Stargazing Resources
I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone to attended our Autumn Stargazing Festival this week, and to the students and staff of the Memorial High School Astronomy Club (JMM Astro) who helped me to host the event. Several visitors asked for a list of the resources I shared in the planetarium programs. The list below highlights a few of my favorite resources that I use in preparation for observing the night sky, and during an observing session. I hope you find them helpful.
Purchasing Telescopes:
- Buying a Telescope (Astronomy.com)
- Telescope Buying Guide for New Astronomers (Sky and Telescope)
- Orion Telescopes & Binoculars (telescope.com) [Where we buy our telescopes]
What's Happening in the Sky?
- The Sky this Week (Astronomy.com)
- This Week's Sky at a Glance (Sky and Telescope)
- Skymaps.com Monthly Star Chart (includes map, events, tips, and suggested objects to observe)
- Heavens-above.com for satellite and space station flyovers [Madison Link]
Weather
- Madison Clear Sky Chart
- Weather Underground for Madison (Wunderground.com)
- Weather Channel set for Madison (Weather.com)
Desktop Software
- Starry Night Pro (expensive but great) [Mac and Windows]
- SkySafari ($5; user friendly) [Mac]
- Stellarium (Free; good, but not as user friendly) [Mac and Windows]
Mobile Software
- SkySafari ($3; accurate pointing; user friendly) [iOS and Android]
- SaturnMoons ($3; iOS) or free web version
- JupiterMoons ($3; iOS) or free web version
- Moon Globe (Free or $1; iOS)
Good luck! Clear skies!
