nonexistent until about 11 p.m. Unfortunately, the radiant does not attain a very high altitude for most Northern Hemisphere observers before morning twilight puts an end to the show. The best observations are actually possible from countries with high northern latitudes, such as Canada, Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The display is virtually nonexistent for observers in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Quadrantids generally begin on December 28 and end on January 7, with maximum generally occurring during the morning hours of January 3/4. The Quadrantids are barely detectable on the beginning and ending dates, but observers in the Northern Hemisphere can see from 10 to around 60 meteors per hour at maximum. The maximum only lasts for a few hours.
For more info, go to the Meteor Showers Online website: http://meteorshowersonline.com/quadrantids.html
Here is a clever rendition of the Night before Christmas – the Astronomical Christmas that is….
‘Tis the Night Before Christmas and high in the sky
The stars are a-twinkling sight for the eye.
The First Quarter Moon on the 24th shines,
Begging new telescopes to sight on her line.
To read the rest, go to the Naval Oceonagraphy website at: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/tours-events/sky-this-week/the-sky-this-week-2009-december-22-30
When: Sat, January 23, 2010, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Where: Bear Creek Nature Center
Description: Bring your telescope for this indoor workshop led by members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. Learn how to use different kinds of telescopes, find out which will be the most effective for you and discover how to overcome the biggest bugaboo for beginners – the alignment procedure. With a basic knowledge of major stars and constellations, you should be off and running to explore the night sky on your own or with your friends. ($4.00/member, $5.00/nonmember, RR)
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Our thanks to all who attended this year's Rocky Mountain Star Stare! If you'd like to see some photos we've uploaded, please go to our Photo Gallery. If you are logged into the forums you are also welcome to upload photos that you took at RMSS 2010.
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