Here is the correct link to the Astronomy Library.
http://www.iaslibrary.org.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Astronomy LIbrary
If you have high speed internet connection this is a great way to learn about astronomy. If you have dial up then I am sorry it will not not work.
http://www.iasindy.org
http://www.iasindy.org
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Our Summer Sky
Our summer sky is dominated by three brilliant stars—Vega, Deneb, and Altair—set in a large triangle. Known as the Summer Triangle, this is not an official constellation but rather an asterism. Each of the three stars in the Summer Triangle belongs to a separate constellation: Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila.
Brightest of the Triangle’s stars is Vega, found in the middle of the summer star map and high overhead during the months of July, August, and September. Vega, a brilliant blue-white star glistening like a diamond, belongs to the constellation Lyra, the Lyre. Vega represents part of the Lyre’s handle, while four faint stars depict the instrument’s main body where the strings are strung. This is the mythical musical instrument of Orpheus, son of the Sun god Apollo. According to legend, Apollo taught Orpheus to play the instrument so beautifully that even savage beasts were soothed into submission. After Orpheus died, his lyre continued to play lyrical music and so was placed in the sky by the gods for all to see.
Leave the Summer Triangle temporarily by drawing an imaginary line between Vega and the springtime star Arcturus, still seen in the northwest. About a third of the way along that line are the faint stars of Hercules the Giant. All are visible only in darker suburban or rural skies. Four stars nick named the Keystone create the Giant’s torso. Two curved lines of stars extend southward to form his arms, while two other star-curves stretch out to the Keystone’s north to form his legs. That’s right; the celestial Hercules appears to be standing upside down, apparently with his feet on the head of Draco the Dragon.
Draco winds its way across the northern summer sky spanning the gap between Cepheus to the pointer stars of the Big Dipper. Draco is one of the oldest constellations, perhaps dated as far back as ancient Sumeria, and one of the few that actually looks like what it represents. Four faint stars create the Dragon’s head, while its long, thin body extends toward Cepheus, coils around Ursa Minor, and slithers between the Bears. Though visible all year long, Draco is most easily seen in the summer. About two-thirds of the way along the body of Draco is the star Thuban. More than 4,500 years ago, when the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, the Earth’s north polar axis was not aimed toward Polaris, as it is today, but rather at this star. This is due to a slow wobbling of the Earth’s axis called precession. In 14,000 years, the pole will be aimed toward Vega in the summer constellation Lyra. Twenty- six thousand years from now, Earth’s North Pole will again be aimed toward Polaris.
Return to the Summer Triangle and the star Altair, its southernmost star. Altair marks the beak of Aquila, the Eagle, while fainter stars denote the out stretched wings and tail feathers, although it might be easier to see a pterodactyl here than to imagine an eagle.
The third star in the Triangle is Deneb, which marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan. In this case, the shape of a swan captured in mid-flight is quite easy to imagine. The Swan’s body and long neck extend to the star Albireo, while wings stretch outward from either side of the star Sack in the Swan’s body. Many people also refer to this pattern as the Northern Cross for its likeness to a crucifix.
If you are viewing from darker suburban or rural skies, look for a hazy band of light passing through the Summer Triangle and stretching from the northeast to the south. This is our galaxy the Milky Way—a spiral galaxy made up of about 200 billion stars. Actually all of the stars seen in the sky belong to the Milky Way. But when we look along the edge of our galaxy we are seeing millions of other, more distant stars that are too faint to make out as individual points of light with our eyes alone. Instead, their light blends to form the lane that we call the Milky Way.
Follow the Milky Way down toward the southern horizon, to the bright star Antares in Scorpius, the Scorpion. Antares is known to be a red super-giant star, nearly 2,000 times larger than our Sun, although only about half as hot. The curve of the Scorpion’s body extends toward the southern horizon and ends at the star Shaula, which marks the Scorpion’s stinger. According to legend, Scorpius killed the mighty hunter Orion (seen in the winter sky) by stinging him on the foot. To punish the Scorpion for this dastardly deed, the gods banished Scorpius to the sky forever, placing it directly opposite Orion so that it could never harm him again.
Just east of Scorpius is Sagittarius the Archer, who also happens to be a centaur which is a mythical creature with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse. Most artists draw Sagittarius facing toward the right (west), his bow and arrow aimed toward the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. Perhaps Sagittarius misfired his first arrow, for we see the tiny constellation Sagitta the Arrow lying just above (north of) Altair. Sagittarius may have represented a centaur to our ancestors, but to skywatchers today, its outline is the more reminiscent of a stove-top kettle or teapot.
