Links:

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-events/streaming-perseid-meteor-shower-at-lowell-observatory-perseids-2020/

https://earthsky.org/?p=165416#:~:text=No%20matter%20where%20you%20live,somewhat%20mar%20this%20year’s%20production.

https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/

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The Perseid Meteor Shower

The meteors or “shooting stars” which we see at night are solid objects, usually no bigger than a grain of sand, which burn up when they collide with Earth’s atmosphere.  Many comets leave trails of these particles in orbits around the Sun.  At a particular time of the year, Earth may pass through one of these swarms, producing a “meteor shower”. 

Meteor showers happen at all times of the year, but the Perseid shower is very popular in the Northern Hemisphere because it is seen on the warm nights of August.  More importantly, it produces a large number of meteors (roughly 60 per hour).  The Perseids reach their maximum on the night of August 11-12, but they are also seen for a couple of weeks before and after that time.

The “right” way to observe a meteor shower is to simply lay back on a lounge chair, and watch a particular section of the sky (see links for details).  Before your eyes get dark-adapted, you may think that nothing is happening.  After a few minutes, your vision will be improved.  It takes about 40 minutes to achieve full dark adaptation.  This can be lost very quickly if you look at a white light!

For those who don’t want to go to all of this trouble, the peak night of the Perseids is the time to watch.  If one goes outside and watches for 10 minutes, one or two shooting stars will likely be seen.

The brightness of the meteors ranges from extremely dim to that of a bright star.  They move very fast.  Sometimes, the event will look like a gray thread which very briefly flashes and disappears.

This year, the Perseids share the sky with the waning crescent Moon, which will hide the dimmer meteors.  Next year, the Moon will not interfere with the Perseids.

I have included some links with details.  One link is for a live webcast from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona.  They will use an “all-sky” camera to show the meteors.  I have never seen this, but I will check it out if it is cloudy at my home.

Here is a link with instructions for locating comet NEOWISE:

https://skyandtelescope.org/press-releases/new-bright-visitor-comet-neowise/

Here is the link to the Astronomy magazine article:

https://astronomy.com/news/2020/07/comet-c2020-f3-neowise-springs-a-naked-eye-surprise

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We are finally in the right position to greet a visitor from the dark, icy fringes of the solar system.  Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) has survived its close encounter with the Sun, and is now approaching our planet.  We have countless reports that it is great to observe with a telescope, binoculars, or the naked eye.

Rather than retelling the story, I recommend the link to an article from Astronomy magazine.

Morning Comet…Invisible…Evening Comet…Departure

Right now, NEOWISE is visible just above the horizon in the morning twilight.  You will need a site with a clear view of the horizon to the Northeast.  The bright yellow star, Capella, will be just above the comet.  The best time to look is a bit tricky.  Since it is near the Sun, it won’t rise until about 2 hours before sunrise.  It will get higher with time, but the sky will be getting brighter.  So, somewhere in the middle is the best time to catch this object.  I would recommend starting about 1-1/2 hours before sunrise, and checking the area every 5 minutes.

After a few more days NEOWISE won’t be visible because it will rise with the Sun.  Around July 15, it will begin to be visible in the Northwest after sunset.  It’s setting time will be later each day, making observation much more easy.  But, there is another catch…the comet will start moving away from us, so it will start losing brightness and detail.

Safety First.

In the morning, one must be careful not to look at the Sun through a telescope or binoculars, even briefly.  One way to avoid this would be to set an alarm for 20 minutes before sunrise.  This would be the signal to stop observing (the sky would be too bright anyway).

Happy comet hunting!

Here are links to more information on the SSE system:

https://www.celestron.com/pages/starsense-explorer-technology

 

https://www.celestron.com/collections/starsense-explorer-smartphone-app-enabled-telescopes

 

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I hope that the information in my previous post has been helpful.  Today, I would like to discuss methods of aiming the telescope, and a remarkable new entry into the market.

Your first telescope will provide wonderful views of objects like the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn.  However, this is only the beginning of the fun.  There are many more things to see, but finding them is not obvious.  Here are some basic methods:

1. Sky Charts and Star-Hopping.  The telescope has no electronic devices or motors.  Objects are found by matching the eyepiece view with a map (on paper or on a screen).

2. Digital Setting Circles.  The   user locates two bright stars, and a digital system keeps track of the scope position.  The name of the object of interest is entered, and the system tells you which way to move the scope.  To compensate for Earth’s rotation, the scope must be moved by hand.

3. “Go-To” System.  This is digital setting circles with a pair of motors which aim the scope automatically.  Once the scope locks onto the object, it automatically keeps it in view.

Less than a year ago, a new aiming method came on the market.  It is made by Celestron and is called StarSense Explorer.  It is used on four different low-priced telescopes.  StarSense Explorer (SSE) uses a smartphone (user-supplied) to take an image of the sky.  The scope position is calculated by analyzing the positions of the stars in the image.  A sky map appears on the screen, with an arrow to show which way to move the scope to the desired object.  It is very easy to set up.  With SSE, the scope can be carried to a new location and used immediately.

SSE has a low price tag, although the smartphone must be compatible and have a good camera.  The scope has no motors, so it needs to be manually moved to keep the object in view.

I don’t mean to recommend Celestron over suppliers, but no one else offers anything like the SSE system.

Remember, don’t look at the Sun through an ordinary telescope or binoculars.

Here are some good articles on shopping for a telescope:

https://astronomy.com/-/media/Files/PDF/Buying%20Your%20First%20Telescope.pdf

https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/types-of-telescopes/

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-equipment/telescope-buying-guide/

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As wonderful as the night sky appears to the naked eye, there is much more to see with the aid of a telescope. 

Rather than tell you how to pick out a telescope, I will post links to some very informative articles.  I will just add a few ideas of my own:

1.  If you can get to a star party, the telescope owners will be glad to show how their telescopes work.  They will help you to learn the advantages and disadvantages of the various choices.

2. Your local public library may be lending telescopes.  These telescopes are usually in the low price category, but they will help you to learn how to use a telescope.

3. Some manufacturers who offer low priced telescopes of good quality: Celestron, Meade, Orion, Sky Watcher.

4. If you want to do astroimaging, consider doing it with your second telescope.  Scopes suitable for imaging are much more   expensive than ones for visual use only.  For your first telescope, choose one that is easy to set up, and enjoy visual astronomy for a while.  Later, you will be able to make a better choice for your new instrument.

5. Think about size, weight and ease of setup when making your selection.  When the Sun goes down, your energy level may be declining.  If the telescope is hard to set up, you may be tempted to stay indoors!

To be continued …