Kelly Whitt's Blog

Posted by Kelly Whitt

Let's start with the board games. Keep in mind we already own Constellation Station (a big hit) and Planet Quest (also good although by now we have the cards memorized).

Mars 2020 - we've only had it 2 days and we've already played it a handful of times. You get to select your player from the cards, and your player has a different specialty which can help you avoid specific malfunctions. You start at Earth and move in ever larger orbits outward until you reach Mars' orbit, where you try to land in order to win. The difficulties are that you will have malfunctions along the way and have to stop at a spaceport (there is one in each orbit) to answer a question and earn the fix. The other difficulty is that the little red ball representing Mars moves at each turn also, making it both a strategic and educational element, because in reality Mars is always moving along in its orbit too. If you hit it just right, the game can go rather quickly, or you can find yourself chasing Mars around its orbit until it catches up to you from behind. There are lots of question cards which will make the newness of the game last longer. My rating: an A.

Constellation Space Race - This game differs from our other constellation game in that you get to see both hemisphere (the board is double-sided and you can choose to play the northern or southern side) and you get to move your spacecraft right on the constellations instead of around them. One of its drawbacks is that it involves cards, which on the one hand is educational and on the other makes its game-play limited until all the cards are memorized. As my son already knows all about the planets and constellations and stars, most of the questions are easy for us. The challenging questions are mostly in the space exploration category. It is a fun game that can be played quite fast - you draw three constellations and try to make it to each one and back to your base (Corvus) before your opponent. To move the amount you rolled you must answer a question. To make it more challenging and strategic, you can also move one of the two "UFOs" to a constellation your opponent is trying to get and capture it first, making them pick a new constellation card and go to a new constellation. Or you can go to the same square your opponent's rocket is on and make them move back to the home base and draw another constellation card, adding to the amount they must capture. And don't forget about the wormholes that allow you to jump from one part of the board to another. My rating: a B+ (but note - for some players with less knowledge this could earn an A - my son just prefers the Mars 2020 game.)

Discovery Ultimate Star Planetarium - This is one of the three items he got from the Discovery Channel Store. Technically he got this a month ago for his birthday but because we had an issue with a faulty toy he only recently got to play with it. It does indeed work, with a separate sphere for northern or southern hemisphere. You can put in your location and see what the sky looks like now or at a date of your choosing. You can find a constellation from the database. Add you can add a planet or the sun or moon or even a nebula to the view with a special projection piece. But the best part, in my opinion, is setting it to run for an hour so you can fall asleep underneath it. The drawbacks: it works best close to the ceiling, or even better if you happened to have a domed ceiling (I'm guessing you don't). It might be fun to try inside a tent - we haven't yet. And the price - it's very expensive. Due to the high price, I'm going to have to give it an overall rating of a B-.

Explore Space Software Activity - Another item from the Discovery Channel Store is this software package. You get one CD-ROM and two "trinkets" - a glow-in-the-dark space mobile with 6 spheres, an astronaut, and a shuttle, plus a plastic model of the space shuttle on a base that you have to put together yourself. This is an old fashioned, cheap plastic, you-punch-it-out-of-the-frame kind. Good luck getting it together and keeping it together, and fat chance a kid can do it. The software is so-so. It is mostly encyclopedic knowledge of categories such as The Big Bang, The Solar System, etc. A voice tells you some information and then you can read some information yourself. Very basic. The one fun feature is a trivia game. Answer questions about the information on the CD to earn a shot at asteroids that are threatening to destroy Earth (really they are just harmlessly circling above the atmosphere in the graphic). Take your shot and if you answer 20 questions correctly you save Earth. My rating: a C-.

Illuminated Universe Globe - Our last Discovery Channel Store item. In daylight it's a world globe, when it senses darkness a bulb inside lights up, obscuring the Earth images and showing a beautiful blue parade of the constellations. It may be a bit confusing because the constellations will look "backward" as you are out in space looking down on them. You have to try to imagine yourself as inside the orb looking up on the constellations. Not just the stars are represented but drawings of what each constellation stands for, such as a lion for Leo. It is a very attractive globe but again, very pricey. And it needs to be plugged in, but there is not an on-off switch on the cord, so if you do not want the lights on all night you must unplug it. So it's best to set it somewhere you can reach the outlet easily. My rating: a B.

Well I'm off to play another round of Mars 2020. I hope you got some great astronomy gifts for Christmas too!

Posted by Kelly Whitt

Thanks to everyone who took my astrology quiz. If you haven't taken it yet yourself, check it out at this link and then come back to read the answers.

The sign corresponding to each numbered entry is listed below:

1. Sagittarius
2. Cancer
3. Aquarius
4. Gemini
5. Aries
6. Libra
7. Pisces
8. Capricorn
9. Scorpio
10. Taurus
11. Virgo
12. Leo

I did my own test with 37 people to get a rough idea of what the results would be. I was not surprised by the findings. Of the 37 people who answered the test, 33 did not pick the number that corresponded to their birth sign. Of the remaining four people, two of them listed gave me exact matches with their birth sign and the numbered entry they chose. The other two also made a match, but one gave me two signs for herself (she was born on a day next to another sign) and one gave me two entry choices, because they both could apply to her. So I counted them as matches, giving astrology the benefit of the doubt on those two. My final score in this analysis is Astronomy: 33, Astrology 4. I think there is a clear winner here over fact versus fiction.

