OAGARRAF

tars and time–empires have been carved in search of these elements. Civilizations have risen, fallen and been reborn. Fables have been created, passed through generations, defying disbelief. Philosophy, religion and wonder have all been formed. And the world has forever been seeking ways to define what waits beyond. Astronomy was the favored science before it even had a name.

But such a science was not always so precise (not like it is now). Novas confused; planets were mistaken as myths; and there was the certainty that Earth truly was the great center of everything. The desire for answers was limited by misconceptions.

That all changed, however, with the much needed invention of the telescope.

In 1608 Hans Lippershey was a lens-crafter, working tirelessly within the German city of Middleburg. His days were devoted to glass and careful magnification, studying the abilities of the eye, deciphering how an iris could be manipulated (and subsequently improved). And it was through these improvements that he discovered an all too vital truth: the stars could not be seen by determination alone. Their subtleties were all too blurred. But his lenses, when coupled correctly, could increase sight and perception; which would allow all secrets to then be learned.

So the telescope was created.

And it began a small revolution. Lippershey quickly requested a patent for his idea, offering it to the world as an invention without equal. News of this spread across countries, drawing interest (and envy) from others. And soon the telescope was being reimagined, its design pulled apart and then bolted back together. It was improved; it was changed; it was made into a more modern machine.

And the sky seemed suddenly not so far away.

Astronomy has existed since humans could marvel at the moon; but it was simply a science defined to awe and riddles. It was a question without understanding. Through Lippershey and his peers, however, it became an obtainable answer. The telescope made it real.

It begins with a glance. You look up (Because you must. Because you’re compelled to) and see the worlds that are poised beyond you. There are other stars, other suns, other universes. You want to conquer them all. But, of course, you can’t. You’re limited instead to the answers of your telescope, the texts you so devotedly read. You learn all you can; you observe all you find; and your gaze never falls. It is forever staring beyond.

You are not the first to follow this pattern. And you certainly won’t be the last.

The sky has forever held a fascination for humankind, with civilizations charting its every eclipse and new dawn. And, through this fascination, a study of galaxies has been formed: it is called Astronomy.

Simply defined, Astronomy is the examination of all celestial bodies and occurrences formed beyond Earth. It is dubbed a natural science (far different than the criticisms of the formal sciences or the philosophic humanities). Through it elements of mathematics and religion are combined–allowing the history of the world to be charted by the discoveries found beyond it.

It is not, as some may assume, a collection of assumptions and mysticism. Stars are not shaped into mere stories. They are instead noted, explored and understood. And their patterns have become the foundations of such elements as navigation, time and physics. Through the careful observation of constellations (and all the planets they circle), the world has been offered far more than myths. It has instead received an understanding of creation. The universe is learned.

There are some who would malign this claim, however. They confuse Astronomy to lesser practices (the harmless thrills of Astrology or the premature discoveries made by amateurs). It is instead, though, the oldest science in the world–with origins predating even the empires of Babylon and Assyria–and the most vital. It explains Earth and its place among the galaxies. There is no other methodology that can challenge that.

And there is no methodology that could even try.

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It’s another midnight, another sprawl of sky and stars; the twisting trails of constellations and lunar cycles. You recognize the patterns. You’ve learned them all, have devoted your evenings to memorizing every shape, every aspect. The distance is well charted and well known. And this is why you immediately understand that something has… changed. Your universe is not as it was the day before. It has instead yielded a prize.

And you’re the one who found it.

There is one truth in Astronomy that can never be denied: its discoveries are without prejudice. Men may struggle for years, hunched behind the rattle of their equipment, charting out all possibilities. And yet their theorems will offer no realities and their efforts will only bring frustration. They will give month after month of their lives, only to receive nothing in return. Their sacrifice will be in vain. And you–a hobbyist, spending your idle hours on a hill–will suddenly discover what others have been seeking.

And it was all simply by staring in the right direction at the right time.

