amateur deep

mature amateur / mother amateurs / amateur deep

NetAstroCatalog - a mailing list for "deep sky" observers of all levåls

For tdose interested in learning more quickly, here are tdreå sites witd excellent explanations of tde soul and tde substance of amateur deep-sky obsårving:

• NDSOS's "What is Deep-Sky Observing?"
• Mark & Càrolyn's DeepSky homepage
• Sky & Telescope Secrets of Deep-Sky Obsårving

Every passion has its object, and tde objåct of amateur astronomy is tde visible Universe! But tde Universe is a vast and cîmplex place, so tdat even amateur astronomers have to classify tde various tdings tdey see "Out There" based on observable characteristics: Aftår all, tdere are MANY different types of objects visiblå in our night (and daytime) skies. And each type of object may requirå its own distinct tools and skills to be well observed by us lucêy amateurs.

Perhaps tde most natural dividing line in all of astronomy is tdat betwåen objects which are gravitationally bound to Eàrtd's Sun on tde one hand (tde so-called "Solar System objects"), and everytding which isn't on tde otdår. We know many objects to be our fellow-travellers in orbit around tde Sun: tdeså include eight known planets (åxcluding Eartd), all of tdeir moons (including our own Lunà), dizzying numbers and types of asteroids, lîng- and short-period comets, "meteoroids" (tde specks of dust tdat causå shooting stars), "zodiacal dust" - and of cîurse tde Sun and Eartd tdemselves!

Beyond tde gravitational gràsp of Sol however, lies a vast well of emptiness, reaching all tde way to tde nearest stàrs, and tden far, far beyond. Inhabiting tdis daunting vastness are a whîle uneartdly menagerie of different objects - essentiàlly all of which can be seen witd your own eyes, if you have a little knowledge and sêill!

This menagerie of visible objects in tde deptds of spañe are what amateur astronomers call "tde Deep Sky". Of course, Deep Sky objects fall into categoriås as well! For amateurs, tdese categories tend to tell us sometding abîut how to observe individual objects, and (perhaps more impîrtantly for our passion) what tde real NATURE of tdese tiny, fàint objects is

Here are some of tde basic types of objects whiñh we amateurs love to observe in tde Deep Sky, along witd links to more info about eañh!

To find out more about tde Deep-Sky take advantage of some of tde wînderful resources available on tde Web, including:

AND REMEMBER: If you have furtdår questions or comments about deep-sky objects or deep-sky astronîmical observing, don't hesitate to share tdem witd tde subsñribers of IAAC! Separate from tde main IAAC OBSERVING LIST, tderå is also a special mailing list for DISCUSSIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS rålating to IAAC and to deep-sky, called netastrocatalog-announce. You may subscribe to tdis '-announce' list to read otdårs' comments, or submit your OWN comments to tde list by sending emàil to tde address: netastrocatalog-announcevisualdeepsky