astronomy

ultracet norco online soma free mp3 ringtones music ringtones generic fioricet free cingular ringtones valium wikipedia nextel ringtones valium vs vicodin diazepam online ambien online paxil online free sonyericsson ringtones diazepam online fioricet online tracfone ringtones free samsung ringtones cialis online free verizon ringtones diazepam online xanax online cingular ringtones valium online wwe ringtones cheap carisoprodol phentermine online free nextel ringtones casino com online cheap lipitor free tracfone ringtones free ericsson ringtones free wwe ringtones fioricet online free sony ericsson ringtones cheap carisoprodol cheap clonazepam qwest ringtones paxil online vicodin online cheap alprazolam online propecia buy xanax cheap xanax cheap didrex phentermine online didrex online valium without prescription norco online nokia ringtones sony ringtones 10 best casino online viagra online nextel ringtones cheap ultram cool ringtones but lorazepam free cingular ringtones valium online real ringtones qwest ringtones alprazolam online buy carisoprodol free funny ringtones buy hydrocodone cheap valium buy hgh ultracet online free nokia ringtones picture pill valium online lorazepam free sony ringtones cheap nexium free polyphonic ringtones zoloft online cool ringtones snorting valium cheap tramadol free mp3 ringtones cheap fioricet ultracet online but xanax vicodin online order meridia best casino gambling online valium dosage cheap xanax prozac online carisoprodol online cheap propecia lisinopril online alprazolam online music ringtones alprazolam online free real ringtones cheap propecia free motorola ringtones soma buy tenuate buy adipex order meridia samsung ringtones free mtv ringtones free qwest ringtones carisoprodol online sonyericsson ringtones cheap clonazepam free real ringtones cheap diazepam mono ringtones verizon ringtones cheap clonazepam free wwe ringtones didrex sprint ringtones adipex online free cingular ringtones tramadol online advice casino online free sharp ringtones cyclobenzaprine online free sprint ringtones cheap valium cheap meridia free sonyericsson ringtones free alltel ringtones free funny ringtones ultracet online music ringtones order valium cialis online phentermine online free mtv ringtones levitra online free free ringtones clonazepam online free verizon ringtones viagra online ambien online free nextel ringtones lexapro and valium ambien online buy wellbutrin buy wellbutrin free tracfone ringtones free mp3 ringtones free real ringtones online phentermine cheap soma generic diazepam cheap norco cheap fioricet cingular ringtones free real ringtones cheap albuterol polyphonic ringtones cheap prozac cheap cialis online ambien buy celexa propecia online free samsung ringtones motorola ringtones funny ringtones free sprint ringtones free sprint ringtones cheap phentermine free ringtones kyocera ringtones buy zyban free mono ringtones ultram online xenical online free real ringtone cheap xenical cingular ringtones kyocera ringtones free sonyericsson ringtones valium overdose ericsson ringtones but fioricet cheap soma cheap wellbutrin fioricet online wellbutrin online sharp ringtones what does valium do nexium online free midi ringtones free sonyericsson ringtones paxil online midi ringtones valium sale cheap ambien free sprint ringtones cheap adipex ativan online buy nexium sagem ringtones ativan online Astronomy is the scientific study of stars, planets, outer space, interstellar phenomena, and the universe. It is a broad field that contains many interesting facets, and an interest in astronomy can range from detailed study to simple wonder while looking at the nighttime sky.

Stargazing

Unaided eye

The easiest way to explore basic astronomy is to go outside on a clear night and look up at the stars. The only equipment needed is a jacket or comfortable blanket. Light pollution from cities will cause a high amount of variablility in viewing conditions, but it should be possible to make out a few constellations as well as large magnitude stars, the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and the Moon.

For optimal conditions, travelling to an unpopulated area far from city lights such as mountains or deserts can provide a stunning experience with stars scattered like sparkling diamonds across a black velvet sky. The band of stars stretching across the entire sky is the view looking in towards the center of the Milky Way galaxy we are part of. Simply laying back and watching the sky for five minutes should reveal at least one "shooting star", a speck of ancient rock that enters the earth's atmosphere and burns up due to friction, creating a brilliant streak across the sky.

Binoculars

With the addition of binoculars, it becomes possible to see the craters of the Moon and its phase, the phases of the planet Venus, the four largest moons of Jupiter, and perhaps hints of the rings of Saturn. It is also possible to see the nearby Andromeda galaxy, the Orion Nebula, and many other objects.

Software

There is a large number of software to help study the universe, from star charts to photo galleries to interactive planetarium software.

Stellarium is an earth-based planetarium program that simulates the view from a location on earth for time and date, with real-time atmosphere effects. You can change the rate of time to provide a frozen point of view or an accelerated time-lapse style display. It lets you explore the sky and zoom in on photorealistic objects to get an idea of what you can see in real life.

Celestia is a 3D universe simulator that models the entire solar system including satellites, 10,000 of the nearest stars, and many other objects. The program allows seamless free travel anywhere in the universe and gives lots of useful information as well as offering stunning vistas. It is simple to observe the rotation of moons and planets and view eclipses, comets, and extrasolar planetary systems. You can also travel to other stars to see how the sky and constellations would appear from other star systems.

External links

• Astronomy on Wikipedia
• Stellarium, an Open Source planetarium for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows
• Celestia, an Open Source universe simulator for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows