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Posts Tagged ‘astronomy’

Calendars – Why They Can Be Slightly Out

July 28th, 2010

Thousands of years ago, ancient Greek astronomers calculated that the track of the Earth’s axis is constantly, even if in a very slow way, shifting in a uniform pattern. The variation is very similar to the manner a spinning top slowly leans one way and then another as it slows down. It is a wobble that happens as its axis alters direction.

This odd movement of the planet is due to several factors, the most important of which is something called ‘precession’. Precession stems from the fact that the Earth is not a perfect sphere. It is in fact about twenty-seven miles longer around the Equator that it is around the Poles. The Earth then is oblate, or fat around the middle like middle-aged spread, but it is due to the spinning not to its age.

If you imagine the Earth with its Poles off centre. Then rotate that image and you will find that any point, except the very centre of the axis, will move in a circle. But very, very slowly. So slowly that it takes 26,000 years to go full circle and get back to where it started from.

This point then, any point you choose, is very gradually shifting its position in relation to the stars because the axis is rotating too. The result of this is that, what we call the North Star (formally known as Polaris, which is in fact one degree off true North) will not be over our North Pole one day. In fact, by about 15,000 AD, Vega will be almost over the North Pole, although it will be about four degrees off true North. But even this will not endure, and by 28,000 AD, Polaris will be back above where it is nowadays.

One of the effects of the precession is that seasons change. They modify the dates that they take place, so that Summer could come earlier or later. The amazing thing about our calendar is that it is corrected for that (with the leap year). If it were not, the vernal or Spring equinox would move over 13,000 years from March 21st to September 21st., which is the date of the autumnal equinox, precisely half a year later.

It is for this reason that the precession of the Earth is generally referred to as the “Precession of the Equinoxes”. Although the precession of the equinoxes is very lengthy, it can be readily observed. The correct year of 325.25 days is the length of time from one vernal equinox to the next vernal equinox, however, it takes 20 minutes and 24 seconds longer for the Sun to appear in exactly the same place in relation to the stars behind it over the same period, which is why accurate star maps have to be stamped with the exact time and date to which they relate.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with researching Franklin planner pages. If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars

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Alternative Energy Solutions Can Save You Money.

July 25th, 2010

If your energy bills are getting higher and higher and you are finding it difficult to cope then you may be thinking of investing in an alternative power supply. There are now some cheaper ways to get renewable energies installed and you could be making savings quickly. You can now get lots of information on the internet and elsewhere about alternative energy solutions.

Besides saving on energy costs, another concern for many people is environmental damage and climate change. If you are looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint then there are two main areas to look at with regard to your house. Energy conservation is important. This can be achieved by using wind power or having quality insulation so that you can turn your boiler down. The other consideration is installation of a green energy technology.

Before you invest in sustainable energy you will probably want to understand the potential savings. There are no accurate average figures for this as really there are no average households. Many factors change energy consumption and the gains from each technology. Therefore it is a good idea to use an online energy calculator. It will use your information to work out how much you can save by using different types of sustainable energy.

Most people are looking at solar and wind energy for their homes. There are advantages associated with both types of power but it depends on where you live. Obviously there is no point in using solar power if you live in a cold place with only small amounts of sunlight.

Solar power is harnessed using photovoltaic cells. These are put into panels which are usually installed on the roof of your house. One of the criticisms of solar power has been the cost of installation. For many years it was very high and people calculated that it could take as long as the life of the cells to recover their savings. However the costs have lowered in recent years as more companies provide the service.

The same was true for wind turbines for a long time too. They were expensive to buy and then often did not produce much electricity. In recent years developments in the technology have lead to lower prices and more efficient turbines. You still need to live in a place with strong winds to make the investment pay.

It is now becoming popular to install these technologies yourself. There are do it yourself kits available with everything you need. These are a lot cheaper than having a company carry out the installation. You can do it for even less money by building the solar panels or turbine from scratch. Most of the necessary parts can be purchased from hardware stores or on the internet. There are also many websites with information on the construction process and how to calculate the sizes of panels and turbines you will need.

Finding alternative energy solutions is important for all of us so that we can mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce energy costs for our households.

Since 1970, the top retailer for solar power toys offers a wide variety of resources to aspiring scientists. Learn about alternative energy solutions, among other scientific knowledge, with these high-quality science lab equipment.

