Astronomy As A Hobby

Astronomy As A Hobby


Beginners in amateur astronomy are faced with a number of different challenges. One of the most daunting is the choice of a telescope. There are countless to choose from and too often there is minimum information on selecting the best one to buy for your specific needs and wants. Clearly, numerous newcomers to the hobby of amateur astronomy are often bewildered by the numerous types of telescopes available on the market.
Astronomy is a fun hobby in which numerous enthusias...
Keywords:
astronomy,heavens,telescope,star,planet,universe,science,astrophysics
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Beginners in amateur astronomy are faced with a number of different challenges. One of the most daunting is the choice of a telescope. There are countless to choose from and too often there is minimum information on selecting the best one to buy for your specific needs and wants. Clearly, numerous newcomers to the hobby of amateur astronomy are often bewildered by the numerous types of telescopes available on the market.
Astronomy is a fun hobby in which numerous enthusiasts just enjoy looking up at the sky. But if you are more serious than that, then you will need to pick out a telescope. Books and magazines about amateur astronomy are written which can be a good root of information. Some of the additional popular magazines are Astronomy Magazine, Astronomy Now, and Popular Astronomy. You will find clearly written, authoritative, and scientifically sound articles that will cover both science and hobby activities in amateur astronomy. But you will need a reliable astronomy telescope to enjoy the fascinating hobby of star gazing. The professionally made telescope had become a big part of the hobby. Interestingly, some people even focus on amateur telescope making as their primary interest within the hobby of amateur astronomy.
For more information on telescopes, visit http://www.yesastronomy.com/astronomy/astronomy/amateur-astronomy-and-the-telescope-%11-part-1.html
In addition to books and magazines, you will be able to get acceptable advice at a local retailer that sells telescopes. Beware, however, that the thoughts you get at a retailer will be biased towards the products and brands that they carry. Another interesting thought is the astronomy club in your local space. Membership is usually open to all those interested in pursuing astronomy as a hobby. They are the best opportunity for people new to the hobby of Amateur Astronomy to ask questions.
Numerous regional star parties are now held by the local clubs and are an essential part of the hobby of amateur astronomy. And for a fledgling beginner to this fascinating hobby of amateur astronomy, there are countless beautiful objects to "discover" for the first time. And, since the hobby of amateur astronomy is one of sharing views with friends and strangers, you are sure to meet numerous new friends who will share your passion and curiosity.
Fortunately the organizations that have formed around amateur astronomy are truly outstanding and helpful. Because of this, the lines between professional and amateur astronomy are slowing blurring. You'll be surprised how much useful data there is among the members of your local club. Since viewing of stars and other heavenly bodies is adversely affected by light pollution, clubs will also know the best places from which to enjoy your hobby.
For many "astronomers," the mysteries of the heavens is what draws them to this hobby. Many enthusiasts acclaim that the hobby of amateur astronomy adds a sense of order as well as one of anticipation to life. Is this overly dramatic? Perhaps, but if you have any curiosity at all in the fascinating hobby of astronomy, join an astronomy club, get some magazines and books, and talk to some retailers about how best to approach this bang-up activity. You'll be glad you did.

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Astrological predictions

Opinions about astrological prediction are generally divided. In fact, both views are based on a misunderstanding of the nature of how astrology really works.

Though it may come as a surprise to the true believer many astrologers believe that   astrology cannot make precise predictions about your future although astrology can indeed reveal the tendencies of your future.

    If an astrologer tells you that next Tuesday you will be walking down the street, and will accidentally trip and fall, breaking your left wrist as it cracks against a fire hydrant, that would be a pretty precise prediction, wouldn't it. But no astrologer ever makes predictions like that. More likely, an astrologer would say: There is some danger of having an accident next Tuesday; try to be more careful than usual. This is of course not a precise prediction, but rather a statement, based on certain astrological techniques, about an increased probability of a certain type of event occurring. This is the true strength of astrology: not to tell you what is going to happen (since that is beyond its capabilities), but rather, to inform you about the probablilit9es of certain types of events occurring.

