Astronomy

There is nothing like sitting outside in the dark with your kids and staring up at the night sky. Time stands still as you both ponder the enormity of the universe and your place within it. Poetry springs to mind as you try to explain to your child how people 100 years ago didn’t have television and 500 years ago could really imagine a “man in the moon.” Talking about the constellations brings more talk about ancient people seeing stories in stars and constructing their world-view out of the few reproducible phenomena in their lives. Even a three-year-old can fall under the spell of the heavens. Every child should be able to look into the sky, understand that our earth revolves at a speed of some 800 miles and hour, and see the stars for what they are: dying suns millions of light years away. Better yet though, is for a child (or adult) to be able to recognize the constellations and the planets. That’s a basic skill like knowing how to juggle, play the harmonica or how to score a baseball game. None are necessary for survival in the world, but are part of a basic set of skills that make life fuller, more nuanced, and more interesting.

However, if you’re like me, this is not information you ever learned in school. Amateur astronomy, the inspirational kind for non-astrophysicists, is not taught in school. It’s like the non-existent course on “how to invest in the stock market” that would have saved you a bundle if only they had had a course like that in college. Luckily, like a lot of things on the big list of “Things I wish I had learned in school,” there are ways to fill in the gap of your knowledge and that of your children.

First, obviously, is a trip to local museum and planetarium. Not surprisingly, I have not done that with my kids. Instead, I jumped for accessible tools we could look at home and take with us on trips anywhere I think there will be a big black sky we can peer into together. By all means, go to the local planetarium. Better yet, if there is an observatory, check that out on a clear, warm summer night.

However, if you have little kids who would not sit through a planetarium show or stay up late enough to take the Observatory route, here are a few other ideas:

1. Buy or use a good set of binoculars to look at the moon. A telescope at the early stage is overkill and kids have trouble delaying gratification while you set it up. A good pair of binoculars , perhaps small enough to travel with you easily, can bring the moon in close enough to stimulate great conversation on stars, planets, moons, and space travel. I have a pair of small Nikon Travelite binoculars with 9×25 resolutions. Prices are below $100 for what used to be a luxury item. They are small enough to carry easily in a jacket pocket and I take them with us on all family trips, for moon-watching, but also because the kids love to look at everything: birds, animals, neighbors, with them. And, as I always say, “it’s for the kids,” is always a good gambit to satisfy your middle-age desire for that pinball machine, slot-car set, or model train you’ve wanted since you were nine years old.

2. Try an in-house planetarium. Don’t laugh. Especially if you are miles away from a science museum, or have young kids like I do, this might be a good option to familiarize the kids with concept of the solar system. At $29.95, don’t expect the Star Theater 2 to serve up popcorn for the show, but the price is right for the semi-sophisticated tool that it is. The Star Theatre is a clear globe with the stars and constellations printed on it. Inside is a halogen bulb, and when you turn it on, you get a projection on the walls and ceiling of the night sky. So, okay, with the lights illuminating everything that “isn’t” a star, the idea is a little upside-down, but the kids get the idea. A CD comes with the set, and in dulcet tones, the narrators explain the heavens. I found the CD narration to be both basic and interesting at the same time – clear enough for my six-year-old, but clearly a snore for my two-year-old. The globe itself, can be taken outside, and with its glow-in-the-dark printing, can be used as a star map (read on for other tools for this). Additionally, the Theatre comes with a “meteor-maker” the kids can play with to project asteroids on the ceiling while you fight for control so that you can show them the Big Dipper. I can’t imagine using this device thousands of times, but my daughter is still enthralled with the idea of stars and planets on the walls and regularly begs for a star show.

3. A basic tool is a Constellation map for finding stars in the night sky. I recommend the Star Finder . There are plenty to choose from on Amazon. We have something similar to the Orion Planisphere . It’s very simple and easy to use. At $1.99 though, try the Glow-In-The-Dark Star Finder and let me know what you think. At this price, you can’t go wrong. As the Amazon review says: “When you’re out under the summer sky attempting to discern Leo on the western horizon, less is more. Try to juggle an astronomy tome and a flashlight and you’ll end up with more mosquito bites than star sightings. A star dial is what’s needed, a lightweight paper contraption that can be manipulated to show the sky as you see it, whatever the month and time of night. Accurate for the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, there is also a chart showing where to expect Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, month by month, through the year 2000. The stars are rated by magnitude; there’s a zodiac dial identifying each zodiac constellation, showing how it appears in the sky; and most helpful of all, the stars are coated with a luminous treatment that causes them to glow in the dark, so you can see what you’re looking for without ruining your night vision with bright lights. It’s a superbly simple yet elegantly constructed stargazer aid.”

