where can i get information about astronomy?

[baby's breath]

i'm interested finding information about astronomy...can anybody help me to guide to the simple and informative websites?

[angryman1n]

how bout taking a class. instructors can answer questions. books/websites cannot.

[sunnydaydreame]

[Registered users can see links. ]































It gives you information on what is happening today

[piti]

The first two is NASA's. If you are student click the link for student.















The third website is the Astronomy pictures of the day. It has details on the recent astronomical pictures...















see it , you will have more idea then.















If you want to study the history of astronomy them vist some museum or get a book form a library.















































GOOD QUESTION































[Registered users can see links. ]

[lindajune]

Astronomy.com is probably the best for a beginner.















nasa.gov is great, but more technical and geared towards current space exploration (like the Mars Rovers and Cassini).















You might want to check out the astronomy section in a book store (yes, you read right, real books you have to hold). There are some great ones out there with amazing images and good explanations and articles.

[ghlo08]

WHY A 6"F/15 REFRACTOR

Why a 6-inch F/15 Refractor? From my years of experience as an astronomer who has used a variety of telescopes of different types along with using very rare large apertures of 8-12 inches. I have found the 6 inch F/15 refracting telescope is the optimum design for lunar, planetary, and solar observing. The telescope’s size makes it the best instrument in my opinion for advanced observers to use and simple enough for elementary observers to use for their viewing. An observer can master the telescope system with relatively few instructions, and yet the system is large enough to provide optimum viewing in city astmospheric conditions. Furthermore for more advanced observing the 6" F/15 refractor with it’s accessories provides opportunities for photographic and spectroscopic work as well. Observatories and educational institutions usually have found the 6-inch F/15 refractor to be the finest instrument for lunar, planetary, and solar observing. For those wanting to build a 6" F/15 refracting telescope system for their observing should obtain a copy of "Telescope Making44" and read the article entitled "Constructing a Large Brass Refractor" by Larry Myers. Telescope Making was a publication of Kalmbach Publishing Company (Astronomy Magazine)
GEORGE H. LUTZ OBSERVATORY, MOUNTAINGATE, CA.

THE TELESCOPE'S F/number

The f/number (focal ratio) of any telescope tells two things about the telescope and that is it's intended purpose and it's photographic performance. The brightness of a star depends on the telescope's aperture not the telescope's f/number. All telescopes of the same aperture at any magnification will show the same visual brightness. There are many that insist their long focal ratio telescope gets higher contrast, this is not correct. A refracting telescope does have more contrast than any other because of it's optical system not because of the f/ratio. You can see that when you are comparing very well made and very well corrected refractors, you will see there is no gain in contrast regardless of the f/ratio of each telescope. Even if a reflecting telescope is well made and has the same size secondary mirror obstruction as another, it will have the same contrast regardless of the f/number of each telescope. All of the confusion and there is much on this issue, is because of the photographic use of the f/number. A faster f/ratio does mean brighter images on film but not in a telescope. Aperture not f/ratio is the important factor with a telescope. Some photographers have a great deal of trouble with this concept. The f/number of any objective lens or a mirror of a telescope has nothing to do with the visual brightness of an image, the bigger the aperture the better.
GEORGE H. LUTZ OBSERVATORY, MOUNTAINGATE, CA.

TESTING THE OPTICS OF YOUR TELESCOPE

You will gain experience in using your telescope especially if you direct your attention to the main points of quality. You will find in time that you will become critical of imperfections of your telescope, casual or inherent. When you test your telescope's optics, you should be careful and pay close attention to your own eyesight and be guided by proper directions and only then will you have a good idea of the quality of your telescope. Remember that no telescope will give the most perfect image. Your telescope is good when you can see fine definition and not to worry about the out of focus star image. If there seems to be a problem with the telescope because of the star image, you can not say what the problem is until you make an examination of the out-of-focus image on a night fine enough to allow you to make a star test at high power, unless the fault is because of a astigmatism, maladjustment, or centering of the optics and on a good night these can be seen at focus.