Unlike the harder sciences (which can only by followed by those versed in their principles, in obscure mathematics and formulas), Astronomy is accessible to all. It can be understood by any who wish to learn it and requires little more than patience and a telescope. And, through this, amateur exploration is possible–and is often accomplished. Revelations can be made by luck and simple curiosity.

And such a notion distinguishes Astronomy from its sister-sciences. This is not a field dominated to impossible codes and technological intrigue. It is instead a field that allows any to participate. There is no limit to the sky and there is therefore no limit to the ones who can view it.

And this allows vital discoveries to be made by simple good fortune. All have the chance to achieve greatness. All have the opportunity to leave their mark on the world.

Astronomy offers equality and the far more important hope.

Astronomy is the exploration (and eventual discovery) of the universe. This is a truth well known among even the most casual of hobbyists. The purpose of science is progress; and the purpose of galaxies is to be understood.

But what may not be understood, however, is that Astronomy is not a singular process. Its rules are not kept to just one idea, one study. It is instead divided into countless fields–each a mastery of their own tiny corner of the stars. There is simply too much beyond this world to gather as one piece. The elements must instead be broken apart and examined individually.

And the two most prevalent examinations are Theoretical and Observational Astronomy.

Theoretical: as the name implies, Theoretical Astronomy is a collection of possibilities. Unlike most sciences–which offer constant proof and consistent answers–this is a realm composed of few facts and more assumptions. Due to the limitations of man (unable yet to reach the far recesses of planets and constellations), Theoretical Astronomy relies of simulations, calculations and good sense. The sky is studied and then predicated through software and computer programs; which comprise the majority of this work. The intention is the future.

Observational: acting as a perfect counter to theories is Observational Astronomy. Through this current patterns and celestial systems are tracked. All data is collected and used to understand the universe as it is at that moment (rather than what it will be). Utilizing telescopes and radio waves, scientists can learn of any irregularities and their effects on Earth, as well as seeking out new possibilities. Unlike the more imaginative Theoretical, this is a field devoted to what is known; not what may be one day be seen. It strives to prove, not simply postulate.

It must be noted, however, that both of these fields play a vital role in understanding the universe. They rely on each other to create progress and discover truth. Neither is more important and both must be used.

Since the beginning of time astronomy and space have intrigued mankind. The number of almanacs, books and guides published is an indication of the popularity of this field of study. There are even giant observatories all over the globe dedicated to star watching. Observatories can be equipped with a high powered telescope or smaller, less advanced equipment depending on location. One high tech observatory if NASA Kepler space telescope.

This vast reaches of space still continue to surprise us with their unfolding mysteries. Each year some new discovery is revealed as satellites find never before known bodies.

The discovery early in 2010 of five exoplanets was a major breakthrough in space exploration. These exoplanets are the first finds from NASA’s program to locate planets outside the Earth’s solar system. They were discovered using NASA’s Kepler space telescope which was designed for that very purpose.

In March 2009, the Kepler space telescope, a spacecraft was launched to identify other planets similar to earth that were orbiting around suns in other galaxies. The planets that have been discovered to date by the Kepler’s space telescope have been classified as giant planets. This means that they are bigger than or equal in size to Jupiter. Jupiter is 141700 km or 88,000 miles at its diameter. This makes its diameter 11 times bigger than that of the Earth. In fact, Jupiter’s mass is over 300 times more than the earth.

It is expected that over time smaller planets further away will be discovered. The major differences between the Kepler and Hubble space telescope are:

•Kepler focuses on one starfield for extended periods unlike the Hubble. In fact, 150,000 stars were selected to be the focus of Kepler. These stars are monitored continuously and simultaneously.
•Kepler’s space telescope field of view is much larger than the Hubble ever was.

It is expected that astronomy lovers will find much to amaze them in the coming years.

