Tools equipment in astronomy

All astronomy supply companies offer a number of styles and designs. Many are waterproof, which will help extend the life of your flashlight on those moist, dewy evenings when the humidity is high. Carrying cases are a must for keeping your equipment organized and free of dirt and moisture. Many types of cases for your equipment can be obtained from a number of sources. Camera shops usually carry plastic cases that have die-cut foam inside that can be cut and rearranged to fit your equipment.

Most astronomy supply companies also offer cases and carrying bags that are more specially tailored. At many department stores you can find canvas camera bags with adjustable dividers inside. Shop around and find what works best for you. If will be are using a telescope with an electronic mount, or any other type of electric equipment, you are going to need a power source.

Many people tend to use their car batteries. While this will work for short periods of time, depending on your power needs, a better solution is to purchase a separate rechargeable battery or battery pack. Sporting goods stores and astronomy suppliers offer a variety of batteries to suit all of your power needs. Another option to consider would be a gas generator.

The noise and fumes from a generator are not likely to make you any friends. This could very well be the most important single piece of equipment in your arsenal. In many parts of the country, these voracious blood-sucking insects descend on unwary astronomers as soon as evening sets in.

Many people I know have achieved good results with the skin-so-soft formulas. There are also a great deal of new sprays, candles, and electronic devices to combat these obsessive pests. You will have to find out what works best for you. But make sure you have something. A swarm of mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise excellent night of observing the heavens. Observing should be a relaxing experience. Be sure to bring along some good music to help the minutes click by.

If you are making long exposure photographs through your telescope, you could be sitting at the eyepiece for up to an hour for each photo.

Music definitely helps to make the experience a little more enjoyable. Many astronomers seem to enjoy the spacey or celestial sounding music to enhance the observing experience. You can find a lot of these tunes in the New Age sections of most music stores as well online and in some nature stores in the malls. Music by Ray Lynch and David Lange are among my favorites.

Be sure to be courteous to others around you. If you are observing with a group, make sure everyone shares your taste in tunes. Otherwise a good pair of earphones may be a wise investment. Although a lot of people don't realize it, the temperature can drop quite rapidly in the evenings after the Sun goes down. This is especially true on clear nights when there are no clouds in the sky to hold in the heat. Unfortunately these are the ideal nights when we want to be out under the stars.

You may be surprised to find out how chilly it can get after midnight on a summer night. Be sure to bring extra clothing such as jackets, sweat shirts, and sweat pants and be prepared for any changes. During the winter months, be especially careful not to get too cold. Hypothermia can get you when you least expect it. Be sure to dress in layers of warm clothing to keep your body heat in and keep the cold air out.

Another reason to keep a jacket with you is for the humidity. Dew can begin to form in the early hours of the morning and you don't want it to form on you. Since dark sky observing sites take most of us quite a way from home, you may want to be sure to remember to bring along some food and drinks. If you are out on an all-night observing session, as are those in many astronomy clubs, this is especially important.

Water is necessary to keep your body from becoming dehydrated in the dry, cool night air. Iced tea or cola is particularly helpful for beating those sleepy urges.

Snacks are also a must for satisfying those late-night hunger pangs that are inevitable when ever you stay up late past bed time.

To search this site, type your search word s in the box below and click the search button:. All rights reserved. Content from this Website may not be used in any form without written permission from the site owner. Sea and Sky receives commissions for purchases made through links on this site. Visit Us on Facebook.

Follow Us on Twitter. Glossary of Astronomy Terms. Messier Catalog of Deep Sky Objects. Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events.

Astronomy Meetings and Star Parties. Astronomy Clubs and Organizations. Astronomy Equipment Guide. Recommended Astronomy Software. Astronomy Photo Album.

Other Astronomy Resources. Choose one made of weatherproof plastic that is readable at night so that you do not spoil your vision, which is adapted to the dark and weatherproof, to calibrate your degree of observation. Starry skies can cause a variety of problems, such as light pollution, glare and glare. Each telescope comes with an astronomy software download that offers a wide range of astronomical tools such as telescopes, binoculars and even telescopes with telescope mount.

Astronomy apps for smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly popular, showing with the naked eye what you can see in the night sky. Use an astronomy app to find out when interesting objects like the core of the Milky Way will be visible. Using a telescope opens up the possibility of making star observations at an exact time and place, Falls said.

Sources: 0, 3. If you still enjoy your hobby and the world of astronomy after a month or two, this is an exciting time to immerse yourself in astronomy. Any serious amateur astronomer will tell you that it is time you set up your astronomy tools and start enjoying them. This is a great time where amateurs and learners can experiment with tools with the precision that never used to be available outside of professional, high-cost equipment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Lucas Pezeta at Pexels. Your cellphone may save your life out there in an emergency. So keep its battery charged. But we hope nothing more than a great night of skywatching lies in store for you. A music player can keep you company; you'll find amazing correlations between what you hear and what you see in the sky. I sometimes take audio notes during particularly good observing. It keeps my hands free and my eye at the eyepiece.

Even if you never transcribe them, you can listen later and relive the cold awesome night in your warm cozy bed. I'm skinny. I have bony fingers. They get cold; especially on metal telescope surfaces.

But I need manual dexterity to run the cameras, futz with the focuser knob, change eyepieces and fiddle with the laptop. The guy with the black tattoos said his black-ops sniper buddies used them on cold-weather jobs. I didn't ask any more questions. OK, it's actually a fanny pack I wear backward to give me a large kangaroo pouch.

Stylish, yeah, I know. Buy hey, it's dark and the only ones around are other astronomers; very few fashionistas among us. I keep certain items close at hand; easier to access than rooting around inside a pocket. The clearest observing nights are often the coldest. Insulate your outside and warm your insides! Coffee not too strong works, too.

Hot Red Bull? Consume at your own risk. Hot chocolate makes my eyes sleepy. NOTE: Alcohol is dangerous. Adult drinks can give you a false sense of warmth while actually cooling your core. Plus, you may be driving away from your dark-sky observing site when your night is over. Just say no to booze at the telescope. The universe is alive with energy. If you're comfortable, safe and properly equipped, you have established the boundary conditions for deep personal enlightenment.

Have a great time, out there! May the photons be with you. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community space. Space Observations Equipment 1. Telescopes 2. Radio 3. Space Tools 4. Photography 5. Spectroscopy 6. Computers 7.