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Resources
Here we present a collection of tools and resources that we have found useful. Please let us know if you have something to add or if you find anything not working as expected. Here is a page with Apps we like using, too.
Comets: Several can be visible through out the year – learn how to find them, see below for other comet resources, too.
- Comet Watch: Click on the Live Position Data for more information on any comets coming our way.
- Comets in the Sky: Adjust for your location and date of viewing, the map will give you where current comets are in the sky and let you know if they are visible with a telescope, binoculars or naked eye.
- Transit of Mercury: Last transit was November 2019, next one is in 2032
- EclipseWise: A transit is when one object goes in front of another object. Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses are transits. This site has information for all types of transits with timing and maps. Next solar eclipse in North America: 10/2023 Annular, 04/2024 Total.
Software
- Stellarium – A wonderful multi-platform, open-source planetarium package.
- Cartes du Ciel/Sky Charts – An open-source planetarium/charting package.
- Celestia – The multi-platform space simulator that lets you explore our universe in three dimensions.
- Did you know that your Google Earth program has a tab for a sky view, and the Moon and Mars? Click on the planet on the top tab, a drop down box will give you your options.
On-line Applications and Sites
- U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications – Rise and set times, lunar phases and much more.
- Heavens Above – See the ISS, Iridium Flares, comets, planetary data, charts and much more.
- The 88 Constellations – Nice infographic of the 88 constellations, with pictures, best time to view, where it’s located, etc. Shared by Boy Scout troop 325, while they were searching the web for their Astronomy Merit Badge they found us and thought this would be a great additional resource for others.
- Google Sky – Google maps for the sky. DSS, infrared, microwave, historical images along with Google Moon and Google Mars.
- NASA’s Eclipse site – All things eclipses, planetary transits across the sun, and other solar system information.
- NASA Timeline of the history of the agency. Suggested by Adam, a student in CA who found the SMAS resource page during his research and thought this would be a great addition to our page. Thanks Adam!
- Cometography.com – All things comets.
- StarDate Online – A wealth of information and StarDate Magazine from the good folks at The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory.
- Jupiter’s Moons Information – Find out the positions of Jupiter’s 4 Galilean moons currently or at any time in the future, a great web page at the Sky & Telescope web site.
- Lunar Eclipses for Beginners – What is a lunar eclipse and why do the happen, learn about that and more.
- Locate Lunar Eclipses – Information about where and when to view lunar eclipses
- Solar Eclipses for Beginners – Learn about solar eclipses.
- Time and Date: Sun and Moon rise/set times and eclipse information
- Interactive ISS – for the 16th anniversary (2016) an interactive site with info on the ISS (see the Heavens-Above website above to track the ISS and go out to observe it going overhead. )
- Backyard Astronomy Basics – Suggested by Quentin, a boy scout making his way through his Astronomy Badge work who found the SMAS resource page helpful, but knew that we needed to add this site, too. Thanks Quentin!
- Online Ultimate Beginners Guide to Astronomy. Filled with info on observing, telescopes and photography.
- Computer games for kids: Another site suggested by a student, Trevor, who found our other links helpful and thought we needed to add this site. Most need flash, so update then go play and learn! Thanks Trevor!
- Guide to Backyard Astronomy another site suggested by a visitor to our site. Thanks James!
- Universe Sandbox – a fun site to play around in – it is a physics-based space simulator. It merges gravity, climate, collision, and material interactions to reveal the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Create, destroy, and interact on a scale you’ve never before imagined. One of our members favorite site to play around with!
- Dimension 4 will sync your clock on your computer to help your computer operated telescope find objects in the night sky.
- DeepSkyStacker is a freeware for astrophotographers that simplifies all the pre-processing steps of deep sky pictures.
- IUA Minor Planets website helps you find what is up in the night sky.
- PHD Guiding is designed to be “Push Here Dummy” simple, yet provide powerful, intelligent auto-guiding of your telescope for both PCs and Macs. Connect your mount, your camera, select a star, and start guiding.
- Montana IDA chapter of the International Dark Skies Association.
- Top 25 Public Observatories How many have you been to?
- Top NASA Astronomy Photos of all time. How many do you remember? Thanks to Edelyn for the two Top 25 sites.
- StarLust is a collection of information about our solar system and the universe intended for a general audience withSl little technical background. Thanks, Tom
- 44 of the closest stars compared to our Sun, great visual with size, luminosity, and more. Thanks to Megan
- Sleeping under Stars & Planets: A fun page with lots of links, thanks to Janice.
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A Young Learner’s Guide to Astronomy: Information and resources for young astronomers, thanks to Miss Cara’s class.
Clear Sky Clock
Special thanks to Attilla Danko of ClearDarkSky.com for our clear sky clock.
Other Clear Sky Clocks in Montana.
Current Lunar Phase
SOLAR and Aurora Links:
Solar Missions: list of past, current and future missions to study the sun
Solar Missions: List of all NASA solar missions
Space Weather: Basic information on space weather, auroras, and more – My go-to site.
Space Weather Live: More in-depth data pertaining to the sun
Solar Ham: Information from the above sites and more
University of Alaska models and forecast
Ovation Aurora predictions
The Sun Today: Lots of info and education regarding the sun and missions
Solar Monitor: Current and past data and pictures of the sun
Sunspots: Current data on sunspots
Helioviewer: Current solar data/images. Change the parameters (space scopes and wavelength) to make movies and look back at past events
SOHO website: Info and data from the SOHO mission
SDO website: info and data from the Solar Dynamic Observatory
STEREO website: info and data from the STEREO Mission
IRIS mission: Ties to MSU
MMS Mission: Ties to MSU
FIREBIRD Mission: Ties to MSU
Aurorasaurus: – info on auroras and educational information on what causes the aurora
ACE website: info and data from the Advanced Composition Explorer
Heliophysics educational resources
NOAA – The official U.S. government space weather bureau
Atmospheric Optics – The first place to look for information about sundogs, pillars, rainbows and related phenomena
Solar Monitoring – information about sunspots based on the latest NOAA/USAF Active Region Summary
30 Minute Aurora Forecast
Live Aurora webcam from Lapland
Softserve forecast and alerts
Satellite weather – Will it be clear or not to go and view the aurora or look at the stars?
Camera Settings for auroral photography
More help with camera settings
A Students Guide to Solar Power eclipses, thanks to Girl Scout Hannah
Eclipse information:
How to photograph an Eclipse: from our friend Carlos at Astro Pix
Astrophotography – how to avoid star trails
All eclipse dates: From NASA, lunar and solar through the year 2100. It’s never too early to start planning your next trip!
Citizen CATE Experiment: Several SMAS club members manned sites and contributed to the data collected from the 8/21/17 TSE, see the movie here.
NASA Eclipse 2017
Interactive map – pick an eclipse, plot where you’ll be to see timing of the eclipse
GLOBE Observer App
GLOBE Cloud training
Globe at Night – Globe at Night, citizen science for dark skies
AND FOR THE FUN OF IT:
Space Elevators: From our friend Lucas
Plasma Rockets: From our friend Dave
SMAS members list of favorites objects to find in the night sky during public outreach events include:
Planets – depending on the season and which are up.
M13
M57 – Ring Nebula
Alberio
Double cluster
M51 – Whirlpool Galaxy
M27 – Dumbell nebula
M16 – Swan nebula
M42 – Orion Nebula (in the fall/winter)