Polaris

[SkyTeCh05]

Hi I am 13 and just started putting my interest into astrophysics or what ever you call them scientist who studie space with all types of telecopes (that would be me if I know the name...). I just got a nice telescope its a 127 EQ Celestron Power Seeker. Its a reflector and some kind of light and energy asorber. What I mean is that my telescope is pretty powerful for $450 and especially for my age. I never been in a forum so my word usage on the internet is bad sorry. Now my question is, how do I find polaris in the sky with my naked eye in real life? I live in Queen Creek, Arizona and I see this pot like shape but the handle is bent upwards.

 

Once I find the big dipper I am suppose to go north. The moon constantly comes out at 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM (UTC time zone; Coordinated Universal Time). I don't even know what the big dipper nor little dipper would look like in the night sky-(real life...). Is there a way I can use the moon to track the big dipper down?

 

 

[StringJunky]

Have a look at this: http://www.themcdonalds.net/richard/index.php?title=Finding_Polaris,_the_North_Star

Edited April 18, 2014 by StringJunky

[SkyTeCh05]

StringJunky, I can't view this site is their another site I can look at?

I also had a pretty good view on the moon last night, but thats because I had to collimnate the telescope main mirror. Does anyone have any experients that involved mars and other planets that you seen really well (with a telescope)?

[Acme]

...Once I find the big dipper I am suppose to go north. The moon constantly comes out at 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM (UTC time zone; Coordinated Universal Time). I don't even know what the big dipper nor little dipper would look like in the night sky-(real life...). Is there a way I can use the moon to track the big dipper down?

Congratulations on the new telescope.

 

The Moon rises 50 minutes later each day so it won't help you locate the stars. Once you have found the Big Dipper, look to the 2 stars that make up the side of the 'pot' opposite the handle. (These stars are named Dubhe & Merak on the map below.) Now imagine a line through them like connect-a-dot and follow that line toward the North. The brightest star your line runs into is Polaris, the North Star. Polaris is the end star in the handle of the Little Dipper. Here's a couple sky maps to help out.

 

Big Dipper (also called Ursa Major; Bigger Bear in Latin)

source: >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_dipper

 

Polaris & Little Dipper (little Dipper also called Ursa Minor; Smaller Bear in Latin)

source: >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursa_Minor

Edited April 18, 2014 by Acme

[SkyTeCh05]

Hmm... the second image of the little dipper is what I see in the sky except that the handle has three points and I can not track down the last point of the handle, as if the last point of the handle doesn't exist or maybe clouds covers the point every time. Polaris in Arizona is hard to find if I can't find it.

[Acme]

Hmm... the second image of the little dipper is what I see in the sky except that the handle has three points and I can not track down the last point of the handle, as if the last point of the handle doesn't exist or maybe clouds covers the point every time. Polaris in Arizona is hard to find if I can't find it.

Polaris will be the brightest of all the Little Dipper stars and the only one that holds its position as the hours pass. Keep looking up and you'll get the hang of it. Here's a full sky star map for Winter in Northern Hemisphere to help you get oriented.

 

source: >> http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/maps.html

[BearOfNH]

The distance from Merak to Dubhe is one-fifth the distance from Merak to Polaris. Even in Arizona it's not that hard...unless you are in the greater Phoenix or Tucson area, in which case the light pollution is a bitch.

[SkyTeCh05]

I am also looking for mercury, but it want shine in the night sky? it has to because of the sun light and even in the dark the sun is still shooting the light at the moon to light it up and reflect on Earth.

I will also try to look for polaris again, but I think I should get some stronger eye pieces and filters for the telescope since the eye pieces are horrible, and yes, my telesope needs a filter for some reasons that can be dangerous especially in the day time just in case you guys were to ask why. Mercury I have been looking for since I am conducting an experiment. Then when I am done I probably should analize the experiment.

[Acme]

I am also looking for mercury, but it want shine in the night sky? it has to because of the sun light and even in the dark the sun is still shooting the light at the moon to light it up and reflect on Earth.

 

...

Mercury is ever only observable just after Sunset or just before Sunrise and always very low to the horizon. It is not visible this month at all because it is too close to the Sun from an Earth perspective.

 

Here's a site telling you what is visible, when it is visible, and where. >> http://www.nightskyinfo.com/

Edited April 18, 2014 by Acme

[SkyTeCh05]

Acme, can you name all the constellations that Earth and other planets are in?

I use TheSkyX First Light Edition, its a star chart but not all that good, but is there better skay or star maps I can get that are more powerful and accurate?

Today is friday so i have so many questions to aks here yet there are mean people here also, I must limit the questions I ask. It wouldn't be healthy to ask 25 questions in one topic is it? I will also be out back tonight to watch the awesome sky, and hope I can get a nice view of the moon again and possibly try finding polaris. I do have eye problems mainly in my right eye, so that could be why I can't see polaris, but I am not blind. I am like 99% not blind.

