The Stars: The Basics and Online Telescopes

In order to tell what is a star and what isn't, it's a good idea to learn what is above you. This site will help you identify the names of the constellations as well as the planets you can see outside your door at night. Get a friend if possible, and get to know the names of some of the major stars and groupings.

Also, if you don't know already, figure out the direction of some close by landmarks - At our home, we have a tree that we have checked and found that it is directly South, and another that is North. Even at night, we can see their shapes, so it is easy to tell at a glance what direction something is from us.

Star maps that show the night skies above cities across the globe:

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Your Sky
You can produce maps in the forms described below for any time and date, viewpoint, and observing location. If you enter the orbital elements of an asteroid or comet, Your Sky will compute its current position and plot it on the map. Each map is accompanied by an ephemeris for the Sun, Moon, planets, and any tracked asteroid or comet.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

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The online flash planetarium
The Flash Planetarium Project aims to produce the best online planetarium available, allowing you to view the night sky from anywhere in the world from within your browser (no telescope required!)

If you've a passing interest in Astronomy or you're are an enthusiastic amateur astronomer or science buff, then we're sure that you'll find this site interesting and above all, fun!

http://www.flashplanetarium.com/

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Stellarium
Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

http://www.stellarium.org/

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The Slooh Project- Live views from telescopes around the world:

"..To use the Slooh online telescope you must become a member of the Club, which includes mission cards, activity books, and online gift certificates. Once enrolled, you can articipate in group missions or control the online telescopes yourself. Says PC Magazine: “Would-be astronomers can gaze at live images of the night sky, but in the comfort of their homes. Kids – even big ones will marvel when they see the Andromeda Galaxy and other distant objects slowly materialize on their computer screens.” "

http://www.slooh.com/

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For those of us that have an understanding of how telescopes work, you can always rent one!

http://www.global-rent-a-scope.com/

Global-Rent-a-Scope is dedicated to fostering international cooperation and collaboration in the name of research and deep sky imaging.

Subcribers connect via the Internet to any of the available worldwide locations and take their own images. This publicly accessible time rental service is available through your internet browser connection.

Take astronomical images with the finest telescope systems:

■Astrodon Filters
■Takahashi, RCOS, Planewave
■Paramount ME & Ascension mounts
■SBIG & FLI CCD Cameras
■Advanced ACP control
■Real time online photometry
■Online client Support
■Dark Sky locations second to none
■User ownership of data

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Have fun, take notes, and share your research! Please post any resources you find about star gazing!