Both Sagittarius and Scorpius are found along the ecliptic, the path in the sky followed by the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. In fact, this is probably how Antares got its name. Ant-ares literally translates from Greek as “rival of Ares,” a rivalry probably caused by the star’s amazing resemblance to Mars when seen with the naked eye. (Ares was the Greek god of war while Mars was Rome’s name for the same deity.)
Though there are twelve constellations assigned to the zodiac, the Sun will actually travel through thirteen each year. That forgotten constellation of the zodiac is Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. Ophiuchus fills most of the large void between Antares and Vega. According to legend, Ophiuchus was a great physician. The story goes that Ophiuchus (also known as Aesculapius, the son of Apollo) became such an amazing healer that Pluto, god of the Underworld, complained about his lack of new clientele! Finally, to appease Pluto, Jupiter killed Ophiuchus, but as a lasting memorial Jupiter placed him among the stars. Ophiuchus is shown holding a serpent named Serpens. Serpents and snakes have long been associated with healing, for their periodic molting was looked upon by our ancestors as a rebirth. (This association of snakes with healing is still evident today on the caduceus, which is used as a symbol by the American Medical Association.) Serpens is divided into two parts. Its head, shown on the map as Serpens Caput, extends to the right (west) of Ophiuchus, while its tail, Serpens Cauda, lies to the left, or east.
Continuing our tour of the ecliptic, the next constellation east of Sagittarius is Capricornus the Sea-Goat. The faint stars of the Sea-Goat form a large triangle seen in summer’s southeastern sky. A sea-goat is an imaginary creature with the head and front legs of a goat and the tail of a fish. Where this constellation came from is a bit of a mystery since this bizarre animal is not mentioned anywhere in classical mythology. Some suggest that Capricornus actually represents the mythical prankster Pan. Pan had the head and legs of a goat, but the body of a man.
Just above (north of) the Sea-Goat and to the left (east) of Altair lies the tiny but distinctive constellation of Delphinus the Dolphin. Delphinus is marked by a diamond of four stars, which form the Dolphin’s body, and a fifth star below (south) marking its tail. None of the individual stars in Delphinus is very bright, but the constellation’s kite like pattern stands out quite well against its barren surroundings.
Brightest of the Triangle’s stars is Vega, found in the middle of the summer star map and high overhead during the months of July, August, and September. Vega, a brilliant blue-white star glistening like a diamond, belongs to the constellation Lyra, the Lyre. Vega represents part of the Lyre’s handle, while four faint stars depict the instrument’s main body where the strings are strung. This is the mythical musical instrument of Orpheus, son of the Sun god Apollo. According to legend, Apollo taught Orpheus to play the instrument so beautifully that even savage beasts were soothed into submission. After Orpheus died, his lyre continued to play lyrical music and so was placed in the sky by the gods for all to see.
Leave the Summer Triangle temporarily by drawing an imaginary line between Vega and the springtime star Arcturus, still seen in the northwest. About a third of the way along that line are the faint stars of Hercules the Giant. All are visible only in darker suburban or rural skies. Four stars nick named the Keystone create the Giant’s torso. Two curved lines of stars extend southward to form his arms, while two other star-curves stretch out to the Keystone’s north to form his legs. That’s right; the celestial Hercules appears to be standing upside down, apparently with his feet on the head of Draco the Dragon.
Draco winds its way across the northern summer sky spanning the gap between Cepheus to the pointer stars of the Big Dipper. Draco is one of the oldest constellations, perhaps dated as far back as ancient Sumeria, and one of the few that actually looks like what it represents. Four faint stars create the Dragon’s head, while its long, thin body extends toward Cepheus, coils around Ursa Minor, and slithers between the Bears. Though visible all year long, Draco is most easily seen in the summer. About two-thirds of the way along the body of Draco is the star Thuban. More than 4,500 years ago, when the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, the Earth’s north polar axis was not aimed toward Polaris, as it is today, but rather at this star. This is due to a slow wobbling of the Earth’s axis called precession. In 14,000 years, the pole will be aimed toward Vega in the summer constellation Lyra. Twenty- six thousand years from now, Earth’s North Pole will again be aimed toward Polaris.
Return to the Summer Triangle and the star Altair, its southernmost star. Altair marks the beak of Aquila, the Eagle, while fainter stars denote the out stretched wings and tail feathers, although it might be easier to see a pterodactyl here than to imagine an eagle.
The third star in the Triangle is Deneb, which marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan. In this case, the shape of a swan captured in mid-flight is quite easy to imagine. The Swan’s body and long neck extend to the star Albireo, while wings stretch outward from either side of the star Sack in the Swan’s body. Many people also refer to this pattern as the Northern Cross for its likeness to a crucifix.
