Local astronomer Paul Bullock built his own telescope, with the help of his father, during his high school days and has been practising the hobby on and off for years. The Recorder and Times met up with the retired teacher to learn about his favourite pastime, what's in the night sky and also to catch a look through his telescope. Read more
One of the rewards of regularly seeking out vantage points to catch the moon at its best is the certainty of knowing where such cosmic happenings occur. Nothing is more predictable than watching the full moon change hue from peach to silver as it arches above Blackcomb Mountain as viewed from Rick's Roost in Whistler's Alpine Meadows neighbourhood. Named for the late local photographer, Rick Flebbe, this was his lookout of choice when shooting images for post cards. A bench now graces the spot, but moss-covered granite slabs and boulders suit just as admirably. The surfaces of Green and Alta lakes twinkle below as rosy alpenglow lingers on the faces of both Blackcomb and Whistler mountains and the full roster of Hibachi Range peaks. Read more
Alaska's evening gem -- a darkened canopy of glistening twilight -- is ours for the viewing. Here in the northern latitudes, we feel closer to the skies and their magic. Stargazing can be an outdoor lover's dream in this part of the world. Each night, we sleep under a perpetually spinning planetarium, a sky dome where the sun, moon and planets travel among the stars in seasonal, predictable fashion. Today's winter solstice celebrated a total lunar eclipse Monday night, the first to coincide in the calendar year since 1638. Read more
Lying on his back in Callahan State Park, Dan Seeley looked into the night sky as he's done most his life. He saw the bright star Vega just 25 light years away and pointed a green laser light farther east at Deneb, a distant star that forms, along with Altair, the celestial landmark named the Summer Triangle. Gazing skyward, the Holliston astronomer, physicist and science teacher could see Jupiter glowing faintly and, off to one side, brighter red and yellowish lights from Rte. 9. Read more
As the sun sets over the Atacama Desert in Chile each reliably cloudless night, dazzling ruby red and garnet hues paint the volcanic Andes Mountain peaks in the eastern skyline, deepening almost imperceptibly until they are indistinguishable from black. That would be the grand finale at many resort areas. But here, it is merely the opening act. Read more
Catch them young is the latest mantra adopted by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to provide hands-on experience to aspiring young space scientists in the highly sophisticated field of space research. Fresh from successfully launching India's first pico-satellite StudSat (student satellite), built by a group of 40 young engineering students from Bangalore and Hyderabad recently, ISRO is now nurturing and guiding a group of highly motivated youngsters. Read more
Stargazers turn to Internet to explore the universe
Reticulum, Auriga, Camelopardalis, Monoceros and Crux. These are not exotic foods or new species. They are five constellations among hundreds scattered throughout the universe. If you are curious about them, the Langit Selatan and Jakarta Amateur Astronomers Association (HAAJ) astronomy clubs have the answers Read more
Time to take up Stargazing There are few activities as peaceful as taking a walk on a winter night, one of those nights where the air is crisp, the snow crunches under your boots, and your breath comes out in smoky swirls. The vast expanse of stars is breathtaking, and you cannot help but feel a connection to the universe around you. Why not share that sense of wonder with your family by planning some stargazing evenings? You will look smart, spend little or no money, and keep everyone quiet and awed, at least for a little while. Does it get any better than that?