Hello!

We know that these announcement e-mails are bothersome.   You only signed up to receive posts from the Daily Astronomer and not from the Southworth Planetarium's propaganda machine.   So, whenever we do post an announcement, we'll include some astronomy.   In so doing, we hope that these announcement posts won't be entirely in-box flannel.

First:

We have had to postpone tonight's Astronomy Cafe until Monday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m.   Our apologies for the inconvenience.     

Now, then...

NIGHT SKY WATCHER TIPS

New to night sky watching?  Well, yes, we know you've been watching the night sky ever since you were knee high to a nanometer.   However, if you want to turn sky watching into a self-destructive habit, we offer these tips that we hope will render the experience all the more pleasant.

DARKNESS FIRST

We often talk about light pollution in large cities and their adjacent suburbs.  Well, one can also experience light pollution while reclining next to a lamp or a television.   Prior to venturing outside, sit in a dark room for 5 - 10 minutes to allow your pupils time to expand.     

OVER DRESS FOR THE OCCASION

If you're living among curling palms and white sand beaches and all you need to keep  warm is your upper epidermis, this tip might not apply to you.  On the other hand,  if you inhabit one of the mid-latitude shires, then you know the nights are becoming a bit frosty.    If you are watching the night sky either through telescopes or just with the unaided eyes, over dress.  Wear more layers than you think you'll need.   Even though a sky watcher's mind soars unfettered through the unbounded infinite, the body remains planted on terra firma.  You will often have to be stationary to behold the great black beyond.    The Universe becomes dramatically less wondrous if you can't feel your nose and fingertips.       

BRING A FRIEND (OR FRIENDS)

It is true that one can derive profound enjoyment from night sky watching all on one's own...especially in a dark, tree embowered enclave far removed from foolish mortals.  If you are not a spirit of a different sort, you might find it pleasant to be in the company of others while admiring the night sky.    You will find that, unless you're a character in a planetarium show and are thus speaking stilted and forced dialogue, the conversations will naturally flow toward and away from astronomy.     Wonderful thing about the watching the night sky is that the night sky will sometimes become incidental.

CHARTS AND RED LIGHT: ASTRONOMERS DELIGHT

We advise you to bring a star chart with you and a red flashlight.  Or, a regular flashlight with a red gel.   The red light is helpful because it will allow you to study your star chart while not diminishing your dark adaptation.    Red light is the best light to use in astronomy.       If you don't have a red light, you may use a flashlight, but you might be frustrated at how quickly a flash of light can reduce the visibility.

PLANETS AND STARS

How to tell the difference?

Planets don't twinkle.    Stars do.   The technical term for "twinkling" is scintillation.  Stars are pinpoint light sources, but planets are discs.   Scintillation affects pinpoints more than discs because the light on the disc is more concentrated.  

We know that people will also have phone apps that will show them how the sky appears (even under the ground.)   These are very helpful, too, because they will often provide constellation overlays and will identify visible satellites.     Obviously, such applications will enhance the experience, as well.

Even if you lack such assistance, you will find the night sky to be abundant in riches, as it has been for the thousands of generations of humans who preceded us.