Resources

Here's a list of online resources which we find helpful...

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the Cosmos!  Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer

Light Pollution Map

This site has light pollution information with the Bortle Scale.  Just click anywhere on the map to get information and to find that dark observing spot

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The REAL Magic Mountain- Mount Wilson. Tim Thompson

Tim Thompson's presentation on Mount Wilson  The History of Mount Wilson     

Sarah Elizabeth McCandless Neer Earth Objects NEO websites

NASA science site

Free downloadable guides and book on the Night Sky

Star Hopper’s Guide to the Universe

This book was created for amateur astronomers who are interested in locating deep sky objects using the star-hop method.  

In-the-sky.org Guide to the night sky

Messier Marathon tracker app- for your cell phone

 

created by Jerry Thompson, VCAS.  feedback and suggestion welcomed.

Go Astronomy website helpful links

Dark Sky International

DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution 

Current Moon Phase

Current Time & Date web site for all things astronomy

This Week's Sky At a Glance

Sky at a Glance, Sky & Telescope’s weekly observing update, is published every Friday. Simple sky maps show upcoming celestial events, and S&T’s Alan MacRobert shares observing tips for all levels of astronomers.

Whenever your skies are clear, check out Sky at a Glance to find out what’s happening in tonight’s sky.

Astronomy Calculators

  Check out Astronomy Tools website. It contains things like figuring your FOV, magnification, CCD and telescope combo and much more. A one stop site for your observing and telescope needs 

The evening sky map

The Evening Sky Map

The Evening Sky Map (PDF) is a 2-page monthly guide to the night sky suitable for all sky watchers including newcomers to Astronomy.

Star Map

current up to date Star Map site

Messier Marathon

The Ultimate Guide to Conquering the Messier Marathon

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Messier Marathon planner

Set your parameters and click Submit to generate the list of observable Messier objects and in order by location and time.
 

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Touring the Universe through Binoculars PDF

Touring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook

Eclipse Info

Total Solar Eclipse 2027

Overview

The 2027 lunar shadow first embraces the Earth over the sub-tropical mid Atlantic in a region of moderately cloudy skies well to the north of the hurricane-breeding zone off western Africa. The umbral path misses the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira by a meagre 70 km on its eastward trek, choosing instead to make landfall in Spain and Morocco six minutes later. For the next 4,000 km, it first skips along the Mediterranean shore before gradually turning to a southeast heading.  The turn to more southerly latitudes comes with increasing amounts of cloud, but, except in the mountains of Arabia, most of that intrudes after the path heads out across the Indian Ocean, toward its ending near the remote atoll of Diego Garcia.

Eclipse Info

Xavier Total eclipse maps

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Astronomical League - Night Sky Tools

Discover the wonder, beauty, and mystery of our incredible Universe!

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Astronomical League - Observing Program Division

The Astronomical League provides many different Observing Programs. These Observing Programs are designed to provide a direction for your observations and to provide a goal. The Observing Programs have certificates and pins to recognize the observers’ accomplishments and for demonstrating their observing skills with a variety of instruments and objects.

Podcast

The Observer's Notebook - Tim Robertson's Podcasts

The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers was founded in 1947 and promotes observing of the solar system. Both amateur and professional astronomers work together to further our understanding of the universe.

Eclipse Info

Mr. Eclipse- Fred Espenak website

The total eclipse of the Sun is the most spectacular event in all of Nature! Few people have ever witnessed one, but once seen it is an experience never to be forgotten. The Moon's dark shadow plunges you into an eerie twilight and the Sun's mysterious and incredibly beautiful corona is revealed.

Eclipse Info

NASA Eclipse and Transit Records and Information

Resource for eclipse and transit records and information.

Eclipse Info

Eclipsophile - Total Solar Eclipse

Eclipsophile: Climate and Weather for Celestial Events