Adriana Noton Life & Nature , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guide On How To Buy A Telescope

July 21st, 2010

Every Person has to find out a bit of info on how to buy a telescope before heading out and trying to do it on their own. It might seem like a relatively easy item to purchase, but when you get out there you will find out the multitude of various models and makes that are available to you and you will no doubt become confused and even frustrated.

If you want to know how to buy a telescope, you need to rest assured recognizing that it is really not all that difficult, as long as you keep some things in mind and are a bit more informed on the telescope in general. In this way, you can know what specs and purposes you should find and can have a better idea of what the average costs on telescopes are.

Getting Started

The first thing that you are going to want to do if you want to know how to buy a telescope is become more informed on these items in general and what they need to provide. Telescopes are really wondrous instruments and they allow you to see far off things as if they were right beside you. Telescopes have actually been around since the 1600s, but they are apparently much more difficult and complex these days.

You will need to be aware of all the various specifications and what they do, and why you would be willing to pay more for particular features on your telescope. You can find so many different choices that you can certainly not be lacking in terms of choice here.

Plan

Budgeting is going to be a very important step if you want to know how to buy a telescope. The prices on telescopes can be different very significantly based on which type you are considering and what specs it provides. Consequently, you need to have at least a basic idea of what is available and how much money you have to spend before going out shopping.

Starting

These Days, the problem is where to buy a telescope, and the good thing for you is that you can find actually quite a few different stores which will be worthwhile your time. As you can find here, the process of finding out how to buy a telescope is not very difficult, and you just need to ensure that you spend your time, as this is not a thing that you need to rush.

To make you being clever, it is necessary for you to study about numerous subjects. Besides astronomy, you also need to study about biology subjects. When you have a test to analyze microorganism, you will find microscope for sale out there. You can also consider using antique microscopes as your great selection for you. These microscopes will ease you in analyzing microorganism.

Emily Halleriskey Technologies , , , ,

Calendars And How To Appreciate Them

July 11th, 2010

The calendar is such a routine, everyday thing, but how much do you actually know about the operation of it. Why is it like that?

A DAY: The Earth rotates at a reasonably steady pace about the imaginary line running between the North and South Poles named the Earth’s Axis. The time it takes to spin once is called a ‘rotation’ and this takes just under twenty-four hours. Nevertheless, because the Earth is constantly travelling around the Sun, the exact time from noon one day to noon the next is 3 minutes 56 seconds longer and this makes a day almost exactly twenty-four hours in length.

The actual time from noon to noon varies depending where the Earth is on its celestial path around the Sun, but if you average the days in a year out, it comes to precisely twenty-four hours.

A YEAR: All nine planets in our solar system travel around the Sun in almost perfectly circular routes called orbits. Each trip around the Sun is called a revolution and all the planets revolve around the Sun in the same direction. The direction the Earth takes can be verified by noting its location against the background stars.

In view of the fact that you cannot see the Sun and the stars at the same time, it is necessary to note the position of the Sun in the morning and the see which stars come out there in the night. You will see that the Sun seems to pass through the twelve constellations of the zodiac during a year.

Earth’s journey around the Sun, which seems like the Sun travelling through the zodiac takes about 365.25 days. This varies from year to year, so astronomers add or delete a second in some years to keep their time accurate with the Earth’s motion.

THE SEASONS: The seasons indicate the change in the pattern of daylight over the course of a year. Because the Earth is tilted off centre, different parts of it receive different amounts of sunlight on different stages of its path around the Sun, a path that we call a year. So, between about the 21st September and late March, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, which creates Autumn and Winter, giving less than twelve hours of daylight per day.

From April to the 20th September, the Northern Hemisphere receives more than twelve hours of daylight a day, producing Spring and Summer. The exact opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Equinoxes take place at the points in the year when there is exactly twelve hours of sunlight and darkness in the day. So, the vernal or Spring equinox is on or around the 21st March and the autumnal equinox is on or around the 21st September. Summer officially commences on the day with the greatest amount of daylight, the 21st June or summer solstice.

