1. Magazines That Cover Astronomy
2. Organizations That Deal with Astronomy for the Public
3. Sites for Astronomy and Space Science News
4. Selected Sources for the Latest Astronomy Images
5. Debunking Pseudoscience
6. Sources and Reviews of Astronomical Software
7. Miscellaneous Sites
1. Magazines that Cover Astronomy
Astronomy Magazine (www.astronomy.com) has the largest circulation of any magazine devoted to the universe and is designed especially for astronomy hobbyists and armchair astronomers. Their site feature many sections on the hobby of astronomy and on things you can do to become involved.
Sky & Telescope Magazine (skyandtelescope.com) is an older and somewhat higher-level magazine for astronomy hobbyists. Their site is especially rich in observational guides, software and equipment reviews, and lists astronomy clubs around the country.
Scientific American Magazine (www.sciam.com) offers one astronomy article about every second issue. These articles, a number of which are reproduced on their Web site, are at a slightly higher level than Voyages, but -- often being written by the astronomers who have done the work being described -- are authoritative and up-to-date.
Mercury Magazine (www.astrosociety.org/pubs/mercury/mercury.html) is a popular-level magazine published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific that features articles and columns for astronomers, educators, and astronomy enthusiasts. They often deal with more philosophical issues and the influence of astronomy on other areas of human thought.
Other Magazines that Cover Astronomy:
2. Organizations that Deal with Astronomy for the Public
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (www.astrosociety.org) is the largest and oldest national astronomy organization in the U.S. The membership of the Society, founded in 1889, includes astronomers, educators, and astronomy enthusiasts. Their site features a non-profit catalog of interesting astronomy items (posters, videos, software, etc.) and also a large quantity of information related to astronomy education.
The Planetary Society (www.planetary.org), founded by the late Carl Sagan, works to encourage planetary exploration and the search for life elsewhere. Its Web site has many pages of information in these two areas.
The Astronomical League (www.astroleague.org) is the umbrella organization of astronomy clubs in the U.S. Their sites have good lists of astronomy clubs around the country, activities and hints for astronomy hobbyists, and information on regional and national programs.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (www.rasc.ca) is a membership organization that unites professional and amateur astronomers around Canada, and has 26 centers around that country with local activities. Specific calendars can for each location can be found on the site.
NASA (www.nasa.gov) has an astronomical amount of information on its many web sites; the trick is to find what you need. Their site has improved in recent years, with better navigation and search functions. Most projects and NASA centers have their own web sites and we have recommended many of these throughout the chapters.
3. Sites for Astronomy and Space Science News
Each of these sites is run by people with background in science and tries to feature (and explain) new developments as they occur.
4. Selected Sources for the Latest Astronomy Images
Anglo-Australian Observatory Image Collection: www.aao.gov.au/images.html A marvelous library of images (focusing on nebulae and galaxies) taken using large Australian telescopes. Many are by David Malin, who is acknowledged to be one of the finest astronomical photographers of our time. Includes captions and ordering information.
Hubble Space Telescope Images: hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive All the magnificent Hubble Space Telescope images are here, with captions; many have detailed background information and new research results included. You can check the latest images, browse the ones the staff considers the Hubble’s “greatest hits,” or search for objects of interest to you. Best of all, they can all be downloaded in various formats completely free.
National Optical Astronomy Observatories Image Gallery: www.noao.edu/image_gallery/ NOAO includes a number of major telescopes in the United States and the Southern Hemisphere. Some of the best images from NOAO instruments are collected and organized at this site.
Planetary Photojournal: photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov This site, run by the Jet Propulsion Laboratories and the U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Astrogeology in Flagstaff, is one of the most useful resources on the Web. It features thousands of the best NASA images from planetary exploration, with detailed captions and excellent indexing, and more are being added all the time. You can dial up images by world, feature name, date, or catalog number, and download images in a number of popular formats.
Astronomy Picture of the Day: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html Astronomers Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonell feature one relatively new celestial image each day with a brief non-technical caption. Over the years, some of the best astronomical images have been featured here and an index is available on site.
European Southern Observatory: www.eso.org/outreach/gallery/astro This growing album contains images from the large telescopes in the southern hemisphere run by a consortium of European countries. With the advent of the Very Large Telescope, there is an increasing number of important new images and results on this site.
Infrared Image Gallery: coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/missions_gallery.html This site collects infrared images from space missions and telescopes on the ground and also offers an intriguing set of comparisons showing images at visible and invisible wavelengths.
Other Ways to Find Astronomy and Space Images:
Astronomical Pseudo-science: A Skeptic's Resource List: www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/pseudobib.html An annotated list of written and Web resources for dealing with astrology, UFO's, the Face on Mars, ancient astronauts, and many similar fringe topics.
Debunking Pseudo-science (in General): www.csicop.org For students or instructors who want assistance in dealing with topics that mix up science with new age philosophy, paranormal beliefs, conspiracy theories, and utter silliness, the premier organization is the awkwardly named, but very effective Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). Composed of scientists, educators, magicians, legal experts, doctors, and others who are tired of the uncritical acceptance of pseudo-science by the media and the public, CSICOP seeks to provide the skeptical, rational side of many controversial topics, such as UFO's, astrology, psychic power, the Bermuda Triangle, crop circles, etc. Their site is a treasure trove of information, anecdotes, experiments, and links.
6. Sources and Reviews of Astronomical Software
Sky & Telescope’s Software Pages: skyandtelescope.com/resources/software Lists and explains a wide range of astronomical freeware and shareware, programs you can download and copy.
John Mosley’s Software Directory: www.griffithobs.org/software.html The editor of the magazine for planetarium educators lists a wide range of astronomical software by publisher, plus references to published reviews.
Dan Bruton’s Software List: www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/software.html Includes listings and links to over 200 pieces of astronomical software.
Bill Arnett’s Software List: www.seds.org/billa/astrosoftware.html A long listing of both commercial and non-commercial packages with links.
Science Fiction Stories with Good Astronomy and Physics: www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/scifi.html A listing of novels and stories organized by topic in astronomy, with a brief description of each.
Astronomical Observing Tips: skyandtelescope.com/howto/ This series of excellent articles from Sky & Telescope magazine introduces beginners to observational astronomy. It includes good advice on getting started with just your eyes, binoculars, small telescopes, star wheels, photography, and much more.
History of Astronomy Site: www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/astoria.html Professor Wolfgang Dick maintains this comprehensive series of links to sites about all aspects of astronomical history. Among its best features is the ability to select the name of a historical astronomer and find links that provide instant biographical information.
AstroWeb: Astronomy/Astrophysics on the Internet: www.cv.nrao.edu/fits/www/astronomy.html This site, maintained by a consortium of astronomy institutions is a collection of thousands of astronomy-related links, organized by subject. Some links are to highly technical sites, some to pages that are just right for beginners. You can check if an astronomer has a personal Web page, look up what astronomy departments or observatories have put on the Web, and delve further into many specialized areas.
Space Calendar: www.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar Ron Baalke at JPL keeps this amazing listing of space- and astronomy-related events, including upcoming launches, significant anniversaries, and things to see in the sky. Most entries in the calendar have a Web link where you can find more information.