Thursday, May 28th 2009
Looking at the Stars
Wardsboro
Posted By: Julia Klas in Weather Conditions
5/23/09- The same activities that may be causing climate change come with side effects other than strange weather or thawing ice floes. Sometimes, its what you don't see that matters.
I grew up under a perpetual orange haze provided by the sodium lights of a shopping center three miles away. Sure, some stars were visible, but the sky was dull and sparsely populated. When coming home from trips on I-89, the glow of Burlington and Williston is easily visible 15 miles away. When I got the chance to go stargazing in isolated Wardsboro, VT (population 900), I went for it and brought along my camera.
I'd forgotten that there were so many stars. Though they might not show up in the pictures, the sky was packed full of them. There being so many made identifying constellations difficult- that, and my complete lack of astronomical knowledge. I was able to look up a few of them when I got home, though:
Photo #1 and #2: Directly overhead was Corona Borealis, which I can't remember ever being able to see in its entirety before. The brightest star in the top right corner of the photo is Alphekka, as seen on the map. The brightest star in the bottom left quadrant is Vega.
Photo #3 and #4: The brightest star in the bottom right corner is Sabik (I think,) part of Ophiucus, the snake carrier. The red streak, however, is a cell phone.
Photo #5 and #6: Here's Ophiucus continued, Scutum (the shield), and the tip of Aquila.
Photo #7 and #8: Don't quote me on it, but from my coordinates and the direction I was facing, I'm pretty willing to bet that the brightest star in the bottom left hand corner is Altair, the bottom of Aquila.
While it was an amazing view, it's something that's becoming too rare for too many people. Hopefully, with higher awareness of energy use comes better knowledge of how to direct that energy. Until then, backyard astronomers may have to settle for road trips.
Star maps made for educational purposes with Stellarium 0.10.2
I grew up under a perpetual orange haze provided by the sodium lights of a shopping center three miles away. Sure, some stars were visible, but the sky was dull and sparsely populated. When coming home from trips on I-89, the glow of Burlington and Williston is easily visible 15 miles away. When I got the chance to go stargazing in isolated Wardsboro, VT (population 900), I went for it and brought along my camera.
I'd forgotten that there were so many stars. Though they might not show up in the pictures, the sky was packed full of them. There being so many made identifying constellations difficult- that, and my complete lack of astronomical knowledge. I was able to look up a few of them when I got home, though:
Photo #1 and #2: Directly overhead was Corona Borealis, which I can't remember ever being able to see in its entirety before. The brightest star in the top right corner of the photo is Alphekka, as seen on the map. The brightest star in the bottom left quadrant is Vega.
Photo #3 and #4: The brightest star in the bottom right corner is Sabik (I think,) part of Ophiucus, the snake carrier. The red streak, however, is a cell phone.
Photo #5 and #6: Here's Ophiucus continued, Scutum (the shield), and the tip of Aquila.
Photo #7 and #8: Don't quote me on it, but from my coordinates and the direction I was facing, I'm pretty willing to bet that the brightest star in the bottom left hand corner is Altair, the bottom of Aquila.
While it was an amazing view, it's something that's becoming too rare for too many people. Hopefully, with higher awareness of energy use comes better knowledge of how to direct that energy. Until then, backyard astronomers may have to settle for road trips.
Star maps made for educational purposes with Stellarium 0.10.2