Edited April 18, 2014 by SkyTeCh05

[Acme]

Acme, can you name all the constellations that Earth and other planets are in?

 

I use TheSkyX First Light Edition, its a star chart but not all that good, but is there better skay or star maps I can get that are more powerful and accurate?

Earth is not in a constellation and the planets move through all constellations of the Zodiac except Trollae, and all planets go around that constellation.

[StringJunky]

I've turned my previous link into a pdf for you to download.

 

Finding Polaris, the North Star - McWiki.pdf

[SkyTeCh05]

Hm... okay. Is it good for me to look at the sun with my telescope or do I really need a filter to filter out the heat? When I look at the moon I feel the heat coming through the telescope and it hurts my eyes a bit. I think this telescope is taking in too much of the light and energy and heat.

Nice thanks StringJunky.

I forgot to say why I want to find polaris so badly. I am actually trying to align my telescope to the north celestial pole but I don't understand the terrestial and celstial viewing and how it all works to find things in the sky. But I am trying to use polaris to locat the planets but I first have to use polaris to align my telescope to find the things I need to find anyway. Thanks StringJunky, I read the pdf and now I remeber in the first place why I needed to find polaris and the two dippers.

Earth is not in a constellation and the planets move through all constellations of the Zodiac except Trollae, and all planets go around that constellation.

 

Hm... that is really interesting. So what your saying is that the planets go around the sun but they don't stay in any constellation at all because they can't stop moving?

[StringJunky]

You need to know lots to get started but here's a bit about filters: http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/howdifferentfilterscanbetteryourviewarticle.cfm

[SkyTeCh05]

StringJunky, do you mean lots like "a lot" or a lot of information?

[Acme]

...

 

Earth is not in a constellation and the planets move through all constellations of the Zodiac ....

Hm... that is really interesting. So what your saying is that the planets go around the sun but they don't stay in any constellation at all because they can't stop moving?

 

Correct. The Zodiac refers to the ancient division of the skies into 12 parts and each part is associated with a constellation.

 

In both astrology and historical astronomy, the zodiac (Greek: ζῳδιακός, zōidiakos) is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac

 

Note I bolded the word ecliptic. This is the line -more a band- along which all the planets, the Sun, and the Moon move along as seen from Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere the ecliptic band is always to the South; sometimes high, sometimes lower depending on the season. All Zodiac constellations lie along the ecliptic and as the planets circle the Sun in their orbits they move along the ecliptic (as viewed from Earth) and they pass through the different zodiac constellations.

 

Don't worry about how much there is to learn. Start slow by just getting out and looking up. When you see something you wonder about make a note of when and where you saw it and then you can later go & research what it is. Next time you see it you get more familiar and so on. As you have already found out, Polaris is an important place to start. Get it down pat and then move on from there.

Edited April 19, 2014 by Acme

[StringJunky]

Your altitude setting wants to be the same as your location latitude which is 33.26 degrees. You then just need to find true north.

[SkyTeCh05]

Okay.

Thanks for the help guys, I really needed the help.

There is one more question. Do any of you believe in the Big Bang Theory? I am just neutral on that theory.

[Acme]

Okay.

 

Thanks for the help guys, I really needed the help.

 

There is one more question. Do any of you believe in the Big Bang Theory? I am just neutral on that theory.

You're welcome. As to the big bang, take that up in the appropriate threads.

[SkyTeCh05]

Ok thanks.

[SkyTeCh05]

Well I just found a pot shape and some of the handle, but the handle is bent down alinging with the botom right star of the pot. and is 3 stars. I see a bright star within the pot.

I still can't believe there is even a little dipper or a big dipper.

[Acme]

Well I just found a pot shape and some of the handle, but the handle is bent down alinging with the botom right star of the pot. and is 3 stars. I see a bright star within the pot.

 

I still can't believe there is even a little dipper or a big dipper.

Belief has nothing to do with Polaris or the identification of the constellations.

 

Here is a site dedicated to astronomy for children. >> http://www.kidsastronomy.com/astroskymap/constellation_hunt.htm

[K Sky]

Hm... okay. Is it good for me to look at the sun with my telescope or do I really need a filter to filter out the heat? When I look at the moon I feel the heat coming through the telescope and it hurts my eyes a bit. I think this telescope is taking in too much of the light and energy and heat.

 

Hey SkyteCh05,

 

Enthusiasm aside, you need to take whatever cautionary steps astronomers take when viewing the sun. If filters are the course, stay it. If you want to see the sun unfiltered, your eyes will pay with solar retinopathy's condition. Look it up; it is no joke. I am sure you will. The radiation will freckle your retina, and as it happens so rarely there is no relative lasik research to speak of. This means time is the only cure, in which if a case renders itself severe enough, even a lifetime may not set you straight. Be extraordinarily careful; the sun's view is not painful, but it will cause you pain.

 

Sincerely,

K Sky

[SkyTeCh05]

Acme, do you mind finding a teen site for astronomy. I am just kidding.