Steve Bevan's Night Skies

A New Resource for Astronomers

One of the hardest things for astronomers to do is share their knowledge and experience with other like-minded people.  We're all so scattered over the continent.  The advent of the Internet and blogs such as this have gone a long way towards connecting people with an interest in space and astronomy.  Still, you have to look all around the Internet for the information you want. 

I've done something about it.

AstroShorts is my contribution to the community of space and astronomy enthusiasts.  Think "YouTube" for astronomers and you'll be pretty close to the concept envisioned for AstroShorts.  It's free for people to view, share and upload astronomy and space related video.  Unlike other web-based video sites, this one is devoted to just space and astronomy. Now, people will have just one place they can go to find out what's happening in the night sky, what to look for in a telescope, tips on astrophotograpy and so on. If you are an astronomer, consider doing a video and upload it to share with others.

Clear Skies!

The Sun is Spitting Up Again

Picture Credit NASA/ESA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

See that dark area in the lower left of this picture of the sun?  It's called a "Coronal Hole".  A Coronal Hole is a region on the sun which is less dense and cooler than the surrounding area.  It is a source of high speed solar winds.  What's a solar wind?  Well, the sun is putting out more than just light.  It's spitting out a stream of charged particles all the time.  In a few days, sometime around December 5th, the stream of  particles from this region on our Sun will be reaching the vicinity of Earth.  If it reacts with the Earth's magnetic field in just the right way, the end result will be a nice showing of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. 

Spaceweather.com is  a great website that monitors activity on the sun from a number of different sources. The site is compiled and updated by Dr. Tony Phillips, NASA Astronomer and all around great guy.  I visit his site regularly.  Tony takes the rather dry subject of astronomy and in particular, solar physics to a entertaining level.  You should take a look!

Weather (bah) has closed in again on us but we may have clear skies tomorrow night.  I'm hoping that the wind will die down enought to view the emerging winter constellations.  Those of you who enjoy staying up REAL late can see the planet Saturn.  WARNING -the viewing of Saturn through just about any telescope will result in the purchase of thousands of dollars worth of telescope equipment.

That being said...Christmas is coming.