FYI
For Your Information (Extras from Mr. R.)

"Jupiter and Saturn"
[Astronomy Home]
[1-Moon]  [2-Planets]
[3-Eclipses]  [4-Experiments]
[5-Galaxy & Constellations]
[6-Telescopes]  [7-Stars]
[8-Observation]  [9-Careers]
[FYI-For Your Information]

Mr. R.

 
HOW POWERFUL IS THAT TELESCOPE?  One of the most asked questions asked when I set up a telescope is, "How powerful is it?"  As we'll learn, power is not the most important property of a telescope, but what about those telescopes you can buy in department stores that say they go up to 600X and above?   
 
12x   30x   65x   125x   300x   450x   600x   1000x ...
We can calculate the approximate resolution power (usable magnification) of a telescope by multiplying 50 times its diameter (in inches).  For example, most of the telescope in department stores are about 2-inches in diameter.
Using our formula, 50 times 2 = 100 power
Then how come they advertise 600X to 750X in the stores?  The reason is that they include very powerful (but cheaply made) eye pieces that allow the telescope to actually magnify that much--but, everything is out of focus!  Here is an excellent article on usable magnification from Sky Watcher.

 
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR SUN?
A couple billion years from today, our Sun will run out of hydrogen and the star will begin to contract. This contraction will cause energy in the core to blaze even hotter then now. This new energy will force the outer layers away from the core and our Sun will become a Red Giant. Its size will grow about one hundred times it's present size and it will burn 500 times brighter. Our Earth will become a sea of hot, molten lava everywhere. The Sun will then begin to shrink into a white dwarf star.  Learn more at hotliquidmagma.com (click on Our Sun).

 
WHO WERE SOME OF THE EARLY ASTRONOMERS?
Many people paved the way for the astronomers of our age.  What type of people were they?  What type of equipment did they have?  What were some of their discoveries.  You can find out some information at hotliquidmagma.com (click on Early Astronomers).

 
THE NORTH POLE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE NORTH POLE!
The earth isn't perfect--it has a wobble!  When a top spins we can see it vary its spin a little with a wobble.  The earth does the same as it spins on its axis.  It is, however, a very slow wobble.  It take 25,800 some years to occur and is called a "Platonian Year."

The Egyptians built there pyramids to point at their North Star, Thuban, in Draco the dragon.  The star Vega is straight over our heads during summer nights, but someday (not during our lifetime) the star Vega will be the North Star!

This phenomenon is caused by precession.  Learn more about this from Indiana University.  Watch the great animation! 

 
BOOKS I WOULD RECOMMEND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRONOMY.
The book that I learned from is simply called, "The Stars" by H. A. Rey.  The name may sound familier to some.  He is most known for his books about a little monkey and a man in a yellow hat!  The reason I enjoy this book is that it is written on an average man's level.  Mr. Rey erases the old lines from the constellations that you find in most books, and redraws them his new way.  Although no drawing is perfect, this method helps many locate the constellations with greater ease.
Gorgeous photography!  This coffee-table style picture book is a fabulous way to tour the Universe. Ferris takes the reader on a virtual journey. If our planet constitutes less than 0.01% of the mass of our solar system, then I guess that puts me in my place!  Hardcover and softcover versions.  
I've seen it used for $12 - $48 at Half.com

 
WHAT ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION?  ARE YOU READY?
Careers in Space Exploration - CSA
Studies and Careers - CSA
Careers - NASA
Dryden Flight Research Center

[Astronomy Home]  [1-Moon]  [2-Planets]  [3-Eclipses]  [4-Experiments]  [5-Galaxy & Constellations]
[6-Telescopes]  [7-Stars]  [8-Observation]  [9-Careers]
[FYI-For Your Information]
 

Animated graphics by Animation Factory

Webpage updated February 2003
Webmaster, Mr. R.