Jul 31

Save the Sky

Astronomy No Comments »

For those sky-watchers who worry about the environment, having the world go green is not enough.

Alternatively, it ought to be dark green in color. Although light pollution doesn’t generally cause as much alarm as other issues such as the changing climate, there is an outspoken community of stargazers that feel this is an important problem that must be worked on and eventually solved.

Light pollution is a growing concern, detracting from the vastness and beauty of the numerous stars and constellations of the Milky Way. In two-thirds of American cities, people are unable to see the Milky Way at their homes.

The Milky way is used by many to gauge the level of visibility in a dark night sky. There are a few places between the Midwest and the East Coast that are unpolluted country-size areas with darkened skies. It is difficult to find locations to observe the dark in the West.

Security lighting is not only necessary at night, since the majority of property crimes are happening during the daylight hours. (in home and industrial settings) may not be as important as people think. Although at this point twenty-seven states already have laws in place or proposed to control the amount of skyward-pointed lighting and energy lights, this is a type of pollution that ought to be regulated to the same degree as any other, and the current regulations are not enough.

Energy efficiency and pollution control is vitally necessary at the private level as well as a corporate and industrial concern. (from turning down security lighting to accurately putting window coverings into place)

Amy is a freelance journalist writing about blinds for http://www.ecomparison.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Whittingham

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Jul 30

How to Use a Telescope - Galileo’s First Telescope and Its History

Telescopes No Comments »

Galileo Galilee is known as the “father of telescopes” and rightly so.

He is the inventor of the telescope and every telescope made after his invention follows the same principle that he used. Galileo’s telescope was a primitive prototype of the telescopes that are used widely today. However, the principles he used are the very same ones still being used to this day. Galileo’s telescope used two lenses - one concave and one convex - inside a tube-light shaped device. Convex lenses are those lenses whose edges curve inwards and concave lenses are lenses that have outward curves at the edge. The eyepiece in the telescope was constructed with the concave lens. Spy glasses, invented around the same time and used by militants to observe enemy activity in camps, were a major inspiration to Galileo in making his own telescope.

When two lenses are combined together, they are able to collect more light than individual lenses. This is the main principle behind Galileo’s telescope. Most of the telescopes in use today, use the same principle. The human eye also works on a similar principle, but cannot collect too much light. Telescopes are able to gather more light because of the double lenses used in its construction. These lenses gather light and build an image by focusing the light at a point. Refraction is the mechanism in use to form such images. As a result, telescopes are also called refracting telescopes or refractors. The phenomenon by which the collected light bends and forms images is known as refraction.

Images were magnified by a factor of 30 in Galileo’s invention. However, the shape of the lenses he used was such that his image became blurred and distorted. But no one had ever invented something so exciting with which to observe the night skies before Galileo’s telescope. Galileo used his telescope to view the moon and observe it closely. He was also the one to figure out that the magnification factor of a telescope was provided by the ratio of the power of the concave lens to the power of the convex lens. So he premised that the simplest way to increase this magnification factor was to use a high power concave lens with a weaker convex lens.

In Galileo’s time, there were only low strength lenses available. Due to this restriction, Galileo decided to make his own lenses. He was soon able to achieve a magnification of 9x with lenses hat he had ground himself. His telescope was fitted with his own lenses. It was just another feather in his already well-decorated cap.

As time passed, Galileo improvised on his primitive telescope, making several modifications to it. He also demonstrated his invention at the Senate of Venice, and several senators climbed the highest towers of the time to observe the horizon with Galileo’s invention. They viewed the distant ships from their perches and decided that the telescope was a very useful military device.

The telescope changed the face of Astronomy and became an indispensable part of the study. Several inventors used the same principle and made telescopes of their own. Gradually over the years, the study of astronomy benefited immensely from the telescope and its uses. The same principle was employed in the construction of much more powerful telescopes that made it possible to understand our plane and its surroundings more comprehensively, all thanks to Galileo’s wonderful invention.

Discover more about amateurs telescope making as well as insights into astronomy telescopes when you visit http://www.howdotelescopeswork.com, the online resources on how do telescopes work

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_B_Mayall

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Jul 29

How Do Telescopes Work? - Amateur’s Guide to Telescope-Making

Telescopes No Comments »

When Galileo made his telescope, he was far from the expert he became later.

He was just a layman, who found the sky and its stars fascinating and wanted a device that would take him closer to the object of his fascination. It was this desire that led him o devise the first ever telescope that changed the face of history in more ways than we can imagine.

In today’s age, a person is able to buy a telescope, readymade, from the market. But for one who is not experienced, constructing a telescope is akin to an adventure. Although the procedure is complex and technical, and quite long, it is quite possible to make a telescope for oneself, by oneself. For the amateur who holds a keen interest in the telescope and the way it works, constructing it by oneself can be quite adventurous and fulfilling.