These star maps are simple cardboard items, about the size of a magazine and as thick as a few pieces of cardboard. The non-glow-in-the-dark ones require that you put a piece of red plastic over your flashlight for reading them in the dark, or your eyes will never be able to go back and forth from the map and the sky.

If your budget allows, take a look at the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium . I have not seen this gadget perform, but it sounds magical.

Another take on the same theme is the stellar scope , which allows you to look up through a telescope-style device to see the stars as they would appear in the sky. At close to $40, it’s more expensive and bulky, and probably over-kills for most.

4. Attach glow in the dark stars to your ceiling . This is a very low-cost idea that adds a magical element to both your child’s bedroom and to bedtime. The stars are barely visible on a white ceiling but are very bright after lights out. It’s easy to put up the simplest constellations (think Big and Little Dipper) and the stars are easy to remove from painted surfaces.

5. And lastly, take a look at telescopes at some point. Not having any real experience (yet!) on this, I can only suggest taking a look at the selections below. Both National Geographic and the Discovery Store have good selections and provide good instruction materials for most science projects. Shop for Telescopes & Science Tools at National Geographic!

Find free online guide to the best Kid Activity web sites. Keep your kids entertained.

When you are thinking about astronomy, the first thing that comes to mind is a telescope. This misconception is found every day. Actually, the first thing you need to do is look at the stars with a pair of binoculars. You cam spend hundreds of dollars on a telescope that might not be the right one. One thing that star glazers will tell you is that some of the lunar eclipses and bright comets look better with binoculars than with a high-powered telescope.

You need to look around the sky with a star map and learn about the stars and other objects in space before you jump in and buy a telescope. Sometimes what you see through a telescope will be ugly, where as through the binoculars, it is a beautiful focused site to see. Once you learn about the stars themselves, you will have a better understanding of what you are looking at and how far away it really is.

After you learn about the sky above you are ready to look for a telescope. Before rushing out and buying a telescope, you should find some astronomers who will share their experiences and maybe even their telescopes with a group. Trying out a telescope before you buy it is something that will help you decide on what telescope will be best for you.

Some things to consider are what you plan to do with the telescope, how much you have to spend and are you going to take photographs of your sightings. If you are a causal backyard astronomer, you might even look at the Dobsonian telescopes. Never worry about power, but be more concerned about aperture and optics. If you will be viewing planets, you will need a telescope with high magnification. You would not want to buy a telescope with 600 power, as it will not have the aperture needed.

Most professional astronomers use a reflector type of telescope. This is where the light path is diverted to the concave lens or eyepiece. With the refractor telescopes, the light passes through the telescope by way of a lens to the eyepiece. In some of the opinions from astronomers, the refractor is the best type of telescope for looking at the solar system. However, reflectors are cheaper than the refractors. Reflector telescopes are recommended for beginning astronomers.

You will find areas with complete darkness are the best, but city viewing is fine if you have very little light to distract your viewing. Keep in mind that planet viewing is spectacular. You can see the ring around Saturn as well as view Venus. Jupiter, which changes every time you view it, is an amazing planet to keep an eye on.

You will want to have a star map, planet map and keep an eye on the news to find out when any interesting things are appearing in the solar system. Experience the sighting of a comet or meter shower, you will find that astronomy is a great way to spend the evening by yourself or with friends.

When you are opinion about astronomy, the first thing that comes to thoughts is a telescope. This misconception is found every day. Actually, the first thing you indigence to do look at the stars with a pair of binoculars. You cam exhaust hundreds of dollars on a telescope that might not be the right one. One thing that star glazers will tell you is that some of the astral eclipses and light comets look better with binoculars than with a high-powered telescope.

You essential to look around the sky with a star map and learn about the stars and other matter in window before you soar in and buy a telescope. Sometimes what you see through a telescope will be horrid, where, as through the binoculars, it is a wonderful alert site to see. Once you learn about the stars themselves, you will have a better understanding of what you are looking at, and how far away it is very.

After you learn about the sky above you are quick to look for a telescope. Before rushing out and wholesale a telescope, you should find some astronomers who will portion their experiences and possibly even their telescopes with a group. Trying a telescope before you buy it is something that will help you choose on what telescope will be best for you.

Some gear to judge are what you intend to do with the telescope, how much you have to waste and are you ready to take photographs of your sightings. If you are a causal backyard astronomer, you might even look at the Dobsonian telescopes. Never fret about energy, but be more nervous about space and optics. If you will be viewing planets, you will penury a telescope with high magnification. You would not want to buy a telescope with 600 strength, as it will not have the space desired.