If you are viewing from darker suburban or rural skies, look for a hazy band of light passing through the Summer Triangle and stretching from the northeast to the south. This is our galaxy the Milky Way—a spiral galaxy made up of about 200 billion stars. Actually all of the stars seen in the sky belong to the Milky Way. But when we look along the edge of our galaxy we are seeing millions of other, more distant stars that are too faint to make out as individual points of light with our eyes alone. Instead, their light blends to form the lane that we call the Milky Way.
Follow the Milky Way down toward the southern horizon, to the bright star Antares in Scorpius, the Scorpion. Antares is known to be a red super-giant star, nearly 2,000 times larger than our Sun, although only about half as hot. The curve of the Scorpion’s body extends toward the southern horizon and ends at the star Shaula, which marks the Scorpion’s stinger. According to legend, Scorpius killed the mighty hunter Orion (seen in the winter sky) by stinging him on the foot. To punish the Scorpion for this dastardly deed, the gods banished Scorpius to the sky forever, placing it directly opposite Orion so that it could never harm him again.
Just east of Scorpius is Sagittarius the Archer, who also happens to be a centaur which is a mythical creature with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse. Most artists draw Sagittarius facing toward the right (west), his bow and arrow aimed toward the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. Perhaps Sagittarius misfired his first arrow, for we see the tiny constellation Sagitta the Arrow lying just above (north of) Altair. Sagittarius may have represented a centaur to our ancestors, but to skywatchers today, its outline is the more reminiscent of a stove-top kettle or teapot.
Both Sagittarius and Scorpius are found along the ecliptic, the path in the sky followed by the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. In fact, this is probably how Antares got its name. Ant-ares literally translates from Greek as “rival of Ares,” a rivalry probably caused by the star’s amazing resemblance to Mars when seen with the naked eye. (Ares was the Greek god of war while Mars was Rome’s name for the same deity.)
Though there are twelve constellations assigned to the zodiac, the Sun will actually travel through thirteen each year. That forgotten constellation of the zodiac is Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. Ophiuchus fills most of the large void between Antares and Vega. According to legend, Ophiuchus was a great physician. The story goes that Ophiuchus (also known as Aesculapius, the son of Apollo) became such an amazing healer that Pluto, god of the Underworld, complained about his lack of new clientele! Finally, to appease Pluto, Jupiter killed Ophiuchus, but as a lasting memorial Jupiter placed him among the stars. Ophiuchus is shown holding a serpent named Serpens. Serpents and snakes have long been associated with healing, for their periodic molting was looked upon by our ancestors as a rebirth. (This association of snakes with healing is still evident today on the caduceus, which is used as a symbol by the American Medical Association.) Serpens is divided into two parts. Its head, shown on the map as Serpens Caput, extends to the right (west) of Ophiuchus, while its tail, Serpens Cauda, lies to the left, or east.
Continuing our tour of the ecliptic, the next constellation east of Sagittarius is Capricornus the Sea-Goat. The faint stars of the Sea-Goat form a large triangle seen in summer’s southeastern sky. A sea-goat is an imaginary creature with the head and front legs of a goat and the tail of a fish. Where this constellation came from is a bit of a mystery since this bizarre animal is not mentioned anywhere in classical mythology. Some suggest that Capricornus actually represents the mythical prankster Pan. Pan had the head and legs of a goat, but the body of a man.
Just above (north of) the Sea-Goat and to the left (east) of Altair lies the tiny but distinctive constellation of Delphinus the Dolphin. Delphinus is marked by a diamond of four stars, which form the Dolphin’s body, and a fifth star below (south) marking its tail. None of the individual stars in Delphinus is very bright, but the constellation’s kite like pattern stands out quite well against its barren surroundings.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Our Marketing Plan is Working
Photograph the Front
Interior Photographs
Yard Sign
Sent E-Flyers to Friends, family and coworkers
Newspapers classifieds
04/18/2009 – 05/01/2009 FSBO – 3 br 2 ba 1400 sq ft FHA assumable mortage, Call: 812-322-9726 for more information.
Jaime Hampton, Classified Advertising & Recruitment Manager, The Republic Newspaper - Phone: 812-379-5649 jhampton@therepublic.com
05/02/2009 – 05/16/2009 FSBO – Columbus, IN Take over $773.67 monthly payment 3 br 2 ba walk-in closet Call: 812-322-9726 for appointment
Jaime Hampton, Classified Advertising & Recruitment Manager, The Republic Newspaper - Phone: 812-379-5649 jhampton@therepublic.com
Notify friends and co-workers of your online listing
Online Advertising
http://classifieds.projectvisionary.com/index.php?a=2&b=119 (Serving Southern Indiana)
April 25, 2009 - FHA Assumable Mortgage - 1400 square foot - 3 bedroom - 2 baths - walk-in closet - 2 car attached garage. Located off 200 S in Shadow Creek Farms near Southside Elementary School and the Bartholowmew County 4-H Fair Grounds. The buyer picks up where the seller leaves off rates is 6% current balance $100,182.31
Received 15 phone calls
Confirmed 4 appointments
It is really starting to get exciting.
