How do you set up your observation sessions?
For decades I’ve been using a German
website: heavens-above.com
1). Once in the site, they do not know where on planet Earth that you plan on observing from so they automatically place everyone at the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator (also known as 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude)
So, the first thing I do is click in the box in the upper right-hand corner where it will allow you to put in an address or simply use a map to locate where you are observing from.
My next observation does not have an address yet so I’ll use the map to zero in on our next observing location.
Once the software knows where you’ll be observing from, the information you receive will be accurate to the second.
If I’m going to use the same spot for observing many times, I slide the address off onto my desktop for easy access the next time.
2). Next, I click under the Astronomy section on Sun, as I record the four different sunsets and sunrises for our location. I’ll explain those later if you wish to know. Basically, this lets me know the degrees of darkness so observing the different objects. (Example: if a satellite is going over but it's not dark enough yet, I know not to record that one as it’s not dark enough to see)
3). The Moon choice under the Astronomy section allows me to see when it rises and sets and where it will be for our observing session. A large area around the moon is worthless for observing because the light of the moon would wash it out. Record the rise, set, phase, and constellation location of the moon tonight.
4). Now, I click on Satellites and choose to see only the brightest ones by choosing the 3.0 magnitude or brighter dot to fill. I look through the lists of the brighter ones for just those that are around 1.1 magnitude or smaller number (the smaller the # the brighter and negative #’s is the best) (I’ll explain magnitudes later as another question) I usually only record 3 or 4 of the brightest ones and if I have time, I search the internet for the name of the satellite to see what it is and what country placed it up there. (Example: recently, one of the satellites was a joint mission between Russia & the Ukraine that was suppose to last a few years but only worked a few weeks so was currently space junk, as so much of it is.) If it has R/B on the end of its name, that means it is the last stage of a rocket booster that helped place a satellite in orbit. Of course, the ISS (International Space Station) and Hubble Space Telescope are favorites. Note: All these satellites are simply reflections of the sun that set off the satellites reflective surfaces as planes have actual lights that you see and are usually blinking and the reflections don’t blink and can start and end at any time. This is one of the main reasons you have to pinpoint your location for accurate reflection information. I also like to click on what constellations/stars the satellite will pass and at what time. This is one of the advantages of learning constellation and star names, otherwise you’d have to work with the directions in the sky to look (which is much less accurate).
5). Comets are a favorite of most peoples so I look for any bright comets available and note their magnitude and where they are in the constellation, IF that constellation is visible during our observing time. If so, I click on how to locate the comet and copy and past that map to my notes.
6). Finally, I choose the interactive sky chart and once in I change the time to near the end of when Astronomical twilight ends from #1 above and can copy and paste that in my notes and then I go to near the end of our time that month and note if anything else interesting rises for us to look at.
Now, you too can plan your own sky observing, anywhere you travel in the world.
website: heavens-above.com
1). Once in the site, they do not know where on planet Earth that you plan on observing from so they automatically place everyone at the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator (also known as 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude)
So, the first thing I do is click in the box in the upper right-hand corner where it will allow you to put in an address or simply use a map to locate where you are observing from.
My next observation does not have an address yet so I’ll use the map to zero in on our next observing location.
Once the software knows where you’ll be observing from, the information you receive will be accurate to the second.
If I’m going to use the same spot for observing many times, I slide the address off onto my desktop for easy access the next time.
2). Next, I click under the Astronomy section on Sun, as I record the four different sunsets and sunrises for our location. I’ll explain those later if you wish to know. Basically, this lets me know the degrees of darkness so observing the different objects. (Example: if a satellite is going over but it's not dark enough yet, I know not to record that one as it’s not dark enough to see)
3). The Moon choice under the Astronomy section allows me to see when it rises and sets and where it will be for our observing session. A large area around the moon is worthless for observing because the light of the moon would wash it out. Record the rise, set, phase, and constellation location of the moon tonight.
4). Now, I click on Satellites and choose to see only the brightest ones by choosing the 3.0 magnitude or brighter dot to fill. I look through the lists of the brighter ones for just those that are around 1.1 magnitude or smaller number (the smaller the # the brighter and negative #’s is the best) (I’ll explain magnitudes later as another question) I usually only record 3 or 4 of the brightest ones and if I have time, I search the internet for the name of the satellite to see what it is and what country placed it up there. (Example: recently, one of the satellites was a joint mission between Russia & the Ukraine that was suppose to last a few years but only worked a few weeks so was currently space junk, as so much of it is.) If it has R/B on the end of its name, that means it is the last stage of a rocket booster that helped place a satellite in orbit. Of course, the ISS (International Space Station) and Hubble Space Telescope are favorites. Note: All these satellites are simply reflections of the sun that set off the satellites reflective surfaces as planes have actual lights that you see and are usually blinking and the reflections don’t blink and can start and end at any time. This is one of the main reasons you have to pinpoint your location for accurate reflection information. I also like to click on what constellations/stars the satellite will pass and at what time. This is one of the advantages of learning constellation and star names, otherwise you’d have to work with the directions in the sky to look (which is much less accurate).
5). Comets are a favorite of most peoples so I look for any bright comets available and note their magnitude and where they are in the constellation, IF that constellation is visible during our observing time. If so, I click on how to locate the comet and copy and past that map to my notes.
6). Finally, I choose the interactive sky chart and once in I change the time to near the end of when Astronomical twilight ends from #1 above and can copy and paste that in my notes and then I go to near the end of our time that month and note if anything else interesting rises for us to look at.
Now, you too can plan your own sky observing, anywhere you travel in the world.