Websites to Explore
Image Galleries by the Photographers Featured in the Film
- The Universe in Color: Astrophotography by Robert Gendler
- Jack Newton's Image Gallery
- Akira Fujii Image Gallery
- Kenneth Crawford Image Gallery
- Michael Mayda Images
- Axel Mellinger Astrophotography
- Andreas Roerig Astronomy Pages
- Neil Fleming Astronomy Gallery
Image Galleries from Professional Telescopes
- Gemini Observatory Gallery
- Hubble Space Telescope Image Gallery
- NASA Planetary Photojournal
- National Optical Astronomy Observatories Image Gallery
- Spitzer Space Telescope Gallery (Infrared Images)
- Very Large Telescope Image Gallery (European Southern Observatory)
- Multi-wavelength Astronomy Gallery (images of different astronomical objects seen not only in visible light, but with many different kinds of waves, such as x-rays)
- Astronomy Picture of the Day (has both amateur and professional astronomers' photos)
Getting Oriented in the Sky
- Your Sky Tonight
- Solar System Simulator at JPL (shows the solar system from many perspectives)
- Planet Finder (calculates and shows what planets are visible in your sky)
- Night Sky Notes from the Abrams Planetarium
Getting Started in Amateur Astronomy
- Stargazing Basics from Sky & Telescope magazine
- Choosing Equipment Basics from Sky & Telescope
- Astrophotography Basics from Sky & Telescope
- Advice for Beginning Amateur Astronomers
- Urban Skies: Observing from the City
- Astronomy Magazine's Introduction to Telescopes and Equipment
- Family Astronomy Activities
Where to Find Answers to Astronomy Questions on the Web
- Ask the Astronomer (Sten Odenwald)
- Ask the Experts at PhysLink
- Curious about Astronomy? (Ask an Astronomer at Cornell)
- Ask an Astrophysicist
- Ask the Space Scientist (Sten Odenwald)
- Chandra X-ray Observatory Questions and Answers
Astronomy Podcasts and Downloads
- The SETI Institute's Are We Alone Radio Show
- The Planetary Society's Planet Radio
- Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures
- Hubble Space Telescope Skywatch
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory Podcasts
- Spitzer Space Telescope Podcasts
- National Public Radio's Science Friday Archives
- Astronomy Cast
Astronomy Information on the Web
- Astronomy Magazine's Introductory Articles
- How Fast Are You Moving When You are Sitting Still?
- The Search for Life Elsewhere: The SETI Institute
- NASA (we especially recommend the feature called science@nasa)
- The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (where many of the most exciting space missions are controlled)
- The Constellations Website
- The Nine (now 8) Planets Solar System Guide
- Views of the Solar System
- The Universe in the Classroom Electronic Newsletter
- News about Space and Astronomy
Websites for Choosing Your First Telescope
Choosing a telescope is like buying a car or a computer: You’ll get the best results by doing a little research first. Telescope reviews and advertisements may be found in the two major American magazines for amateur astronomers, Sky & Telescope and Astronomy. We recommend that you "test drive" a few telescopes by going to a public observing session in your region; check with your local amateur astronomy club.
Here are some links:
- Astronomy magazine’s Guide to Buying a Telescope, by Michael Bakich (See also their guide to using binoculars for astronomy
- Sky & Telescope magazine’s Choosing Your First Telescope, by J. Kelly Beatty
- Sky & Telescope magazine’s Choosing Your First Telescope, by Joshua Roth
- Sky & Telescope magazine’s How to Choose a Telescope, by Adrian Ashford (note that this article continues on further pages, whose numbers are below an ad and very small)
- Space.com’s How to Buy a Telescope: A Buyer’s Guide, by Jeff Kanipe
- Jay Freeman’s Recommendations for Beginning Astronomers
- Stacy Palen (Weber State Planetarium) on Buying Your First Telescope
- Michael Edelman’s The Heretic’s Guide to Buying Your First Telescope
- Ed Ting’s So You Wanna Buy a Telescope: Advice for Beginners
Timothy Ferris's website: http://www.timothyferris.com/