What's Up? The Space Place

Hey Space Placers! I got the 'scope out last night and looked at the Moon and Jupiter. I took this pic as it shows the 4 main moons of Jupiter. From L-R: Io, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede. I swear I can see some color on Callisto which would be a first for me. The atmosphere was pretty steady last night so maybe those really are true surface disks I captured. I know the focus was spot on but the atmosphere is always dancing around.  Jupiter is overexposed in the lower left so that the moons could be photographed. You can see these four main moons just like Galileo did in 1610 using a good pair of binoculars or any size telescope. There will be times when all four are not there as they are passing in front of or behind Jupiter. In a good telescope you can see these transits (in front of) and occultations (passing behind) in your 'scope as the involved moon disappearing and casting its shadow onto Jupiter's cloud tops.....so cool to see in real time. Jupiter remains...

Hey Space Placers! Sorry for the lack of blogs the past few days - the supporting website was down for awhile and I have been very busy with work and watching the birth of a new telescope. Telescopes are magical in that they are comprised of metal and glass manufactered and assembled in such a way as to open a window to the Universe for those who use it. When a new telescope gathers light from an astronomical object for the first time it is an event called "First Light". George Mason University (GMU) Department of Astronomy and Physics is in the process creating a new 32-inch telescope at its Fairfax Campus. The new observatory will be, I believe, the largest on campus telescope anywhere. I am still researching this potential landmark. A big step forward in the process occurred yesterday, Saturday May 14th, when the major mechanical components of the telescope were delivered by the manufacterer and moved by a huge crane into the observatory dome. The 10+ hour event in...

Hey Fellow Space Placers! If you have any questions or you want to write to me please do so by either leaving a comment or dropping me a line at skyguyinva@gmail.com . I can also make public appearances before school groups or organizations. This Monday, October 18th,  you can join me and George Mason University astronomers at the Observatory at 7:30 p.m. if the sky is clear. Check out this link for more details:  http://today.gmu.edu/53352 . We will have several telescopes available to look at the gibbous Moon, Jupiter and some pretty deep sky objects. GMU expects to have its new 32-inch telescope completed by the end of the year which will be the largest  aperture telescope on a college campus in Virginia and possibly in the U.S. Please join us! Although you don't need a telescope to enjoy the sky, it sure opens up a whole new perspective - literally. It takes time and effort to figure out what type of telescope - if any - you want to buy. But it is a real treas...