Thursday, October 24, 2013

OBSCURE EVENT SET TO THRILL CITY STAR GAZERS - ABU DHABI WEEK MAGAZINE


Sun-worshippers in the capital should brace themselves for partial disappointment on Sunday 3rd November, but astronomy fans will be rejoicing as a solar eclipse is due to cast its shadow across the city.

Star-gazers can expect to see this solar spectacle from 1.21pm on Sunday with the partial eclipse ending at 3.05pm. And even though this is only a partial eclipse, Andy Palado from the Abu Dhabi Astronomy Society is still excited by the event.

“For us, every sky event is amazing. Even though one third of the sun will be covered, it will still make for spectacular viewing,” said Palado.

The solar eclipse, which is the alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth, will be an amazing spectacle, but as Palado explained, it can still be harmful to an observer’s eyes.

“Of course looking directly at the sun is going to damage your eyes. If you want to see the eclipse, we suggest using a solar glass or X-ray paper. We will be using our telescopes, which will not be focused directly on the eclipse,” said Palado.

The astronomy club will be gravitating to the Corniche beach to watch the spectacle and the society’s founder also explained that anyone planning on attending should get in touch with him.
“We will be at the beach on the 3rd November. You will see me with my telescope! Please come and say hello and feel free to ask about the society and the eclipse,” Palado added.

-http://abudhabiweek.ae/obscure-event-set-to-thrill-city-star-gazers/#sthash.3kaGg9bk.mJzbqS38.dpbs

Sunday, October 20, 2013

TWO COOL ANDROID APPS FOR AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS


SKY MAP




STAR CHART


SKY MAP AND STAR CHART ARE FREE APPS FOR ANDROID

You can now have a virtual planetarium in your pocket! Look through the eyes of your Android device, to see a virtual window into the whole visible universe.

All you have to do is point your Android device at the sky and the Sky Map and Star Chart will tell you exactly what you are looking at.

Using state of the art GPS technology, an accurate 3D universe, and all of the latest high tech functionality, Sky Map and Star Chart puts you in real time to the current location of every star and planet visible from Earth.

So download either of these two apps and install it to your device then point out in the sky and see what's out there!

Click the link below to download:

Sky map
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid

Star chart
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.escapistgames.starchart