My official retirement date is May 30, 2009...WHOOPIE!!!!!!!!!
Interior Photographs
Yard Sign
Sent E-Flyers to Friends, family and coworkers
Newspapers classifieds
04/18/2009 – 05/01/2009 FSBO – 3 br 2 ba 1400 sq ft FHA assumable mortage, Call: 812-322-9726 for more information.
Jaime Hampton, Classified Advertising & Recruitment Manager, The Republic Newspaper - Phone: 812-379-5649 jhampton@therepublic.com
05/02/2009 – 05/16/2009 FSBO – Columbus, IN Take over $773.67 monthly payment 3 br 2 ba walk-in closet Call: 812-322-9726 for appointment
Jaime Hampton, Classified Advertising & Recruitment Manager, The Republic Newspaper - Phone: 812-379-5649 jhampton@therepublic.com
Notify friends and co-workers of your online listing
Online Advertising
http://classifieds.projectvisionary.com/index.php?a=2&b=119 (Serving Southern Indiana)
April 25, 2009 - FHA Assumable Mortgage - 1400 square foot - 3 bedroom - 2 baths - walk-in closet - 2 car attached garage. Located off 200 S in Shadow Creek Farms near Southside Elementary School and the Bartholowmew County 4-H Fair Grounds. The buyer picks up where the seller leaves off rates is 6% current balance $100,182.31
Received 15 phone calls
Confirmed 4 appointments
It is really starting to get exciting.
My official retirement date is May 30, 2009...WHOOPIE!!!!!!!!!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Letters to the Editor
LETTERS
Sky’s perfect entertainment From: Ken Reynolds Columbus Received: April 23 The groups that I hang with ... the Columbus Local Group of Astronomers and the Indiana Astronomical League ... navigate the night sky as well as truckers navigate the interstates. Me on the other hand goes more like this; I jumped out of bed at 4:30 this morning so I could watch the the teor shower which generally begins on April 16 and ends on April 26, with maximum generally occurring during the night of April 21/22. At maximum, hourly rates can reach about 10 meteors per hour. At 5:29 a.m., I saw my first and only meteor, but it was spectacular. The dust trail was like 2 feet wide and the length about 4 feet long and lasting about two seconds. The Lyrids are particularly interesting for two reason. First, observations have been identified back to at least 2,600 years, which is longer than any other meteor shower. Second, the meteor shower occasionally experiences an outburst of about 100 meteors per hour and the reason is basically unknown. At 5:46 a.m. I watched and Venus rise in the east. Straight overhead was Cygnus the Swan and Lyra a constellation. Its name derived from the lyre, a stringed musical instrument. How do I know all of this? Unlike my collegues, I rely heavily on a software program called Starry Night. If I look at something in the sky and do not recognize it, I run into the house and go to that part of the sky on Starry Night, which always has the current sky. So, back and forth, back and forth. My wife is always asking me, why don’t you take your laptop out on the patio so you don’t have to keep running back and forth. DOH!
Sky’s perfect entertainment From: Ken Reynolds Columbus Received: April 23 The groups that I hang with ... the Columbus Local Group of Astronomers and the Indiana Astronomical League ... navigate the night sky as well as truckers navigate the interstates. Me on the other hand goes more like this; I jumped out of bed at 4:30 this morning so I could watch the the teor shower which generally begins on April 16 and ends on April 26, with maximum generally occurring during the night of April 21/22. At maximum, hourly rates can reach about 10 meteors per hour. At 5:29 a.m., I saw my first and only meteor, but it was spectacular. The dust trail was like 2 feet wide and the length about 4 feet long and lasting about two seconds. The Lyrids are particularly interesting for two reason. First, observations have been identified back to at least 2,600 years, which is longer than any other meteor shower. Second, the meteor shower occasionally experiences an outburst of about 100 meteors per hour and the reason is basically unknown. At 5:46 a.m. I watched and Venus rise in the east. Straight overhead was Cygnus the Swan and Lyra a constellation. Its name derived from the lyre, a stringed musical instrument. How do I know all of this? Unlike my collegues, I rely heavily on a software program called Starry Night. If I look at something in the sky and do not recognize it, I run into the house and go to that part of the sky on Starry Night, which always has the current sky. So, back and forth, back and forth. My wife is always asking me, why don’t you take your laptop out on the patio so you don’t have to keep running back and forth. DOH!
March of Dimes March For Babies
My goal was $1650.00 and as of today I have reached $605.00
Here is some of my handy work around town:
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