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Learn my stars with Meade MySky - Jul 6, 2007

One of the features I like about both the Meade MySky and Celestron Skyscout is that the both identify major stars by their traditional star names, not just their catalog numbers. Why do I think this is a good feature? Learning the names of major stars helps to personalize things. This makes the night sky more like your neighborhood and the stars more like your friends. This also adds a touch of mythology and history to the mix. When you consider that astronomers hundreds, even thousands of years, ago, were using these same star and constellation names, it connects us with our past. Of course, ancient astronomers didn't have the convenience of sky computers like the My Sky and Sky Scout, but that makes their gift to us all that more special. Enjoy.

posted by Joanie K @ 7:24 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

MySky for planets - Jul 5, 2007

"Can I find planets with the Meade MySky?" Yes, you can find planets, stars and many other type of celestial objects with either the Meade My Sky or the Celestron Skyscout. These handheld star computers are not just for locating stars, though that will be the most frequent use, since there will always be many more stars visible on a given night than planets. Keep in mind that only Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus will appear as anything more than an average star. The other planets are either too small or too distant to appear as more than just another star. Tehy will be more of a challenge to loacate.

posted by Joanie K @ 7:14 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

MySky coming soon - Jul 4, 2007

The Meade MySky, according to official sources at Meade, should be here any day, now, but, no, we are still waiting for it to make its appearance. Guarantee it, though, OpticsPlanet will have one as soon as anyone does, so stay tuned for details. In the meantime, we have the Celestron Sky Scout in good numbers. should you be just dying to know what that bright star is that you keep seeing these summer nights. One accessory I forgot to mention that will work great with either sky computer is a lawn chair. Hey, you probably had one on your patio, anyway! Might as well relax by night as well as by day. Don't forget some lemonade and some mosquito repellent, either. Enjoy.

posted by Joanie K @ 5:44 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Meade MySky for planets - Jul 3, 2007

I was at a family reunion in the remote Pennsylvainia mountains near the New York border, when several of my siblings ran up to me and asked me to identify the very bright star. low to the horizon, just after sunset. I walked outside in the brisk mountain air and quickly told them it was the planet Venus, not a star. Of course, that's the advantage of having an astronomer in the family, but how about families not so blessed? I couldn't help but wonder what Venus might be called by the uninformed. Guess that's why the Meade My Sky and the Celestron SkyScout were invented. Of course, neither one would be as friendly as me. By the way, I am available for family reunions that take place in remote, beautiful locations.

posted by Joanie K @ 8:08 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

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