Christmas Wish List
Since Priebe started it here's the beginning of my wish list.
Jasper Curve laser pointer. It helps to point out things in the night sky. The most (legally) powerful laser pointer there is (<5mW). Google Earth now has the Sky function allowing you to look around at the stars and constellations as well and getting to see some details about them and pics from Hubble, but I think I prefer the online tools from SkyandTelescope.com or Astronomy.com for view planning or if you are wondering what star that is that you are looking at. They even have a podcast available for your MP3 player that will guide you around the stars if you want to just casually look around.
But really nothing (I've found) beats my Palm PDA's program Planetarium (also available on Windows Mobile devices if you use StyleTap) for ease, power and geekiness (except maybe this device which allows you to point it at any object in the sky and it will tell you what it is, but then again it's ~$400).
August is supposed to be the best month of the year to get out and view the heavens. Jupiter is big and bright in the southern sky now (looks like the upper left corner of the box of stars in the south) and with any optical device of 8x or 10x magnification, you can even see it's 4 main moons.
And Tuesday morning you get to see a total lunar eclipse if you get up between 5-6:15. Get out there and spend some unique time with the kiddos and share with them the awesomeness of God's creation.
Jasper Curve laser pointer. It helps to point out things in the night sky. The most (legally) powerful laser pointer there is (<5mW). Google Earth now has the Sky function allowing you to look around at the stars and constellations as well and getting to see some details about them and pics from Hubble, but I think I prefer the online tools from SkyandTelescope.com or Astronomy.com for view planning or if you are wondering what star that is that you are looking at. They even have a podcast available for your MP3 player that will guide you around the stars if you want to just casually look around.
But really nothing (I've found) beats my Palm PDA's program Planetarium (also available on Windows Mobile devices if you use StyleTap) for ease, power and geekiness (except maybe this device which allows you to point it at any object in the sky and it will tell you what it is, but then again it's ~$400).
August is supposed to be the best month of the year to get out and view the heavens. Jupiter is big and bright in the southern sky now (looks like the upper left corner of the box of stars in the south) and with any optical device of 8x or 10x magnification, you can even see it's 4 main moons.
And Tuesday morning you get to see a total lunar eclipse if you get up between 5-6:15. Get out there and spend some unique time with the kiddos and share with them the awesomeness of God's creation.