One of the ironic results of my test is that two of the individuals who made a match were former colleagues of mine at Astronomy magazine. Both were less than thrilled to find they had "validated" astrology. I guess they can take comfort in the fact that random chance would dictate that a few out of a sample of 37 would hit their right sign. Maybe what they really did was just validate the mathematical odds that someone would have to guess "correctly."

Astronomers do not give credence to astrology. In times past, astronomers and astrologers were looked at as the same "profession" -- people who had insight into the mysterious workings of the heavens. But today the idea that the motions of the planets have a direct influence on our lives is not taken seriously by the scientific community.

The zodiacal sign you fall under in astrology is based on the day you were born. On the day that you were born, whatever constellation the sun was in at the time is considered your "sign". The problem with this is that the dates of the astrological signs were fixed a long time ago. The sun is no longer in those constellations on the appropriate days. For example, I was born on May 10 and am supposed to be a Taurus, but if you check the sky in any planetarium software you will see that the sun was not in Taurus on my birth day, but in Aries. So I should really be an Aries. Try it on a planetarium program yourself and see where the sun really was on the day you were born.

Just to be fair, for a number of people whose actual birthdays I knew, and not just their "sign", I checked to see if the gift giving entry they chose matched their "true" astrological sign. It still didn't.

To make it even more interesting, not only were you probably not born under the sign you've always been told, some of you were born under a sign that doesn't even exist. For anyone who was born between November 29 and December 18 in the last century, the sun was in the constellation Ophiuchus at the time. Ophiuchus is not even a sign of the zodiac.

The gift-giving guide can still be useful if you can find a category that someone fits under, but don't base it on astrology. Base it on the person's individual personality, which is not ruled by the planets. As Shakespeare said, "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

Posted by Kelly Whitt

Astronomy and astrology are often confused. Astronomy is a science of studying space: planets, nebulae, galaxies... everything that is "out there". Astronomy combines many different sciences, such as physics, mathematics, geology, climatology, etc.

Astrology is a belief system based on peoples' birthdays. If you do not know what "sign" you are, use the chart below.

Aries (March 21 to April 19)

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)

Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)

Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)

Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20)

To test astrology for yourself, read the following "Gift Giving Guide" formulated to match people with a good gift for them based on their sign. I deleted out all references to the signs and changed the order so you won't know which one is which. I picked the Gift Giving Guide and not the general description of what a person under each sign is like because I think most people have read those already and would know which one to zero in on.

1. This sign enjoys receiving the gift as much as what may actually be inside. But if they don't like what is inside, they won't hesitate to tell you. Consider giving gifts with an outdoor theme, such as camping or hiking gear or an atlas. Also popular on this sign's list: gifts for pets.
2. This tender-hearted sign loves homemade items and items with personal meaning. Silver is their metal of choice, and silver barware would work well. These homebodies would also love a cookbook.
3. This sign can be hard to pin down, because their interest range is so wide. Gadgets are always a good choice, or plan an activity with all their friends.
4. This clever sign likes to read and be given little luxuries. Think of housewares that would fit their entertaining frame of mind, like new throwpillows or a welcome mat to greet their many friends.
5. This physically fit sign would appreciate a gym membership or piece of eqiupment for their home. Or try tickets to their favorite team's home game.
6. This musical sign would love to go out for a night of karaoke or maybe get a machine so they can sing at home with the family. They enjoy company so consider attending a concert with them.
7. This sign is interested in an escape from reality. Maybe tickets to a sci-fi movie or the collection of Harry Potter books. They also love to capture moments on film, so stock them up with video tapes or photo albums.
8. This business-minded sign likes items that can help him or her get ahead. Consider a rolodex or palm pilot or new leather briefcase. Maybe a shopping spree for some new career clothes! Their great sense of humor would also make them happy recipients of a joke book so they can tell one-liners to new clients.
9. This mysterious sign likes to keep their true self under wraps. A decorate mask for the wall or an invitation to an actual masquerade party would be a hit. They would also enjoy artsy movies or those a little offbeat. Consider stocking up their secret drawer of lingerie.
10. This hedonistic sign likes lush items. Spare no expense! Take them out for an expensive dinner or buy them the finest Italian leather shoes. If you don't think you can make a good choice on your own, don't be afraid to ask them for ideas. They would rather get a gift they would use than one that was not specifically tailored to them.
11. This sign is down-to-earth. Find something that they will get daily use out of, such as bath or ktichen items. Volunteer to organize their closet or junk drawer and they will be reminded of you every day that they see all their goods in the right places.
12. This sign loves to be the center of attention. How about a certificate to a day spa? They can be pampered to their heart's content. They love bright, flashy things, the right clothes and jewelry will fit this bill and get them noticed. Then take them out for a night on the town so they can show off.

