Observing The Solar System Written by Shawn Funk Ever see an unusually bright “star” in the sky and wonder why you might not have noticed it before? Well, you didn’t notice it because it wasn’t there before. Wait. So, stars just appear out of nowhere? No, those aren’t stars. They are the planets in our solar system. The word “planet” is a Greek word which translates to “wandering star,” in reference to the way planets slowly move across the stellar space-scape, sometimes appearing to move in a retrograde (backward) motion (Bennet et. al., 2014). Of the eight planets, five are easily seen with the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,…
Backyard Astronomy: Introduction to the Stars Written by Shawn Funk The introduction of the James Webb Space Telescope earlier this year has no doubt captivated the imaginations of those who have seen its images, but you don’t need a big fancy space telescope to enjoy the rich starscape beyond our planet. Getting into the hobby is very easy and requires minimal start-up costs. Like any hobby, you can spend thousands on astronomy gear, but it doesn’t and shouldn’t be expensive for a newbie. You can start your journey for free by simply looking up at night. Start easy; learn the constellations that are visible in your sky. I recommend buying…
