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U N I V E R S E
Universe - the Solar System
At the present time the investigation of planets and other big bodies of the solar system is carried out mostly by the space probes sent to the planets. The earthbound observations of the planets mainly by the astronomers – amateurs (in the sense - the astronomy lovers) is for them at present above all a source of knowledge. Just this year we also commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first telescopic observations. For this reason was the year 2009 in the instigation of the IAU (International Astronomical Union) declared by the UNESCO the International Year of Astronomy (www.iya2009.org)
The very changing position of the bright little stars in the vicinity of Jupiter during his observations in January 1610 brought Galilei to the negation of the Aristotle’s view that the Earth is the only center of motion in the Universe. His further observations using a simple telescope also confirmed that the Moon is a real and not an etheric and perfect body, that the planet Venus has phases that are identical to the phases of the Moon and that it also must orbit around the Sun, that on the Sun there are dark spots and that it rotates around its axis, that around Saturn there is a ring, that the Milky Way is a cluster of faint stars ...
Even at the present time it is of great educational importance to repeat Galileo’s observations. During the autumn and the winter 2009/2010 it is possible to observe using already a small telescope (e.g. the binoculars 7x50) particularly the planet Jupiter and its moons, possibly the Milky Way. Using a small telescope one can also observe the Moon and the formations on his by craters covered surface. A widdlesized telescope (refracting telescope with a diameter of 10 cm) is able to discern on Jupiter the oblateness of the planet, the band structure of his atmosphere and the effects produced by the Jupiter’s moons (interpositions, eclipses, passings of the moons’ shadows over the planet, etc.). As a place for the observation one should pick space with a good view flat above the southern horizon where there is no disturbing public lighting at the edge of the township. It is not good to observe over houses because of the flowing warm air.
All year around one can observe with a naked eye the constellations of the northern sky and of the part of the southern sky that is observable in our territory. An ideal aid are the turning celestial maps and for the lector a green laser pointer which is able to show the direction to the presented star also to the surrounding audience. The star sky can be also used for the basic orientation in the terrain. Although the ideal time for the night sky observation is summer, one can do this at any time of the year when adequately dressed. The best mean for the virtual observation of the changes in the sky is the free software “Stellarium” that can be obtained from the home page www.stellarium.org . Astronomy news, as well as instructions and topics for observations are every year published in the “Astronomical Almanac” (edited by SUH Hurbanovo) and updated in the popular-scientific journal “KOZMOS” that is issued every two months. Monthly up to date information about the possibility of the observations can be also found at the homepage of the Považská observatory in (www.hvezdaren.zilina.net) and the internet pages of other astronomical institutions in Slovak Republic. The forcasts of the chosen astronomical effects can be also obtained on the homepages www.calsky.com after giving the observational place.
Workshop material
Lecturer
- RNDr. Miroslav Znášik (Žilinská hvezdáreň)
Bibliohraphy
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