Astrology isn’t used to predict the future. It’s used to help you gain insight and understanding into the patterns and directions your life takes. It’s not an absolute, but it’s an indicator. If you don’t like what your astrological or natal charts tell you, it’s certainly within your power to change it. Astrology can give you insight into one potential destiny, but there are too many variables, including the decisions you make for yourself, to predict with any degree of accuracy what will happen in the future.

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Radio Astronomy

For most of us, the idea of astronomy is something we directly connect to “stargazing”, telescopes and seeing magnificent displays in the heavens. And to be sure, that is the exciting area of astronomy that accounts for it’s huge popularity. So to the uninitiated, the idea of “radio astronomy” seems strange. There are two reasons for that. First is that humans are far more visual than audio oriented. And the second is that radio astronomy doesn’t really involve “listening” to the cosmos except to the extent that scientists who use this sophisticated form of “stargazing” do not rely on visual study to conduct their work.

To appreciate what is really exciting about radio astronomy, first we have to shift how we view astronomy. That is because to professional astronomers, studying the universe is more about frequencies than it is about visual documentation of phenomenon. This takes us back to Physics 101.

Light, obviously, is the physical phenomenon that empowers our ability to use our visual confirmation system, e.g. our eyes to appreciate something, in this case the stars. So when we look up at the heavens, we can see the light emitting from a star or reflecting from a planet or moon. In many cases, if we see a far away star, we are actually seeing it hundreds or thousands of years ago because that is how long it takes for that light to cross the universe and be visible in our sky. That alone is a pretty mind blowing idea.

Now light itself is a pretty strange substance. But to our astronomy scientists, light is just another energy that exists in a certain frequency. Now, we tend to think of frequencies when we talk about sound waves. In scientific terms light, energy and sound are just a few forms of the same thing, frequencies of energy that are emulating from a source.

Now we get to why radio astronomy is so necessary. The range of frequency that light occupies in the big spectrum of frequencies is really pretty small. To put that more bluntly, we can only “see” a tiny part of the universe that is actually there. Now when you look up in the night sky and it is so overwhelming, when you then that we are seeing just a tiny amount of what is actually going on up there, again, our minds can get pretty overwhelmed.

Radio astronomy uses sophisticated sensor equipment to study ALL of the frequencies of energy coming to us from the cosmos. In that way, these scientists can “see” everything that is going on out there and so get a precise idea of how the stars look, behave now and will behave in the future.

For some of us who have heard about radio astronomy, we think of it in terms of “listening” for signs of life in the universe. And yes, SETI, or “the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence” is a part of radio astronomy, albeit a tiny part. But of much greater importance is how radio astronomy has empowered serious astronomers (that is those who get paid to do it) to study stars many light years away, to study black holes which we could never see with our telescopes and to gather research and data about the whole of the universe that otherwise would be impossible to know and understand.

This is important work that is constantly ongoing in the world of astronomy. It is worth keeping up with and learning more about as we have barely scratched the surface in our brief discussion today. But understanding how important radio astronomy is will only deepen and make more meaningful your love and grasp of this big field of knowledge known as astronomy.

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Astrology and the Western World