Come back soon for the answers to the quiz and the results of my own poll of participants. See if my results and analysis match yours.

Posted by Kelly Whitt

My internal clock woke me at 5:15 a.m. this morning. I had time before the planets would rise above the horizon but I didn't want to risk going back to sleep and sleeping through the event. So I wandered downstairs to look at the sky. It was perfectly clear.

To the east I could see the Big Dipper's handle hanging downward like an icicle. Below that was the brilliant Arcturus in Bootes and to the southeast of that was bright Spica in Virgo. The moon was south and behind the roof of my house. Its glow was washing out nearby Saturn and the constellation Leo, where it resided.

I went to power up my computer and check my planetarium software so I would know just the right time to expect the planets. I came up with a time of 6:10 a.m. My horizon to the east (and all the other cardinal points) is rather flat so I figured I had some time to kill. First I tried working on Christmas cards in my photo software but I kept getting an error. So after checking my mail and surfing the net a little I climbed back into bed. When I next checked the clock, it was showtime.

I jumped out of bed and raced downstairs. I was surprised at how bright the sky had gotten over the past 15 minutes. The stars were vanishing and a warm glow was spreading along the horizon. I began to think I wasn't going to see it. I feared that the window of opportunity was too small - the planets had come up too close to sunrise. But then I used my binoculars to make a quick scan of the horizon and immediately two bright lights shone out at me. I removed my binoculars to look in the same direction above the same tree -- and there they were.

I lumbered out across my snowy deck to get a better look. Mercury and Jupiter, the brighter two, were stacked nearly right on top of each other. Through the binoculars I could also see Mars, lying a small distance to the right and quite a bit fainter. I never could see Mars without my binoculars. Through the binoculars I not only saw the three planets but the background stars. Beta Scorpii sat right above Mercury. But the planets were obvious by their brightness and disk shape, instead of being pointlike.

I had brought out my digital camera to take a few photos. First I tried it at automatic setting. I was thinking it would be better to capture more of the surrounding darkness. I took three photos, and could see no planets in any of the images. Then I changed it to shoot without the flash, steadying it on top of the railing of the deck to reduce any blurriness from my movements. I took two photos this way. One was blurry anyway, and one came out relatively clear. Because I do not have a very good zoom on my camera, I had to crop way in to the picture to be able to see the slightly smaller Mercury above Jupiter. Mars was not visible in the photograph.

You can see the photograph, which is now accompanying my article on the conjunction.

Posted by Kelly Whitt

Winter is a tricky season for amateur astronomers. There are more hours of darkness, calling out to the star-lover to leave his warm house for a peek. But the clearer the winter evening, the colder it is. Cloud cover traps some of Earth's heat near the surface, but clear nights allow every little bit of warmth to radiate away into space. So if you want to observe on a crystal clear winter night, be prepared to plan ahead.

First of all, make preparations before you are ready to head out the door. If you are observing at home and don't have your own observatory, make sure the spot you want to put your telescope was already shoveled in the daylight when it was warmer and you could see what you were doing.

Know what you want to observe before you get outside. On warm summer nights it's fine to star hop and let your eyes wander around the heavens, but that kind of leisurely entertainment is a lot less fun when it's 5 degrees outside. Do a little research to see what is in the sky tonight. What planets will be out? Are any comets or asteroids visible? Which deep-sky objects did you want to bag tonight? Make a list and a plan - map it out as you would a route for running errands. Hit what you want and move on to the next closest object.

Prep your telescope as best you can before you are outside. Only bring out what you need so you don't spend precious time fumbling through extra filters and eyepieces. Pick one or two eyepieces, put them in, leave the protective lens caps inside and set the telescope out in your predesignated spot. Then head back inside for a while. You telescope needs time to cool down to the outside surroundings. When it is first placed outside it will radiate heat and make the air "wavy," reducing the quality of your observing conditions. For this same reason a space heater is not a great idea. If it's close enough to warm you then it's probably close enough to create the "wavy" conditions in the surrounding air, which will make anything through your telescope appear blurry and wavering.

Dress for success. Wear your thermal underwear, and if you don't have any, ask for some for Christmas! Double your socks and wear warm boots. Your bottom or your feet, depending on whether you sit or stand while observing, will be the coldest parts of your body. Buy warming pads that can be activated by crushing them and slip them into each boot or buy a hot cushion that you can find in the ice fishing section of your sporting goods store. Make sure you wear a hat and a hood: a good proportion of heat is lost through the top of your head. Hats are the first line of protection to keep out the wind, hoods keep both your head and neck warm and can help you to block out any extra light that is seeping in from the neighbor's house lights. Lastly, cover your fingers with gloves and slip on a pair of mittens over top of them once you have your telescope set in place. Consider using the product HotHands (which you may already have slipped into your boots) for your pockets.

Don't be afraid to take a break to come inside if you need to. And consider taking a mug of coffee or hot chocolate out with you. It will keep you warm on the inside.

Do you have any other ideas for keeping warm during winter observing? Share them in our forum.