The winter solstice occurs on the shortest day, the 21st December. ‘Solstice’ is a combination of two words meaning ’sun standing still’ and the days are so named because they are the days when the ostensible movement of the Sun reaches its extremes and reverses course again.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching Franklin planner pages. If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our web site now at Promotional Desk Calendars

Owen Jones Other , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guidelines On How To Buy A Telescope

July 6th, 2010

If you have a planning on venturing out to buy a telescope, you should know that there are a few particular easy methods to buy a telescope which you should be aware of. If you learn how to perfectly buy a telescope, you will not just make the entire process as quick and easy on yourself as you can, but as well you will have the right chances of finding the best quality telescope for the most inexpensive cost.

It’s All in the Name

One of the most essential things you have to know on the subject of learning how to buy a telescope is that a lot goes into the name. You should stick to familiar names, ones which have been in the industry for years and whom you can trust in to get the highest degree of quality, each time. Meade for example, is one of the most popular names in the world of telescopes and one that you need to consider when you are out to buy a telescope.

Don’t Rush Yourself

It is usually essential to never rush into a major purchase like this. When you go out to buy a telescope instead of hurrying yourself, you ought to be prepared and planned and take your time. There is such a multitude of diverse makes and models of telescope available which it can take literally days just work through them all and determine which is going to be good for you.

Commonly, you are able to determine by your experience with telescopes as to that will be right for you. If you have not used at all a telescope before, there is really no point in you for spending a fortune on a super extreme telescope when you are not even going to realize how to utilize it well.

Instead, the better idea, if you have little to no experience with telescopes, it will be a good idea for you to buy a more basic one, at least until you have had more experience with it and feel more comfortable, and then you are able to either purchase parts to upgrade the model you have or spend some money and get an entirely different one.

Find Help

If you ever need it, ought not to be afraid to ask for help when you go out to buy a telescope. Whether it is just your family and friends that you want to have advice from or you need the aid of an expert, you can find more than enough people out there who are going to be willing and able to help you out here.

Another important subject besides astronomy that you can study in university or school is biology. If you have a test to analyze microorganism in your laboratory, it is a great idea for you to select microscopes for sale or student microscope as great equipment to complete your test.

Emily Halleriskey Technologies , , , ,

What You Need To Get The Best Telescope Mirror Cell

July 2nd, 2010

Understanding the ins and outs of producing or choosing a telescope can make the experience of having a telescope wonderful. The telescope is not only about getting the view to the stars but also the key to a new hobby.

Many people find that making their own telescope could be rewarding, while others go for the ready-made route. Whatever route you want, you should find out about your telescope mirror cells. The reason for this is that the telescope mirror cells are what hold your telescope mirror.

If you are interested in utilizing telescopes, making your own telescope mirror cell could be the best project for you. There are several types of material which other telescope makers use but most try and stick to the traditional way of making a telescope mirror cell that is utilizing Masonite.

This material is easy to cut and readily available, therefore you will not be struggling with a saw or getting unwanted frustrations. The art ought to be enjoyed and must not feel like it is a chore. Your love of telescopes should not be shadowed by the seemingly difficult tasks involved. The muscle work should not lie in the creation of the great telescope mirror cell but form the enjoyment when it is usable. In this way, you can easily boost your confidence and ego by making your own wonderful and personal telescope which can make you have that sense of achievement.

Going the DIY Route for Mounting Your Mirror

It is never easy to actually find the right technique which will make mounting your mirror simple, but the key is first having the best tools and methods for telescope mirror grinding. It is always the difficult task, but it is the most exciting.

After you have done this, you need to make sure that you find the proper size telescope mirror cell. This may mean that you must grind your mirror just a bit so it can fit perfectly on the telescope mirror cell. There is not much rocket science to mount your mirror on the telescope mirror cell; all you need is the most efficient way.

Since glue is out of the question, many people find that using the method of joining through taping this around with plastic electrical tape never fails. While this method may seem a bit primitive, it is still very helpful and efficient. However with more research, you will likely hit on a way that assists you to mount your mirror on the telescope mirror cell without the problem of getting to use tape.

Telescope is astronomical equipment that will help student to learn what things are on the sky. If you are a student who is studying biology, you will require microscope for sale to know the microorganism which you are learning in the laboratory. When looking for them for your kids, you can also think about microscope for kids as your great choice.

Caleb Tomlauke Technologies , , , ,

The First Of The Binoculars

June 21st, 2010

Back at the beginning of the seventeenth century when Galileo invented the telescope, two were put side by side and the modern day binoculars were invented. The Galilean design is still used today for the less expensive versions and has some limitations in terms of its magnification capabilities.

