sadako Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Has anyone been watching Stargazing Live? If so, what do you think of it? I find the subject very interesting. Unfortunately I can't yet afford a trip to space in Richard Branson's spacecraft. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't checked out the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars, Let me see what life is like on jupiter and mars........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 I Father Christmas brought my little lad a telescope for Christmas, but with my mum being poorly and passing away early in the New Year, we are yet to set it up..... personally I can't wait!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadako Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Sorry to hear of your loss. Oooh...what type of telescope did he bring? I would love one but not sure where to start. I was about to ask my partner if he'd go halves with me but he beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 It was just a £25.00 starter one from Tescos.... looks pretty good though... I will rep[ort back when it is in operation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Hope its better than the one we bought our lad some years ago. We could see the moon surface (well sort of) but couldn't see much else with it really. I have a star named after me so maybe you could look for it and tell me what it's like if yours turns out to be pretty good I've not seen the programme, what channel was/is it on ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadako Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I think its BBC 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Not wishing to nbe over-critical but there seems to be less emphasis this year on the actual stargazing Joe public can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Never heard of a star called Dizzy. What galaxy is it in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadako Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I didn't see the last series unfortunately so I can't compare, but I do agree there was little for the public to do if you don't have the right equipment. Some fascinating photos that people sent in though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I was out last night with my binoculars at the ready. My case comes up next friday :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadako Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Ha ha. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Never heard of a star called Dizzy. What galaxy is it in? Must be a pulsar - all that spinning would make it dizzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 It's not called Dizzy though Its called "<my name> TMD" and was registered on 25 Dec 1998 and according to my big framed certificate (in my wardrobe) it is at the coordinates of Cassiopia 3H 12M 05S + 65o 05' 04" ( think it says H and M as it's handwritten ) Anyone got any idea where that is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 A long way from here Dizzy. I don't think you can get there in a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Cassiopia http://www.heavens-a...1&dec=63&sz=500 somewhere in this area Give or take a light year or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 It's not called Dizzy though Its called "<my name> TMD" and was registered on 25 Dec 1998 and according to my big framed certificate (in my wardrobe) it is at the coordinates of Cassiopia 3H 12M 05S + 65o 05' 04" ( think it says H and M as it's handwritten ) Anyone got any idea where that is The 3H 12M 05S is the Sidereal Hour Angle and would be more properly expressed as 45 Degrees 12'05" (an hour being 15 degrees) and it is the angle between the First Point of Aries and the object (measured westwards along the celestial equator) and could be compared to the object's longitude. The 65 Degrees 05' 04" is the Declination or angle above or below the celestial equator and could be compared to the latitude (the + denotes North). These co-ordinates are used by astronomers, and navigators, to pinpoint the position of celestial objects. The First Point of Aries is the point on the celestial equator where the ecliptic crosses at the spring equinox (the ecliptic being the track made accross the celestial sphere by the sun during the year). Clear? :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Clear? Errm... nope and I haven't got a blummmin' clue what you are on about. I have heard of Aries though Are you just teasing me Asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Not teasing Dizzy, I had to learn all this stuff years ago when we used to navigate using a sextant. Here's a picture that might make it a bit clearer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Not teasing Dizzy, I had to learn all this stuff years ago when we used to navigate using a sextant. Here's a picture that might make it a bit clearer: ahhhhh now I get it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks Asp.... but where abouts would my star be on that 'thingy' then? Can you put a little red blob or something please as I understand those better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Well this is where it gets a bit complicated. If you wanted to know where in the sky to look to see your star, you need an Almanac for the current year. In there you will find the Greenwich Hour Angle of Aries for the time of your observation, and to this you would need to apply the Sidereal Hour Angle of your star and your longitude which will give you the Local Hour Angle of the star thus: GHA Aries + SHA star + longitude (if west) or - longitude (if east) = LHA star Now you can calculate, using spherical trigonometry, the altitude of the star at that given time (you need to know your own latitude), and the azimuth (compass bearing). I've never looked but I'm sure there will be a site on the internet that allows you to input the date/time/SHA and give you the altitude and bearing without bothering with books. Thanks Dizzy, thats given me a little project, I've still got my sextant! Hope you've got a telescope and a reasonably accurate compass? Good luck :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks Asp.... but where abouts would my star be on that 'thingy' then? Can you put a little red blob or something please as I understand those better I think you should ask for your money back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I didn;t pay for it, it was a pressy from someone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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