The Observer's Notebook
a series of astronomy articles for backyard observers by John Rummel.In this age of urbanization and artificial light, it is difficult to appreciate the paramount importance of the sky to our ancestors. Digital watches and desk calendars are readily available; there is no need to watch the sky to tell the time of day or the year. And under the lights of our cities, we can scarcely see anything overhead - the night is diluted. Most of the stars are fainter than the background of scattered light. For city dwellers, the night sky is preserved only under the dome of the local planetarium. We have struggled - successfully - to shelter ourselves from the elements, and we have managed to shut out the sky. In the process, we also have removed ourselves from one of the fundamental components of our culture
--E.C.Krupp
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| 2004 | Observing the Venus Transit From Wisconsin |
2005 |
Special Columns
Nuts and Bolts: Planning an Amateur Observing Session
How to get started in astronomy for only $200
December 25, 2000, Partial Solar Eclipse
Photo Restoration: An Unfortunate Annular Eclipse Photo Restored
Rare Book Review: Photographic Atlas of the Milky Way
Another Book Review: The Great Atlas of the Stars
Updated