A better design which can produce improved images at a higher magnification uses Keplerian optics. This was an improvement on the Galilean design and came from the Keplerian Telescope that was invented in 1611 by Johannes Kepler. This method has one problem, the image you see is inverted but there are ways to get around this.

One such way was a method devised by an Italian politician named Ignazio Porro. His Prism system was patented in 1852 but was made even better by Carl Zeiss in 1890. Carl Zeiss were successful lens manufacturers and are still one of the most respected in today’s market. The correction method used involved making a double z series of reflecting surfaces to rotate the image. The depth perception with these models is better because the width of the lens is increased.

Often units back then were used to for the opera and other similar events that meant they often have a fixed magnification length. When they were used for different levels of magnification then a way of focusing was required. With effectively having two telescopes side by side, then a way of focusing was traditionally done independently for each eye. This was all very good when looking at something and not having to rush.

With their use becoming more widespread certainly for military uses it meant that they were better when focused with a central focusing adjuster. This meant that both eyepieces could be focused with one movement. The both tubes are adjusted simultaneously and results in much quicker vision for far off subjects. With differences in the strength of some people’s eyes there was still a need to have some separate adjustment which could compensate for this. With the eye adjustments made for a specific user, they are then able to be used for viewing objects at varying distances using the central wheel to change the focus.

Another way of magnification was the zoom lens which is also generally used in cameras. This is achieved by a number of adjusting lenses operated by a zoom lever. The disadvantage if this design is that it makes the whole unit much more complex and fragile. They are not really favored because they are associated with eye strain and fatigue.

In this day and age, binoculars are much more powerful and are even used for amateur astrology. You can now watch such events as a comet passing or a supernova taking place. Whereas for terrestrial viewing a lens size of 70mm is recommended, for astrology the 90mm and larger lens size what is recommended.

Whatever they are used for today, the actual design has not changed much in four hundred years. They are unlikely to ever be made redundant as there will always be a use for them as long as we have a bird in a tree.

Mike Davis owns a best binoculars blog. He reviews the best binoculars of many top brands and highly rated models such as Nikon binoculars, Canon binoculars, Olympus binoculars and more.

Mike Davis Technologies , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What You Have To Understand When Purchasing Reflecting Telescope

June 10th, 2010

Telescopes are incredible things and with them, you are able to gaze up into the sky and also see the planets and stars close up. If are being curious about finding a reflecting telescope, there are some things which you will want to understand first and you also need to know where the perfect places are for you to buy this.

Purchasing Your Telescope

If you would like to buy a reflecting telescope, one of the first things that you should know is that there are many different kinds of telescopes which are offered, each with specific advantages and disadvantages. There is the Newtonian reflector telescope for one but there are other kinds which you can choose from as well.

You have to know when you are shopping for a reflecting telescope that there is no one single telescope regarded as the “best”. Alternatively, the best reflecting telescope can be one that will work best for you.

The three primary types of telescope for novices are achromatic refractors, the Newtonians, and the Dobsonians. The most typical first scope is a 70mm or 80mm achromatic refractor so if you have never used a telescope before; these will be a great choice to get you started. The Newtonian telescopes are those that use a mirror at the base of the telescopic tube and reflect the light towards and angled mirror and then into the eyepiece and they are cheaper per inch of aperture compared to refractors.

With regards to accessories, you have to make sure that you have the perfect ones and there are many that you can choose from. A good set of eyepieces is necessary to take advantage of the performance of a telescope and eyepieces of various focal lengths will help you by providing you with various magnifications.

There are numerous different options on the subject of the reflecting telescope and the various accessories that get along with it. Just make sure that you take your time and that you are aware of all that is out there; thus you are able to make the proper purchases and make certain that your money is being well spent. There is no point, for example, you spend a ton of money on a huge, luxury telescope if you have no experience in utilizing them, because you will be puzzled and may even end up damaging the telescope while trying to figure out how to utilize it.

Another important subject besides astronomy that you can study in university or school is biology. If you have a test to analyze microorganism in your laboratory, it is a good idea for you to choose microscopes or antique microscopes as great equipment to do your test.

