Astronomy

Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον), “star” and -nomy from nomos (νόμος), “law”) is the scientific study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth’s atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe.

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. Astronomers of early civilizations performed methodical observations of the night sky, and astronomical artifacts have been found from much earlier periods. However, the invention of the telescope was required before astronomy was able to develop into a modern science. Historically, astronomy has included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, the making of calendars, and even astrology, but professional astronomy is nowadays often considered to be synonymous with astrophysics.

Since the 20th century, the field of professional astronomy split into observational and theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring and analyzing data, mainly using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented towards the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. The two fields complement each other, with theoretical astronomy seeking to explain the observational results, and observations being used to confirm theoretical results.

Amateur astronomers have contributed to many important astronomical discoveries, and astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs can still play an active role, especially in the discovery and observation of transient phenomena.

Old or even ancient astronomy is not to be confused with astrology, the belief system which claims that human affairs are correlated with the positions of celestial objects. Although the two fields share a common origin and a part of their methods (namely, the use of ephemerides), they are distinct.[1]

2009 has been declared by the UN to be the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). The focus is on enhancing the public’s understanding and engagement with astronomy.

A Beginner’s Guide to Astronomy

Astronomy is both a science and a hobby and it’s a subject that is accessible to almost everyone. Indeed, humans have gazed at the night sky with a sense of wonder and fascination for millennia and the starry skies have inspired poetry and philosophy as well as science and exploration. It’s a hobby the whole family can enjoy and anyone can join millions of others who enjoy this subject just by stepping outside on a cloudless night and looking up at the sky.

You don’t even need a telescope to start enjoying astronomy. You can pick out major constellations, the moon, and several planets using the naked eye or with a pair of binoculars that you might already possess for other purposes. However, part of the fun of astronomy is the use of the telescopes and they vary from simple designs that cost less than £100 to complex pieces of equipment that cost thousands.

The best way to start your exploration of the cosmos is to pick an evening when the weather is calm and the sky is clear of clouds. You can start simply by looking out of your window or by standing in your garden, but the more sky you can see the more scope you have for exploration, so if you can go to anywhere that is open land then so much the better. Also, being out in the country and away from street lights will reduce the amount of light pollution that so hinders the amateur astronomer.

Take a star chart or a beginner’s guide to astronomy book. You can download and print start charts from many astronomy websites and your local library will probably stock many such books. Of course you could simply buy your own book and start your astronomy library. Over time it’s likely to grow into quite a collection.

Make sure you’re dressed appropriately and that you are warm and comfortable. Some of the clearest nights for star gazing in Europe for example are during the winter. The air is much clearer and the visibility is so much better as a consequence. Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness and if you do take a torch in order to refer to a book or star chart then use a dim setting so that the light from the touch doesn’t spoil your night time vision. If you’re fortunate enough to live in a remote part of the countryside, near a desert or up a mountain then you have a distinct advantage over town dwelling astronomers!

If you’re budget does stretch to some equipment then the two basics are; a pair of binoculars and a telescope. The binoculars can be used for a quick check of an intended target area of the sky before you change the position of your telescope. Your first telescope might be one made by companies like Celestron, Meade, Skywatcher, or Orion. All these companies are recognized experts in their field and provide a range of telescopes for both amateur astronomers and professional star gazers.

When you start searching for a suitable telescope you’ll probably come across references to refractor telescopes and reflector telescopes. To learn about the differences between these two types and more information, astronomy guides, and telescope reviews visit the two sites listed below.

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