Astrology and the Western World


Western world is waking up to the concept of using Astrology to improve their lives. It is perceived to be more materialistic than the Eastern world.
Keywords:
trustworthy numerologist, astrologer, numerologist, astropalmist.
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Western world is waking up to the concept of using Astrology to improve their lives. It is perceived to be more materialistic than the Eastern world. People in the advanced economies of the world give more importance to the tangible things in life rather than the intangible ones. Eastern countries like India and China, on the other hand, give more importance to intangible things in life like love, affection, emotions etc. This difference is clearly evident if we see the lifestyle of a Western or an Eastern person. For example, for an average Indian, life is not imaginable without the concept of God. The Western countries, on the other hand, are full of Atheists and Agnostics. The Western mind has always been inquisitive and believes only on exact sciences. For them, a theory is not acceptable unless proved by scientific experiments. Well, that is quite normal. But still there are a few things which cannot be proved by scientific experiments. There is a point after which “science” has to give way, and the concept of “God” takes over. In spite of advancements in science, the scientists still are not able to give life to a person who is dead. They also cannot explain a simple thing like electricity. There are many mysteries for which there are no scientific explanations available. But they do exist. So, it is not entirely possible to always rely on science. Therefore, issues on divine intervention cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, the eastern philosophy relies too much on the esoteric phenomena. This creates a clash with the western phenomenon. There has to be a combination of the eastern and western philosophies so that a proper balance is maintained. The good news is that we are at a time when Eastern world is beginning to accept the western philosophy and vice versa. Eastern world is trying to have a more materialistic viewpoint on life and the western world is beginning to open up to the possibility of using once esoteric phenomena such as Yoga and Meditation.
Of late, astrology is one of the disciplines which have caught the imagination of the western countries. Because of their fast-paced and sometimes unhealthy lifestyles, the people from the advanced countries tend to fall prey to fatigue and depression more often. There are many cases of teenage pregnancies, and drug abuse. These factors have made life quite insecure in these countries. So, a proven discipline like Astrology is gaining popularity there. Astrology promises to provide its users with information about one’s future. Astrologers can also offer remedial measures to any fault in life due to planetary motions. The zodiac sign of an individual can say a lot about him or her. This allows men and women to understand the opposite sex better.
Reading and analyzing the daily horoscopes have become a regular activity for many westerners now-a-days. They are fascinated by the impact of astrology on one’s daily life. For them, it is amazing to know that our lives can be influenced by the motion of planets millions of miles away. Astrology can be effectively used to enhance key areas of one’s life like love, money, career etc. Astrology may be used to resolve problems concerning money, bad luck, love, or any other large or small grievances. Thousands of successful users will vouch for the effectiveness of Astrology in problem solving.

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Astronomical Binocular

Astronomical Binocular



I have been using binocular telescopes ever since middle school. Of course, when I first got into it, they were pretty low powered. I could see the moon in great detail, occasionally catch Venus when it was close, and get a brighter picture of a few nearby stars. That was about it.
Keywords:
telescope, astronomical, binocular, astronomical binocular, advantages, low, powered, low powered, pretty low powered, using, pretty low, high-powered
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When I got a high-powered telescope, however, It really opened up the night sky for me. The sites were beautiful, and it further enhance the wonder that I had always felt while gazing up at the heavens at night. I would spend hours during long summer evenings, gazing up at the Milky Way and just wondering about what might lie out there for the human race.
When One of my friends suggested that I try getting an astronomical binocular set, I figured that it would be a step down. Astronomical binoculars, after all, are rarely as powerful as a telescope. There are a couple reasons for this. The main one is that, at a high rate of magnification, it is much easier to look through one lens than two. Properly calibrating and adjusting an astronomical binocular can be a very difficult task. This is why your average set is pretty low powered. It certainly won't compare with a high-powered telescope, but it does have some great advantages over one.
One of the greatest advantages is sense of perspective. I had thought that an astronomical binocular would not allow you to see faraway objects in three dimensions, but it does seem to make things pop out a little bit more. The resolution is not bad, and my telescope binoculars are more portable than my telescope. In addition, I can also use them for looking at things at ground level, where having a three dimensional view is more useful.
The greatest thing about the astronomical binocular set, however, Is the feeling of immersion that it gives. After you have been using a telescope for a while, you often forget that you have one eye closed. Everything feels very natural, and your perspective becomes firmly immersed in the heavens. When you put down your telescope for an astronomical binocular pair, however, you realize immediately the advantages of being able to see with both the eyes. Because your entire visual field is engaged, it is easier for your brain to process the information in front of it, resulting in sharper, more memorable viewings.

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The Science Of Astronomy Really Is Fascinating

