![]() ![]() ![]() With a detailed Moon map in hand, you can survey our nearest space neighbor in amazing detail. If you have a reflector or catadioptric telescope, be sure to offset the hole to one side so that no part of the secondary-mirror support blocks the mask’s opening. Secure the mask in front of the telescope, and you’re set. Cut a circular piece of cardboard matching the diameter of your telescope’s objective lens or primary mirror, and then cut out a hole 2 or 3 inches across. Stopping down a telescope to about 2 or 3 inches in aperture will make moonlight more manageable. Although it will not damage your eyes, the Moon’s brightness can be diminished by using a neutral-density Moon filter or by placing a stop-down mask in front of your telescope. Many amateurs complain about the Moon’s overwhelming glare, especially during the gibbous and full phases. Setting up on the upwind side of a heat source often lessens its impact on seeing, because the radiating heat will be diverted away from you. I notice, however, that as a planet rises above the oaks, the heat from those trees obliterates detail no matter how good the transparency and seeing are otherwise.” Wind direction and speed may help or hinder. As Jeff Barton from Dallas writes, “I use two oak trees to block light pollution to the west and my house to block lights to the east, giving me a fairly good view due south. But even then, shy away from setting up near leafy trees. Grassy areas absorb relatively little heat, making them far better options. Because roofs, driveways, and other paved surfaces soak up a disproportionately large amount of heat during the day, they are usually among the worst choices for viewing the planets. Planet viewing depends more on the steadiness of the atmosphere than it does on darkness and transparency. Let’s begin by looking a little closer at the choice of observing site. Here are some tricks and tips to make exploring the solar system from your location more enjoyable. The area around Miami, for instance, is famous for its steady skies. But at the same time, the haze that often engulfs cities can actually calm atmospheric instability. Roadways, parking lots, and the buildings themselves all absorb heat during the day, only to radiate it back at night. Even though light pollution may not impact planetary observing, concrete jungles can be full of localized sources of heat, which lead to turbulent seeing conditions and blurry views. That’s why many urban astronomers prefer to stick close to home when stargazing.īut all is not necessarily paradise in metropolis. All are so bright that they punch right through light pollution, haze, and smog as if those problems weren’t even there. The Moon, the Sun, and three of the five naked-eye planets always put on great shows through telescopes. ![]()
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