Lily Aliexiera Technologies , , , ,

Deep Space Exploration Gets Safer

May 16th, 2010

Many people think of space as a most quiet place, but in areas surrounding black holes, when an entity is sucked into the vacuum, a series of very loud, violent pops and crackles (yes, similar to Rice Crispies on a more gargantuan scale) occurs. Finding a measurable way to identify and characterize these sounds has eluded astrophysicists for years. Until now.

The brilliant minds over at the Brookings Institute Center for Astrophysical Awareness have made a scale so we can aptly title and identify various classifications of what scientists are now dubbing ginger sugarsnaps .

The redundancy of the name may seem comical at first, but profound space snaps are no laughing matter. Ranging on a scale of 1-1400, a profound space snap measuring 1 would be relative to say breaking up matter equivalent to that of a basketball.

A ginger sugarsnap measuring 1 would be roughly equivalent to breaking up matter the size of a basketball. While a ginger sugarsnap measuring in the 200 range would be more apt to describe a snap scheme related to a mass of a town of 100,000. A ginger sugarsnap incidence of 1300 or greater would indicate a mass of planetary significance has been collapsed by a black hole. What is the relevance of measuring ginger sugarsnaps?

Using space-time regression analysis, a well versed astronomer could use a high powered telescope with an affixed long range audiometer to grasp the size of ginger sugarsnaps occurring in deep space in order to better estimate not only the existence of other planets outside our own solar system but also the date of collapse of the entity and perhaps even lend insight into the formation of the black hole that was likely to have collapsed it.

ginger sugarsnaps analysis could well be the key to increased safety in deep space exploration. Using the ginger sugarsnap scale to isolate and identify major astrophysical events throughout the space time continuum, scientists and astronomers will be more apt to safely plan and route deep space excursions. The last thing a space battalion commander wants is for one of their space exploration vessels to become nothing more than a ginger sugarsnap in space because they unknowingly meandered into a black hole.

Is it ironic coincidence that just when the Obama administration decided to massively deconstruct our space shuttle program, a very promising discovery and corresponding measurement scale are created that could open up the gateway to deep space exploration? Well, you will just have to decide for yourself. I am no conspiracy theorist, just an astronomy geek who is interested in ginger sugarsnaps!

Astronomy lover? Learn more about Ginger Sugarsnaps

James Cameroone Nasa , , ,

Christianity’s Holy Days

May 9th, 2010

Christmas – is the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Although the precise date of his birth is unknown, December 25th was most likely selected because it coincided with a pagan mid-winter festival. The ‘Twelve Days Of Christmas” mark the days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th), which was the day of the wise men’s visit.

Easter – is the most important day in the Christian calendar, because it celebrates Christ’s Resurrection, which gave / gives Christians the hope of salvation and eternal life. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (Spring) equinox, which is on 21st March.

Shrove Tuesday – (Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) was originally a day of penance, but is now marked by merrymaking. It is the day before the commencement of Lent.

Ash Wednesday – is derived from the marking of a cross on the forehead of believers with the ashes from the burnt palms used on Palm Sunday.

Lent – 40 days of atonement and fasting

Palm Sunday – the Sunday before Easter, celebrates the arrival of Jesus at Jerusalem, where palms were laid on the road before him.

Maundy (Holy) Thursday – the day of the Last supper.

Good Friday – is the day of Christ’s crucifixion.

Holy Saturday – is the day before the Resurrection.

The Annunciation – March 25th is celebrated by Catholics as the day that Archangel Gabriel told Mary about her impending pregnancy.

Trinity Sunday – is celebrated by some denominations in honour of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. It was declared part of the holy calendar in 1334 by Pope John XII.

Corpus Christi – Catholics remembers the presence of the body of Christ on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.

All Saints Day – this mainly Catholic remembrance is on November 1 and honours all Christian saints.

Advent – a religious season that begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 and lasts until Christmas Day. It celebrates the birth of Jesus and anticipates his Second Coming. It was once a period of fasting, but now no longer.

Holy Days Of Obligation – are feast days in the Catholic calendar marked by attendance at mass and the avoidance of unnecessary work. There are six in the USA: Solemnity of Mary – January 1: Christ’s circumcision, ie his first shedding of blood Ascension – 40 days after Easter Assumption – August 15: Mary is accepted into Heaven All Saints’ Day – November 1 Mary’s Immaculate Conception – December 8 Christmas Day – December 25.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Franklin Covey planner refillss If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars

Owen Jones Other , , , , , , , , , , , ,


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