The Science Of Astronomy Really Is Fascinating



Galaxies, the cosmos, astrophysics, observatories, telescopes: How do we possibly comprehend the reality that the universe is beyond measure, infinite, and endlessly mesmerizing? We can't; that's why astronomy remains so completely fascinating. It's the things in life we do not understand that most often draw our interest; that's simply a natural human impulse -- to be curious, to wonder and to want to be in awe of something far beyond and outside ourselves. We know tha...
Keywords:
astronomy,heavens,telescope,star,planet,universe
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Galaxies, the cosmos, astrophysics, observatories, telescopes: How do we possibly comprehend the reality that the universe is beyond measure, infinite, and endlessly mesmerizing? We can't; that's why astronomy remains so completely fascinating. It's the things in life we do not understand that most often draw our interest; that's simply a natural human impulse -- to be curious, to wonder and to want to be in awe of something far beyond and outside ourselves. We know that stars, like everything else, live and die and that there are scientifically "correct" patterns in the remote sky that both perplex and bewitch us. If astronomy fascinates, it is because there exists in everyone a profound empathy with a world that is inaccessible in its complexity. Who among us has not felt, even fleetingly, spellbound by the immensity of this cosmos, this universe? Modern observatories regularly function as educational centers, providing this feeling of entrancement by presenting the wonder of the cosmos directly to the audience, short-circuiting the intellect for an hour or so and uncovering the wonder at the magic of theuniverse; promoting a sensory, visceral feeling for the human condition and its place in the great book of the cosmos. Astronomy, the science of stars, planets, galaxies, and black holes, is the oldest science, yet it is the most intriguing because the study of the universe will help answer the most important questions human beings can ask, such as: How did the universe begin? What is the structure of the universe? How will the universe change in the future? How do the planet Earth and its inhabitants fit into the larger universe of space and time? Though we may never know the answers to these kinds of questions in our lifetime, we're always thankful for those who will follow us, prepared, with a scientific brain, to one day provide answers -- and maybe more -- to humankind. It's difficult to understand our own galaxy, and we're constantly "adding to it," or discovering new frontiers and small, more distant planets than those we're already familiar with. The sun, and the concept of the planets just in our galaxy alone, provoke wonder and all kinds of speculation. It's food for our brain; it's one of those applications of learning that so enthrall, it doesn't seem like we're "studying" anything. It's an effortless exercise in the Unknown Sphere of the Universe. What better way to pass the time, to postulate upon, to have an intellectually stimulating discussion, maybe with people you don't even know yet? And what about the theories of particle physics that have been developed in conjunction with the standard Big Bang model to explain the origin, evolution and present structure of the universe? What about the origins, evolution, interiors, and energy production of the stars themselves? How are they formed? Why? And we've all heard of "interacting galaxies," but just what, exactly, does it mean? It all sounds like, well, a kind of heaven -- a place we know exists, but that we cannot quite see or understand. Then, there's Newton's laws, the concept of work and energy, momentum, gravitation, sound and light waves. If you haven't felt a slight thrill yet, it's eitherbecause you already know about these atmospheric wonders, or you've been living under a local rock. So get out there and Observe the Universe! It's absolutely spellbinding!

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Astrology Readings

I get three different astrology readings in my inbox each day, and I have to laugh at how much each of them seems to contradict the others. So which is it? Which one should I rely on to get me through my day? Which one is telling the truth? Quite honestly, how can you think any of them are true if they are all so different right? This is where some people run into problems.

You should never base the course of your life on astrology readings. I’m not saying that they are worthless, but to plan your whole day around what they say is asking for trouble. What if you are thinking of asking your boss for a raise? If your astrology reading for that day says, “Now is the time to ask that big question you have been thinking about?” Does that mean today is the day you should ask for your raise? Absolutely not! You have to trust your own intuition about if the time is right. You may walk into your boss’s office only to see that he or she is having a horrible day and it is the worst time to ask for a raise. If you take the advice of your astrology reading over your common sense, you are going to get denied.

My favorite astrology reading is the one that really doesn’t try to tell me what I should do or what I shouldn’t. It’s often just advice that anyone could apply to each day of his or her life, and I find it to be uplifting for the most part. This is a great way to start my day, and this is why I love to get them. Just remember if you believe too hard you might get burned, because not everyone offering astrology readings is qualified. Anyone can claim to give you a good reading, but it doesn’t mean they know what they are doing.

If you are going through a tough time and are looking to astrology readings for help, remember not to get suckered in to paying a lot of money for something anyone could tell you. You have to be very careful about who you trust. Many people can write up astrology readings that may sound true to you, but they can sound true to almost anyone. It’s all clever wording. There are really readings out there I am sure, but how do you know you have found a genuine person? Just remember that if you want to believe some of the readings that you like, you have to also believe the ones that you may not like so much. You can get astrology readings, but just remember to use your common sense as well.

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