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 EarthSky ~ An attempt to improve the public perception of science, by offering an accessible platform for scientists to speak directly to their audience, on whatever they are getting enthusiastic over. The popular posts feed of the space section proves interesting, providing details of highlights in the sky at night before other sources… |
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| Eclipse
Home Page ~ Painstakingly maintained by Fred Espenak of NASA and
the Goddard Space Flight Centre, this site “strives to be the ultimate
resource for online information about eclipses.” From an astronomical
perspective it most certainly is too. Anything you’d ever wish to know
is here, plus a whole bunch more you’d never even thought about. |
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| Encyclopedia Astronautica ~ This guy is in love with his subject. Look his name is
Wade, there’s a surprise! Don’t be scared off by the front page and the
eye to erm, design. Anything you wanted to know about space travel is here,
plus a lot more besides, so just start clicking and see where you end up.
Think it isn’t rocket science? Oh yes, it is! |
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| Encyclopedia
of Astrobiology, Astronomy and Space Flight ~ This site is an online
reference of information about astronomy, astrobiology, space flight,
physics and other areas of science and mathematics, both conventional
and more speculative, such as teleportation and time travel. It is updated
daily by astronomer David Darling. |
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| Ephemeris.com ~ An ephemeris lists planetary positions and other astronomical data, at regular intervals and over a given period. This online ephemeris doesn’t seem to have been updated for a while, but still works beautifully across all operating systems, as well as giving details of your sidereal time that can be hard to find out. |
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| ESA - Space Science ~ Most have heard of NASA, unless they live somewhere needing astronomical intervention, but fewer notice its country cousin ESA, otherwise known as the European Space Agency. Now you’re better informed you have no excuse for not visting their website, which has plenty of material to capture your attention, anyhow. |
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| Evening Sky Map ~ Every month this site offers a printable map of the sky, for several locations and a number of different languages, that you can download and use in your stargazing exploits. It’s free for educational or non-commercial purposes and lists what you should look out for each night with your telescope, binoculars or your naked eye… |
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| Galaxy Zoo 2 ~ An online astronomy project that needs your help with classifying over a million galaxies from pictures taken by a robotic telescope, because your brain spots patterns better than even the fastest computer. No prior knowledge is required, there’s an excellent tutorial and it’s all totally addictive once you’re quite confident. |
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| Green Comet Approaches Earth ~ Some astrologers are making much of Comet Lulin, probably because they have missed the significance of other current planetary trends. Still, this comet has its closest approach to Earth on February 24, 2009. Though you’ll need good eyes and dark skies to see it unaided, NASA informs us that surprises are possible… |
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| Google Moon ~ Google Moon launched on July 20, 2005 the thirty-sixth anniversary of the first manned lunar landing. There’s a long way to go before this site approaches the phenomenon that is Google Earth, but the area explored by six Apollo missions is mapped out and you can zoom in to increasing levels of complexity and detail. |
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| Haumea ~ The fifth dwarf planet to go official and acquire a proper name, was formerly called Santa and now Haumea after the patron goddess of the island of Hawai’i. Apparently, there are another 40 known bodies awaiting dwarf planet status, with estimates of perhaps 200 in the Kuiper belt and maybe 2000 further beyond that. |
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| Heavens-Above ~
No-nonsense astronomy site that encourages registration, but only so everything
can be customised for you. Rewards include personalised sky maps and data,
plus a timetable of your next space station fly-past and Iridium flare
- as the sun catches the antennae of an Iridium communications satellite. |
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| Hermit
Eclipse ~ Another great site for practical eclipse information
from an astronomical perspective. Clearly presented and readable with some detailed graphics, an eclipse search facility and extensive
statistical analysis. This site is more accessible than most, yet takes
you as far as you want to go… |
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| HubbleSite ~
With its new advanced camera, the Hubble Space Telescope captures supreme
imagery of both the known universe and beyond. The official website has
the full story with superlative details and extensive interactivity.
The Hubble Deep Field multimedia tour is quite simply breathtaking! |
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| Ian Ridpath’s Star Tales ~ Ian is a professional astronomer and a prolific author who regularly features in the media. His book Star Tales was first published in 1988 and outlines the myths surrounding the 88 constellations used nowadays, plus a few obsolete ones besides. It’s now available online, with updates and additions on the way… |
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| International
Astronomy Union (IAU) ~ The IAU is made up of astronomers from all
over the world and is responsible for the naming of new planetary discoveries.
So if you would like to know why the object internationally called Xena,
should in February 2006 still catchily be referred to as 2003 UB313,
then these are the people to ask. |
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| International
Space Station (ISS) ~ The International Space Station orbits the
Earth over fifteen times each day. It is not hard to spot with the
naked eye, but you do need to know where to look. This site’s huge
database helps us all catch a glimpse from wherever we’re situated.
It’s definitely a worthwhile exercise! |
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| IOTA ~
Standing for the International Occultation Timing Association, this is
an astronomy site that emphasises the further study of these important
celestial events. Occultations are similar to eclipses, but can involve
almost any celestial body, usually obscured by the Moon. They are significant
events for astrologers too of course. |
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