The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, commonly known as air, that surrounds the planet Earth and is retained by Earth’s gravity. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for liquid water to exist on the Earth’s surface, absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the…
Messier 8, the Lagoon Nebula is a wonderful target for observers and photographers alike. Being one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the eye from mid-northern latitudes, M8 is a wonderful sight to see. Although…
A focal reducer, otherwise known as a telecompressor, is an optical element used to reduce focal length, increase lens speed, and in some instances improve optical transfer function performance. Although the popular applications include photography, videography, and astrophotography, we will be focusing on the…
Gravitational Waves can be defined as disturbances in the curvature of spacetime, generated by accelerated masses, that propagate as waves outward from their source at the speed of light. This means that gravitational waves transport energy as gravitational radiation, which is…
One of the earliest known stars to be recoded, Messier 7, the Ptolemy Cluster is a wonderful bright open cluster to observe. Being the southernmost Messier object in the sky, M7 is very hard to DescriptionVisible…
What are Sun Spots Sun spots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun which appear as dark spots on the surface. These spots are easily identifiable as they are darker than the surrounding…
In orbital mechanics and aerospace engineering, a gravity assist is the use of the relative movement and gravity of a planet or other astronomical object to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft, typically to save propellant and reduce expense. The origins of a gravity assist can trace its origins to the…
Atmospheric science is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere and its various inner-working physical processes. The field of atmospheric science has since been extended to the field of planetary science and the study of the atmospheres of the planets and natural satellites of the solar…
This review of Messier 6, the Butterfly Cluster is to provide details about the observational history, details about how to find it in the sky, what the object could look like in your scope, and…
Here are a bunch of questions that should always be considered for buyers of a new telescope, regardless of the skill level of the astronomer using it. Whether it be your first or third telescope,…