Questions tagged [star-gazing]

Questions regarding casually watching the stars.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

How to spot Andromeda in a 130mm telescope?

I have no problem to spot orion nebula, I mean the blue splash caused by the gas on my 130mm reflector telescope but I can’t see the same on Andromeda, what I am missing?
David Bemerguy's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
158 views

How Well Can I See the Surface of Jupiter Using Natgeo 76/700 EQ Telescope?

I have been trying to see surface features on the disk of Jupiter with my Natgeo 76/700 EQ1 but it does not appear to be too clear. So I was wondering: What kind of image I should expect from this ...
Rudra Singh's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
43 views

Which are some little known catalogues whose objects can be observed during the night sky?

We all know about the Messier catalogue. Little know or have heard about the Melotte catalogue. I am in search of those rare catalogues apart from Messier, NGC and IC with objects/sources that aren't ...
Dhruv Nayak's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
106 views

Fixed star-like light appears for a second or two - is there a way to find out what it was?

I saw what I can only describe as a fixed point of light, as bright as a shooting star, near Alpheratz for a second or two before disappearing. I am positive it wasn't a satellite nor a plane. There ...
Erken's user avatar
  • 143
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a webpage that shows the night sky but can filter out dim stars?

This webpage is very good for viewing the night sky and learning the names of the stars Timeanddate - Astronomy However, it shows too many stars. Because I live in the city, I can only see about 50 ...
bobsmith76's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
63 views

Is Adhara a member of binary star system?

During the initial days of Covid pandemic I discovered my interest in astronomy . I found it by gazing at night sky near Sirius that Adhara was undergoing a significant wobbling motion . I thought ...
Shubham Kumar's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Stargazing (Tenerife) - different quality today and yesterday

I'm on the Tenerife island and (in the mountains above the clouds - 2300) the day before yesterday, I could clearly see the Milky Way and stars (1 am). So I went to the same place yesterday and the ...
Milano's user avatar
  • 171
2 votes
1 answer
63 views

Actual meteor sightings formula

I'm trying to realistically approximate the value of meteor sightings during a meteor shower because I don't want to have high expectations going in. I have a couple questions about this formula I ...
C. Wagner's user avatar
  • 163
4 votes
2 answers
165 views

Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2020 viewing times

It's my first time going to see the Quadrantids Meteor Shower, or any meteor shower in fact. I just want to know if I'm getting the right info for viewing this event. I got my info from this site ...
C. Wagner's user avatar
  • 163
1 vote
2 answers
87 views

Binocular highlights from Tasmania next few weeks?

My friends are visiting southern Australia and Tasmania for the next few weeks. I am lobbying them to bring my Nikon 8x42 binoculars so they can appreciate the Milky Way and possibly see a few other ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 31.7k
2 votes
1 answer
307 views

Which database of celestial objects do stargazing apps use?

Stargazing apps such as Star Walk must have a database with a list of celestial objects, their names and details and each of their celestial coordinates. I am interested to know which database these ...
SidS's user avatar
  • 225
14 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is it possible to do moon sighting in advance for 5 years with 100% accuracy? [duplicate]

It is Ramzan and the usual heated disagreements between clerics here in Pakistan as to the sighting of the crescent. This time the minister of Science and Technology (who is not a scientist himself ...
Bibrak's user avatar
  • 249
2 votes
1 answer
90 views

Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing events near Chicago

I'm going to be in Chicago during the weekend of Aug 11th, 2018. Can you suggest any viewing parties that are not too far away? I'm very very amateur. I don't really know too much about astronomy, ...
supun's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
1 answer
268 views

First Telescope SkyWatcher Heritage 5" Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope

I have been star gazing for awhile with a pair of binoculars and now I am ready to step it up a bit and purchase a telescope. I have been looking at the SkyWatcher Heritage 5" Tabletop Dobsonian ...
user3591729's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does Polaris have a trail in the sky timelapse?

I came across few sources that claim Polaris movement cannot be observed with the naked eye. But then, I saw images of the star trails (timelapse), and they clearly show Polaris not quite at the true ...
mhmhsh's user avatar
  • 33
-1 votes
1 answer
154 views

Color changing celestial body near the moon [closed]

While I was star gazing yesterday in the night time I observed a celestial body( probably a star ) flaunting various colors and was residing near the moon from the angle I saw it. It appeared to be ...
Sathvik Swaminathan's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
185 views

Location of the milky way in August in Death Valley

I am going to be in Death Valley around August 8th. I was hoping to take a milky way shot with my camera when there. I would be shooting around 10pm. I am using google maps to scout out popular ...
Scorb's user avatar
  • 215
0 votes
1 answer
90 views

Hazy patch with huge comet tail

Tonight between 4:30 am & 5 am, we were star gazing on a skyscraper. We saw hazy illuminated triangle patch. We took out star app but didn't find any comet passing through that region & I was ...
user123469's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
102 views

Is there any official star gazing location list?

I recall when I was a child (many years ago) my father taking us out to gaze at the starts. I remember being able to see the Milky Way with our naked eyes (North Central New Jersey). Nowadays living ...
edjm's user avatar
  • 111
6 votes
1 answer
314 views

Which stars, identifiable with the naked eye, have exoplanets?

If I look at the night sky, which easily identifiable stars have known exoplanets, and what are the names of those planets? With the recent discovery of so many exoplanets, it is a nice idea to look ...
John Spence's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
438 views

What constellation would the Sun be in from an exoplanet?