Most professional astronomers use the reflector letters of telescope. This is where the light channel is diverted to the dipped lens or eyepiece. With the refractor telescopes, the light passes through the telescope by way of a lens to the eyepiece. In some of the opinions from astronomers, the refractor is the best nature of telescope for looking at the solar logic. However, reflectors are cheaper than the refractors. Reflector telescopes are recommended for creation astronomers.

You will find areas with extreme darkness are the best, but city viewing charge if you have very little light to distract your viewing. Keep in object that globe viewing is spectacular. You can see the sphere around Saturn as well as inspect Venus. Jupiter, which changes every time you notice it, is an amazing world to keep an eye on.

You will want to have a star map, earth map and keep an eye on the gossip to find out when any interesting effects are appearing in the solar procedure. Experience the sighting of a comet or gauge shower, you will find that astronomy is a great way to spend the nightfall by manually or with contacts.

The science of Astronomy is interesting and varied. There are a lot of resources for it for kids who are interested in the planets, the solar system, the universe and everything else that’s part of this exciting science. For children, many parts of it are magical and thus they are drawn towards the moon, the stars and far distant galaxies.

The moon is Earth’s only satellite. It takes about 27 days to orbit the Earth. Being so near, it has hosted the only human footsteps on a space object other than the Earth. Gravity between the moon and Earth causes the tides. It’s brightness in the night sky attracts many children to learn more about it.

Then there’s our sun. Earth is quite far from the sun. The distance fluctuates between about 91 million miles and about 94 million miles. That’s because Earth’s orbit around the sun isn’t a circle, it’s an ellipse. If there were no sun, we wouldn’t be alive. Our light and heat comes from the sun. Over 98% of the total stuff in our solar system is in the sun. Think about how small a person is compared to that. So play is a wonderful time to be introducing science to them. Think of the games that we used to play; Don’t Spill the Beans, for more details visit to www.profit-pulling-niches.com Don’t Break the Ice, the Telephone Game, Lincoln logs, patty cake, each of these games has a science behind it. Each of these games are wonderful science games or toys for the pre K school age group.

We live in the Milky Way Galaxy. It’s full of space stuff. Even with all this stuff to fill it, it’s mostly empty. At over 100,000 light years wide and 3,000 light years high, for more details visit to www.auto-cons.com that means the galaxy contains a whole lot of nothing. The center of our galaxy is about 30,000 light years from Earth. Even with all that space there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way. In fact the galaxy was named for the thick group of stars in the main portion of it. People thought it looked like a stream of milk, so called it the Milky Way. There are four types of galaxies – elliptical, lenticular, irregular and like the Milky Way, spiral.

There is a lot of information about astronomy for kids on the Internet. Kids could spend hours wrapped in detailed 3D representations of the universe around us.

There is a big interest in science today and the lack thereof in our youth; yet with a little interest by adults in the science of astronomy and a relatively inexpensive child telescope you could show the universe in a whole new way.

There are a few things that you need prior to getting a child telescope and your beginning endeavors into astronomy. Astronomy need not be a confusing and difficult process to understand, while it may take a little studying, the use of a child telescope could help you begin to get your child interested in something that can help them develop new skills and new attitudes. Your first child telescope need not be overly expensive nor should it be too cheap to be perceived as another toy in some childrens collection.

A child telescope can be as expensive or inexpensive as one is willing to pay, yet if you are willing to put a little time into researching telescopes you can determine what model would be best for you and your child. Once you have selected a telescope, spending a little time understanding how to use and spending time with your child could help the child telescope be a more stable part of your life.

Beginning Astronomy

You may think that you need to be part scientist to understand the difference in telescopes and that your child telescope should wow and amaze your child but the truth is that developing an interest is key and that there are plenty of sites out there that will help you understand what you should look for in a child telescope. Start small and develop the interest, the patience and knowledge that studying stars, planets and the universe.

So if apertures, lens, mirrors, or reflectors confuse you it may be better to start small, make sure that your child telescopes catches his or her imagination and interest then proceed into bigger things. The worst thing that many parents experience in buying their children things is the lack of interest that comes after a few months or weeks of starting a new hobby. Yet you could extend that interest by making short term goals and helping them gain more interest in the hobby through your own interest.

Who knows, beginning with a child telescope could bring you closer and develop the interest in science and the universe, which is a long way from video games, television and other distractions in our lives.