Astronomy

[lcfc1994]

Hi all,

Couldn't find any similar topics on this forum so I thought I'd start one. Astronomy and Cosmology are strong interests of mine and eventually I hope to study a degree involving these subjects. So if there is anyone on here who has maybe: studied astronomy, or has a similar field of work, or a hobby, or just has a general fascination then please share in here.

This topic can be used for posting things like: upcoming space events, news stories, thoughts and theories, or just anything astronomy related.

I'll look forward to reading your posts!

[Zingari]

I'm capricorn , what do my stars say for this week ?

[Trav Le Bleu]

I seem to remember a largish thread that Daggers started called "Isn't Space Brilliant!" or something like that. Had a search, but can't find it though.

 

Jupiter has been quite easy to spot <sic> in Gemini recently (Just up and left from the shoulder of Orion).

[Trumpet]

 

I've got myself one of these. Needs a good clean and sorting out though so it's probably no good at the minute. It's amazing what you can see, even with something as cheap as this.

 

 

edit - the image is from google and probably not the exact same one as mine, but similar.

Edited 23 January 2014 by Wet Trump

[Zingari]

Raj is a bit of a star gazer,  i think he started a night sky watch thread too.

 

personally i think its just an excuse for him to sit in his bedroom window with a telescope . 

[Merging Cultures]

My cousin takes pics of the universe, check them out http://www.weatherandsky.com/

 

Will cross post with Mike T

Edited 23 January 2014 by BaltimoreBlue

[davieG]

Not Daggers but - http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/topic/42999-space/?hl=space

[lcfc1994]

 

I've got myself one of these. Needs a good clean and sorting out though so it's probably no good at the minute. It's amazing what you can see, even with something as cheap as this.

 

 

edit - the image is from google and probably not the exact same one as mine, but similar.

Ah nice, haven't actually got a telescope at the minute. Need to buy one soon though!

[Raj]

Raj is a bit of a star gazer, i think he started a night sky watch thread too.

personally i think its just an excuse for him to sit in his bedroom window with a telescope .

Im always watching you Zingari!!!!

There's defo a thread somewhere.

I poste d some pics i did...before i had 2kids hence hardly ever time now...my advice to anyone..if you can't afford a telescope get a decent pair of binoculars...get out in the dark...and look up in the sky ...you ll be amazed...give your eyes 10-15mins to acclimatise to the dark and the stars will shine!!!!!!

[Merging Cultures]

Im always watching you Zingari!!!!

There's defo a thread somewhere.

I poste d some pics i did...before i had 2kids hence hardly ever time now...my advice to anyone..if you can't afford a telescope get a decent pair of binoculars...get out in the dark...and look up in the sky ...you ll be amazed...give your eyes 10-15mins to acclimatise to the dark and the stars will shine!!!!!!

 

Raj check out my cousins website, see comment up above. She takes amazing pictures. Purposefully lives in the middle of nowhere to get the best images.

[lcfc1994]

My cousin takes pics of the universe, check them out http://www.weatherandsky.com/

 

Will cross post with Mike T

My cousin takes pics of the universe, check them out http://www.weatherandsky.com/

 

Will cross post with Mike T

Some really nice stuff on there :-)

http://www.weatherandsky.com/p1015296644/e5912add8

This one has to be one of my favourites :-)

[Merging Cultures]

Some really nice stuff on there :-)

http://www.weatherandsky.com/p1015296644/e5912add8

This one has to be one of my favourites :-)

 

I like this one http://www.weatherandsky.com/p482497313/h59129ce2#h59129ce2

 

Not many people can claim to have a NASA picture of the day! She seems to have several... perhaps you can get one quite easily? Like a Jim'll Fix it?

Edited 23 January 2014 by BaltimoreBlue

[Merging Cultures]

Check out her equipment too http://www.weatherandsky.com/p566142285#h5b502fb6

[Raj]

Check out her equipment too http://www.weatherandsky.com/p566142285#h5b502fb6

i like her equipment...fnar fnar nudge nudge...in all seriousness there are some bloody awesome deep space images there...top stuff

[anotherharboroughfox]

 

I've got myself one of these. Needs a good clean and sorting out though so it's probably no good at the minute. It's amazing what you can see, even with something as cheap as this.

 

 

edit - the image is from google and probably not the exact same one as mine, but similar.

 

130P? got one also. Top notch for a first scope if you're looking for one.

 

also check out http://stargazerslounge.com/ if you're looking for advice!

[Tom17LCFC]

Love all the astronomy stuff. Don't have a clue about the majority of it but find it dead interesting.

[Sharpe's Fox]

Space depresses me because it reminds me how small and insignificant our lives really are

[Webbo]

Space depresses me because it reminds me how small and insignificant our lives really are

If that's the most depressing thing in your life you're not doing bad.

