Stargazer's Night

Circa spring 2010, taken with iPhone 3GS

One of the best things I get paid to do is to look through telescopes.  I've worked with Stargazer's Nights since we started them up 4+ years ago.  During that time I've learned quite a bit.

I started out as someone who just enjoyed science fiction with a small helping of astronomy on the side.  Then I began working in the Stargazer's Planetarium where I watched the show Created Cosmos hundreds of time during the summer of 2007.

Have you ever looked up at a clear night sky, marveled at all the stars, and then wondered which ones you were seeing? Would you like to view the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter? Are you intrigued by the idea of seeing a galaxy or nebula? If you answered yes to any—or all—of these questions, then Stargazer’s Nights are for you. 

--from Creation Museum website, Stargazer's Night section

Circa fall 2012, taken with iPhone 4S

Last year those of us on staff that worked Stargazer's Nights were faced with the challenge of continuing without our full-time astronomer.  We took up the challenge and ran with it until we had developed our own version of the program, especially the indoor program we utilize on cloudy evenings.  It has been quite a bit of fun working with that, and this year we have had over twenty stargazing evenings thus far.  Tonight will be number 22 I believe (it is a private session).  Then we have two more at the end of this week and one more next week that will likely be the last of the year.  I never realized how much fun astronomy could be--but I have no intentions of looking back.  I enjoy working with both the software and hardware inside our Planetarium as well as utilizing the telescopes outside.

The picture above is one I took with my iPhone through a telescope eyepiece a couple of years ago.  Earlier this year I took a few more.  I'm always surprised at how well some of them turn out.

~Matt

Swampy Stars

I actually have service in the middle of Okefenoke Swamp, but I can't get service in most of the Creation Museum. *sigh*

All the tents are set up for our first night on a wooden platform. It is tight, but a nice cool night. We've spent a bit of time stargazing, the night is very clear. The chorus of animals make a nice soundtrack.

The stars are leaving reflections in the water. Venus looks like a moonbeam is shining from it down to the water.

The day was long, hit, and tiring. But it is worth it. This has been amazing so far, despite the sunburn.

~Matt

PS Waycross (see the location link) is a nearby town, but we aren't actually there.

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Waycross,United States

Stargazing

I just got home from another Stargazer's Night at the Creation Museum. Nobody had expected it to be clear, so I'd really only been prepared for an indoor session. Mars was quite close, so Dr. Lisle decided to get out the scopes.

We used a new scope tonight--a refractor, which is slightly different from the three reflecting telescopes AiG already owns. I also tried something new. The last time I took pictures was for the lunar eclipse in February 2008. I've never managed to duplicate the quality of those shots, but last night I put my iPhone's camera up to the eyepiece and grabbed the above shot of the moon. I think it turned out rather well.

~Matt

PS This is another "composed near midnight posted in the morning" posts. ;-)

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Highland Ave,Fort Mitchell,United States

Griffith Observatory

I'm visiting the Griffith Observatory and about to watch their planetarium program.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:N Normandie Ave,Los Angeles,United States