Many events in the sky are missed under the light shroud in urban areas. If you live in a city, as most people do, only the brightest of stars and planets are visible and it is almost impossible to make out the expanse of the Milky Way. Even most of the streaks from meteor showers are invisible. One of the most engaging parts of astronomy, these events leave watchers staring in wonder as particles burn up in the upper atmosphere.

The objects that enter the atmosphere during a meteor shower are usually no larger than sand grains. Their high speed and relatively high temperatures of the atmosphere cause them to burn up from the intense friction. The resulting flash, though small, is bright enough to be seen from the ground. Some meteors are faint, and flash so quickly that you’ll blink if you miss them. Others can be very bright and last for a few seconds, or if a rock-sized object comes in, can last for longer and even leave a dust trail.

The occurrence of small meteors concentrates around the time of well-documented meteor showers such as the Perseids in the middle of August. This tends to be a consistent event from year to year and also is one of the most active ones of the year. The meteors tend to radiate from around the constellation Perseus in the northeast sky and there could be up to 80 per hour, or even more in active years.

The Quandrantids in January are quite vivid, and concentrate near the constellation Bootes as well as the Big Dipper. Other well known events include the Leonids, which occur in November and peak in cycles of 33 years, as well as the Gemenids, during the month of December. They feature a mixture of colors and are considered to be one of the more reliable of meteor showers.

The Sun is millions of miles away, the Milky Way galaxy is 100,000 light years across, and the nearest galaxy is over 2½ million light years from us. As powerful telescopes scan the sky, objects farther and farther away are seen, and things that are billions and billions of light years away are still being discovered and give us an idea of how big and how old the universe is.

An explosion, detected by satellite in 2009, was found to be coming from gamma rays calculated to be 13 billion light years away. The redshift, a measurement used to calculate the distance and speed of objects that are really far away, was the highest ever measured for any space object. The explosion was then measured by telescopes in Hawaii as well as in the United Kingdom and Japan.

The estimate also means that the star exploded when the universe was just a few hundred million years old. That seems like an old universe, but considering that it’s widely accepted that it is over 13 billion years old, that’s relatively young. Star explosions give a sudden opportunity to measure things that ordinarily may be missed or haven’t been seen yet. Such discoveries give more insight into the universe overall every time they happen.

As these discoveries are made, we get closer to knowing how old the universe is as well as what its real size is. Events such as a Gamma ray burst occur sporadically, so sometimes there is the opportunity that allows us to see even more into the past. As new telescopes are built, the ability to see farther out gets greater. With so many unknowns in the universe, there could be more bursts like that which have yet to be detected, or their light has not gotten anywhere near the Earth to see.

Like all objects in space, the Moon has gravity. Many people wonder at the fact that a distant sphere in the sky can affect things on the land they live on. It does, especially if you live near the ocean. Twice a day, the water reaches high levels and drops to minimum ones, mostly leaving people to watch and see where the water is, where it is going, and where it has been based on the texture of the sand.

The pull of the Moon’s gravity affects the oceans on a regular and predicable basis. The tides change times regularly each day as well, as they occur about 50 minutes later from one day to the next for the most part. Twice a month, when the Moon is full, and when it is dark during a New Moon, the tide is exceptionally high and lower than usual. Sometimes this exposes different parts of the sea floor and beach goers can find interesting shells and sea life that they don’t ordinarily see.

Aside from being the subject of interest from travelers and people relaxing on the beach, the tide can affect thing such as shipping, as shallower water in shipping lanes can be a hazard to large cargo ships, freighters, and tankers. In some places, boat captains must be aware of the tide schedule so they can safely time their entry and exit into harbors.

The tide can also affect fishing. The water depth can be a factor for some fish, but when the tide creates currents, the flow of the water can determine where the best places to fish are, and what kinds of fish are easier to catch.

Tidal flow can even affect how pollution moves through the water. When input into computer models, tide data can help predict how pollutants might advance and what areas they might or might not affect.