Where would it be in the sky from Proxima B (planet near Proxima Centauri) for example?
Nate Brownlee's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
31k views

Can you still see Polaris even if you are in the south pole?

I haven't been to south pole but can the Polaris still be viewed if the viewer is in the south pole? Or this question makes no sense at all?
JanLeeYu's user avatar
  • 171
3 votes
4 answers
301 views

Which Planet/Star is it?

I live in north India. About 24° latitude. I can see a very Bright star in sky. Its towards east and high up. Is it Venus , Jupiter, star or anything else? Its not Sirius. I used Orion belt for that. ...
Anubhav Goel's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
138 views

Identify this 2 axis motorized tripod

I am NOT an astronomy person, so this may be a dumb question, however I have recently found a tripod that appears to be for star tracking as far as I can guess. I would like to know the type of tripod ...
Cory Baumer's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
271 views

First time visit to dark sky stargazing site: what do I need?

Complete newbie here. I have an opportunity to visit one of the few designated dark sky sites here in Pennsylvania, Cherry Springs State Park. I plan on camping out over night, but I have never gone ...
ychirea1's user avatar
  • 143
0 votes
1 answer
87 views

How can I find out which known stars lie within or close to M8

I'm looking for a way to find stars within a certain region of space, the Lagoona Nebula in this case, based on what we currently know. Are there some databases that allow you to make such queries? ...
John's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
1 answer
108 views

Is it possible to use the stars to determine the passage of time?

I'm writing a science fiction short story which involves a group of people being in suspended animation for a very long period of time, on the order of thousands of years. My question is, would an ...
Mark Micallef's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
981 views

Sky view from Stellarium software vs. Sky view with naked eye

I'm slowly starting to interest in astronomy. Currently I'm enjoying in stargazing but unfortunately place where I live is very light polluted. I'm planing my vacation in a couple of months and one of ...
Guiseppe's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
28k views

app to locate star by coordinates

I've named a star and would love to be able to find it in the sky - is there an app I can use to locate stars given a specific coordinate?
AMC's user avatar
  • 111
3 votes
4 answers
6k views

Enhanced Star-Gazing with Special Glasses

I watched a video yesterday on how telescopes not only magnify images but also increase the amount of light entering into your eye, allowing you to see things not normally visible with naked eye. ...
NickF's user avatar
  • 31
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

How can I make Stellarium match the magnitude of stars visible in London, UK?

Can someone recommend some Stellarium settings to mimic the amount of light pollution, and magnitude of stars that should be visible on a clear night in London, UK?
tomh's user avatar
  • 653
3 votes
1 answer
501 views

Can Jupiter's bands be made out using a 15x70 pair of binoculars? [closed]

I have been getting mixed opinions on this. I have a 15x70 Pair of Binoculars. I have tried staring at Jupiter for several minutes with it, I was able to see the Galilean moons, in fact the last time ...
fahadash's user avatar
  • 501
2 votes
3 answers
126 views

Does naked eye miss a lot between local stars and distant milkiness?

When I look at the night sky I seem to resolve points which are local stars and milkiness at further regions of the galaxy. But what is between? I think there must be a lot of stars which are too ...
Bob Terrell's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
89 views

Is the location that published calendars use to calculate the seasons one specific location on the earth?

All the calendars in my house say the fall equinox is Tuesday the 23rd. All the astronomical programs and astronomical sources say it is it is Monday the 22nd in Ohio. Since the time given is 10:29 p....
user2609404's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is there a 'South Star'?

The star Polaris is commonly known as the Northern Star because it always points North. This being said is there a South star that always points south?
Nirvik Baruah's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
505 views

During what time of the year can Centaurus be seen from Tokyo?

During exactly what dates of the year can the Centaurus constellation be seen from Tokyo, Japan? And what is the ideal date for viewing it from Tokyo? I found on a website that it can been seen May-...
seijitsu's user avatar
  • 403
16 votes
3 answers
2k views

Aren't there more naked-eye-visible stars in the Milky Way plane?

Most stars which are visible to the naked eye are within 1,000 light years. The Sun is inside the Orion arm which has a diameter of about 3,500 light years. Thus, all stars (with very few exceptions) ...
LocalFluff's user avatar
  • 11.3k
2 votes
1 answer
726 views

What did I see streaking across the sky last night?

I was enjoying a casual naked eye view of the summer sky last night around midnight in a new jersey beach town. The sky was pretty clear for around here.The Milkyway was just visible and there was no ...
Itumac's user avatar
  • 285
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

How to use a telescope to find a specific celestial body?

I am a beginner interested in astronomy. I bought a Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescope. It's a Newtonian Reflector and it's not computerised. I did manage to see the Moon in some magnifications but ...
kkmonlee's user avatar
  • 133
4 votes
3 answers
890 views

Are there standard algorithms and procedures for creating unique sky maps based on latitude/longitude/date/time?

I am trying to build an astronomy app that will use the user's latitude and longitude, along with the current date and time, to create a 3D view of the celestial sphere as seen based on that data. ...
John's user avatar
  • 41
18 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why do the Pleiades look clearer when viewed indirectly?

I've noticed that the Pleiades look bright in the sky, but when I look directly at the constellation, it suddenly goes dim and it's more difficult to make out the individual stars. Why does this ...
brentonstrine's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
4k views

What qualifies as a good place for stargazing, i.e. with least light pollution?

I know that minimal light pollution is a must for stargazing, and a place which is away from civilization is better. Does altitude of a place matter for light pollution? Does it affect the quality ...
udiboy1209's user avatar