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Backyard Astronomy ; Science's Popularity Entices Novices to Marvel at What Sky Has to Offer

Posted on: Thursday, 19 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

Beyond the bright lights of the city and high above the clouds, there's an entire universe waiting to be discovered.

Of course, it doesn't require rocket science to know that, and neither does getting a great view.

"People assume that because (astronomy is) like physics it's hard to get into it, but it's not," said Jim Cadieux, the president of the Augusta Astronomy Club and an amateur astronomer for the past 40 years. "Astronomy is one of the few sciences you can get into without having formal training. You can get started into it very easily."

With the annual Perseids meteor shower peaking at midnight tonight, both professional and amateur stargazers will get a spectacle well worth the lost sleep.

Meteor showers, which result when debris from orbiting comets burn up in Earth's atmosphere, create huge spectacles of flashing light across the sky.

This year, astronomers are predicting the Perseids, which are the remnants of the once-in-135-years comet Swift-Tuttle, won't disappoint.

Because of their dazzling display, meteor showers are a perfect introduction to the wonders of backyard astronomy, astronomy buffs say.

"Watching for meteors is one of the things you can see without equipment," Mr. Cadieux said. "You just need a chaise lounge or chair that leans back to get a big view of the sky."

Yet there's more than just meteors to the be seen in the night sky, he said.

"There's the moon, constellations, the bright planets. ...You have people that go and watch satellites that are orbiting the earth," he said.

The sky really is the limit on what can be enjoyed with minimal equipment, said Darlene Smalley, the education specialist for the University of South Carolina Aiken's Ruth Patrick Science Education Center.

"We really can, as one of our brochures said, experience the universe in our back yard," she said. "It's really not difficult, just a matter of going out and laying a blanket on the ground and looking up at the sky."

Armed with a star chart, which maps out the stars, constellations and planets, and a red-tinted flashlight (a disk of red cellophane across the lens works just as well), amateur astronomers can find a lot of interesting points in the clear, dark sky with their bare eyes, Ms. Smalley said. Red-tinted flashlights should be used because your eyes will adjust faster to the darkness.

"You don't need a lot of equipment," she said.

As Mr. Cadieux explained, astronomy is one of the many hobbies that run the gamut of monetary investment.

"You can spend as much money as you care to," he said, noting that a blanket is usually on-hand, a star chart can be downloaded for free, and a decent telescope can be found for $300 to $400.

Telescopes, despite how cool they look and how much they are associated with astronomy, aren't required for beginning stargazers, Mr. Cadieux and Ms. Smalley said.

"Really, if someone is interested in seeing beyond just what their eyes can see, a good pair of binoculars is a good place to start," Ms. Smalley said, explaining that not only can the really good telescopes (those with tracking mechanisms best capture the ever-shifting stars) be expensive but binoculars also can be used for other hobbies if an amateur astronomer loses interest.

Interest in space has picked up dramatically over the years. The Mars rovers and the Cassini mission to Saturn have given close-up views of other planets, and the first privately funded manned spaceflight took place in June.

"We've had a lot of people interested in Mars and then with the eclipses of moon in the past year, that has drawn some people's interest," Ms. Smalley said.

With the Internet connecting amateur and professional astronomers to star charts, events, tips and live coverage, Mr. Cadieux said he doesn't see the curiosity about space fading.

"Astronomy is kind of in a renaissance now with the amount of equipment and information available," he said, adding that all amateurs have to do is look up and the heavens will do the rest.

"I've had people tell me they've seen all the phases of the moon they want to see but even with something like the moon, you can see something each time depending on the light and where you are," he said. "One of the advantages of astronomy is that it is always changing out there; you never see the same thing in the same way."

Reach Kamille Bostick at (706) 823-3223

or kamille.bostick@augustachronicle.com.

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