[leicsmac]

Hi all,

Couldn't find any similar topics on this forum so I thought I'd start one. Astronomy and Cosmology are strong interests of mine and eventually I hope to study a degree involving these subjects. So if there is anyone on here who has maybe: studied astronomy, or has a similar field of work, or a hobby, or just has a general fascination then please share in here.

This topic can be used for posting things like: upcoming space events, news stories, thoughts and theories, or just anything astronomy related.

I'll look forward to reading your posts!

 

Astrophysics was one of the major topics for my degree (along with Space Engineering for my Masters degree), and yes - it was fascinating! Sadly the space industry in the UK is rather competitive, hence my being where I am now. 

 

I do however keep up with news about all things space related - I'll try and post some stories later.

 

 

Space depresses me because it reminds me how small and insignificant our lives really are

 

Call me a nihilist but I actually find that something of a reality check for humans as a whole. Compared to the rest of the Universe, we are just another species that hasn't been around for very long at all. That said, that doesn't mean we can't do things that will shape the future though. 

[lcfc1994]

Rosetta waking up was in the news this week.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/20/rosetta-space-craft-is-awake_n_4635076.html?ir=Technology

Cool video too.



 

[lcfc1994]

Space depresses me because it reminds me how small and insignificant our lives really are

For me it's the opposite, the fact that we are so insignificant blows my mind, are we alone? And if we aren't, Is there anything else out there thinking the same as you?

[lcfc1994]

Astrophysics was one of the major topics for my degree (along with Space Engineering for my Masters degree), and yes - it was fascinating! Sadly the space industry in the UK is rather competitive, hence my being where I am now.

Sounds great! Can I ask where you studied?

Edited 24 January 2014 by lcfc1994

[Carl the Llama]

For me it's the opposite, the fact that we are so insignificant blows my mind, are we alone? And if we aren't, Is there anything else out there thinking the same as you?

Extraterrestrial life began developing billions of years ago.  There's an intergalactic organisation of the most technologically and philosophically advanced species working in collaboration to retain balance in the universe.  They've been monitoring us for a long time, watching how we develop as a species, waiting for either the day we make enough progress to merit inclusion in their organisation, or the day we make it clear we need to be exterminated.

 

Some reckon the reason their ships and the like aren't caught by any of our numerous deep-space images is because they've quarantined us in a forcefield which prevents any evidence of them or their actions or technologies from reaching our telescopes and satellite dishes which sounds about right.  They've certainly mastered cloaking devices, so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to believe they could use that knowledge to engineer such a device.  Still, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that was completely wrong and they use some other method to almost completely hide their presence.

[leicsmac]

For me it's the opposite, the fact that we are so insignificant blows my mind, are we alone? And if we aren't, Is there anything else out there thinking the same as you?

 

I'm of the same opinion as you. It's pretty likely that we're not alone, but there are a variety of reasons for contact not having been made yet. Check out the Fermi Paradox:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox

 

 

 

Sounds great! Can I ask where you studied?

 

Local lad, local uni my friend. University of Leicester has one of the best Space and Astronomy departments in the country. It was great!

 

Extraterrestrial life began developing billions of years ago.  There's an intergalactic organisation of the most technologically and philosophically advanced species working in collaboration to retain balance in the universe.  They've been monitoring us for a long time, watching how we develop as a species, waiting for either the day we make enough progress to merit inclusion in their organisation, or the day we make it clear we need to be exterminated.

 

Some reckon the reason their ships and the like aren't caught by any of our numerous deep-space images is because they've quarantined us in a forcefield which prevents any evidence of them or their actions or technologies from reaching our telescopes and satellite dishes which sounds about right.  They've certainly mastered cloaking devices, so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to believe they could use that knowledge to engineer such a device.  Still, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that was completely wrong and they use some other method to almost completely hide their presence.

 

Ah, the Zoo Hypothesis! One of my favourites.

 

A likely belief is that any space faring civilisation using their technology near us would be indistinguishable from natural activity to us anyway, purely because it would be so advanced.

[lcfc1994]

The zoo hypothesis and the Fermi paradox are really both an interesting read but unless I missed something, it's all well and good saying extraterrestrial life will be unimaginably and extremely more advanced than us, therefore they control us and watch us evolve to see whether we fit some criteria suitable to join their intergalactic government, or whether to wipe us out completely. What I still don't understand is, why? Why would they have such interests? It's been proven on our planet, when a more advanced civilisation encounters another less so advanced civilisation they use it for their own advantages. Not just simply to observe them, maybe initially, but surely any aliens advanced enough to quarantine and observe us must have a more sinister (for us, yet beneficial to them) motive at heart, like the use of our resources, or to live here. Why not just use one of the many vacant super-earths?