A Clearer Sky for a Change

Yesterday it was bright and shiny (though cold) here on the East Coast, by just the right kind of crispy clear weather for the sky to be littered with billions of stars and other astronomical formation. 

Its post full moon and just the right hour to go with a reflective scope to pass beyond the problem of light pollution.  I used a refractive the other night in the Cygnus rift, so it was a difficult and none to successful search for any other specific formations within the rift.  Ah Geordie LaForge, where are you when I need you.  But, last night was perfect, and after a time of focus and search, there I was including the Brocchi Cluster.

Now, while I by far, no expert on this sort of thing, this particular cluster of stars, as I have found out is defined as an asterism.  If you’ve got better eyesight than I or a greater aperture, you likely might do better than this photo, otherwise you’ll be better with a greater strength using a reflective.  At any rate you can find the cluster pretty much dead center along the left margin.  This is certainly not the greatest, but there are other better shots out there.

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Its Post-time for the Buying Learner

I was asked just yesterday, ‘Okay Pop, so you’ve hooked my on this star gazing narcotic, what about buying a telescope to feed my habit?  What is it going to take to get the best.

While I’m working on my next article/lesson plan (Optics 102), with a subject of types of telescopes for learners, I was fascinated that my reader thought he had an endless stream of cash to feed his new longing.  Seriously folks, while the Cassegrain is considered the ideal construction (and in my opinion it is as it contains the best of both telescope worlds) the price one must pay as a beginner is just out of this world. 

And while it is as simple to vend as in my own inventory, I don’t suggest such a splurge my friend the beginner.  Look for quality sure, but keep your pocketbook in line at this point in time.  There are many products out there to align yourself to the learning process at this point.

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Missed a Post But Found a Great Sky With Company

It was so late when I put the telescope away that instead of recording, I just went to bed.  I was searching for Vega, centered in the sky and at the edge of the Milky way I captured Cygnus Rift.  Just gotta wonder if this one of the phenomena that Captain Kirk will visit some day.  

 

You’ve got to wonder what its role is in the galaxy.  For the newcomer, Cygnus is an end are of what is called the “Great Rift”  Sometimes it is called the Dark Rift as it separates the brighter Sagitarius arm of our Milky Way galaxy.  Wow, isn’t that a piece of information you’ll never use unless you are an astronomer wanting to know the purpose in the universe of overlapping dust and gas clouds stretching across the edges of the galaxy.

Amazing what one can click away (camera-wise) at in a bright and clear night September sky.

Tomorrow, who knows?

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