The construction itself is not very difficult, and it is made easier if one can enlist the assistance of another person who has himself constructed telescopes earlier. Even someone who is an amateur astronomer would make a good mentor, if it’s no possible to find one experience in telescope construction. Astronomy clubs generally have at least one member who has prior experience of building telescopes, and such people are quite accommodating towards amateurs.

For an amateur, telescope construction can be a cumbersome task. Patience and calm are advisable for a first-timer. The greatest inventions of all time came from blind experiments and unexpected results. When starting out, it is always best to have some references and manuals handy, as they can explain the technical aspects in the clearest ways. A local library is a good source for material to an amateur just starting out in telescope building.

The basic elements of a telescope are the mirror, two lenses, the housing for the whole structure, and materials that will be used for polishing the mirror. These parts can all be bought at local stores or even online. The mirror can be ground at home as well, but is a tiresome process.

The construction of a telescope is a long and drawn out process. Careful planning is required to ensure that there is minimal cleaning up left after all the work is completed. Is advisable to lay out newspapers to ensure clean work as well as to ensure correct placement of all the equipment. Maintain a logbook if possible to keep track of the task completed and the duration of each task. In later stages, the logbook is a good record to refer to understand the tasks completed and how long each task required. Also, it helps one to remember what work has been completed and what remains.

Once the construction is complete, it is quite natural for the amateur to be pleased with himself for the work he has accomplished. It is however, easier to buy a telescope kit from the market instead of purchasing individual component and constructing the whole structure. Assembling a telescope from a kit is easier, takes less time and is a better financial option. Such telescope kits are intended for the amateurs, and not directed at the professionals.

Get free lessons on how to build a telescope as well as professional advice on how to buy a telescope when you visit http://www.howdotelescopeswork.com, the premier portal on how to use telescopes

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Jul 28

Star Gazing

Stars No Comments »

Star gazing is indisputably the oldest scientific hobby on earth.

Prior to invention of the telescope, stargazers required no special apparatus but their own eyes and a clear view of sky to appreciate the splendor of the infinity. For many people, star gazing doesn’t start just as a favorite pursuit. In some, it is a natural response to an inborn desire - to reach out to the stars. In others, star gazing originates from the growing respect they cultivate for the vastness of this universe. Whether you’re catching a glimpse of the star-filled clear skies or peeping into the cosmos through your telescope, you can’t deny the felicity it imparts. As a consequence, star gazing could be a great repose from a busy life. Every one of us would have at least once in our lives gazed at the stars with an exaltation so pure and divine.

Star gazing as a scientific trend, dates back to the ancient philosopher, Plato. His student, Aristotle was the first to start a systematic study of astronomy before 300 B.C, though he wrongly summarized that the earth is the center of the universe and stars move around it. During the long course of the scientific journey, many astronomers later continued their study and synthesized various theories from their observation and primitive star gazing. Star gazing was a major branch of observation and laid the foundation for Astronomy. Man had always worked on theories to understand the bright objects hanging in the skies and their relative position in space. Stars have always fascinated man and in particular the intellectual group of humanity. The boundless nature of the universe is one of the never-ending fascinations of man which allude him to star gazing. Many people recognize that their affection for star gazing remains fresh throughout their life.

A thrilling way to refresh your senses, star gazing could actually be a great learning experience. Star gazing eventually inspires us to accumulate knowledge of heavenly bodies of our limitless cosmos. Many star gazers don’t just stop at star gazing. They continue to learn in great detail the working principles of the universe and its constituents. Thus star gazing promotes scientific learning among its enthusiasts. Star gazing really has an interesting history in the development of science and the scientific method. It was star gazing that brought out the first astounding fact many communities could not digest, that the earth was not the center of the universe. In due course, the scientific method has corrected many fallacies our ancestors had endured.

It was only in the 17th century the grand invention of the Telescope changed the face of star gazing. The Telescope was a scientific milestone which paved way to Modern Astronomy. Through the four centuries that have passed, the telescope as a major tool for scientific research, has tremendously aided astronomers to unravel countless mysteries of the universe surrounding us. Today, the glass telescope has evolved a long way into the radio telescope. Radio Telescopes, though relying on a similar principle of amplification as glass telescopes, can provide sight of celestial bodies millions of light years away. But the glass telescope has not lost its prominence. It continues to serve scientists and amateur astronomers with a continued brilliance as ever. There is always a plenitude of star gazing enthusiasts around the world who direct their telescopes toward glistening worlds of hope that hang in the dimmest chasms of an enigmatic universe. And there are scientists watching out of their laboratory telescopes in hope of discovering another new home for mankind to dwell in. An expression of anticipation, and a burning desire, star gazing will continue to be promoted by many more enthusiasts all over the world.

Worth honorary mention is Plato’s ageless quote relevant to star gazing, “Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another.”

If you’re new to the wonderful world of astronomy, or star gazing, a great outset would be Asynx Planetarium Software.

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