Astronomy For Dummies. Maran Stephen P.

Planet Walk, Galaxy Maze, and a large clockwork orrery (mechanical model of the solar system, with moving planets). It’s closed on some holidays, so check the website (www.jodrellbank.net/visit/plan-a-visit/) before you go.

      ❯❯ Parkes Radio Telescope, near Parkes, New South Wales, Australia: The radio telescope to visit when you’re Down Under is the 210-foot, dish-shaped Parkes Radio Telescope. The telescope is known to astronomers for research findings, but it achieved its greatest public notice when it relayed radio transmissions to NASA from Apollo astronauts on their missions to the Moon. The Parkes Radio Telescope Visitors Discovery Centre has exhibits, a 3-D theater, and the aptly named Dish Café. See the website at www.atnf.csiro.au/outreach/visiting/parkes/index.html.

Popping in on planetariums

      Planetariums, also called planetaria, are just right for beginning astronomers. They provide instructive exhibits and project wonderful sky shows indoors on the planetarium dome or on a huge screen. And many offer nighttime skywatching sessions with small telescopes, usually held outside in the parking lot, in an adjacent small observatory dome, or at a nearby public park. Many have excellent shops where you can browse the latest astronomy books, magazines, and star charts. The planetarium staff can also direct you to the nearest astronomy club, which may even meet after hours in the planetarium itself.

      I practically grew up in the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Occasionally, I confess, I even snuck in for free. The planetarium staff was nice enough to have me back to speak (also for free) at its 50th anniversary. Although the old planetarium was torn down, a fine new one has replaced it. Make this planetarium, which is part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space, a prime destination when you visit the Big Apple. It’s pricey but still much cheaper than a Broadway show, and its stars never miss a cue or sing off key (just don’t try to sneak in like me)! Visitor information is on the American Museum’s website at www.amnh.org/plan-your-visit.

      

You can find a list of planetariums in the United States, with links to their websites, at www.go-astronomy.com/planetariums.htm. To search for planetariums worldwide, consult the almost-400-page directory maintained by the International Planetarium Society. You can find it on the Society’s website, www.ips-planetarium.org/?page=dir.

      Vacationing with the Stars: Star Parties, Eclipse Trips, Dark Sky Parks, and More

      An astronomy vacation is a treat for the mind and a feast for the eyes. Plus, traveling with the stars is often cheaper than taking a conventional holiday. You don’t have to visit the hottest tourist destinations to keep up with your snooty neighbors. You can have the experience of a lifetime and come back raving about what you saw and did, not just what you ate and spent.

      However, you can blow big bucks on one type of astronomy vacation: the eclipse cruise. But if you like ocean cruises, taking one to an eclipse doesn’t cost any more than making a similar voyage that has no celestial rewards. Bargain-basement eclipse tours are available, too. Star parties, telescope motels, and visits to dark sky parks are additional options; I cover all the bases in the following sections. Pack your bags and have the neighbors watch the dog!

Party on! Attending star parties

      Star parties are outdoor conventions for amateur astronomers. They set up their telescopes (some homemade and some not) in a field, and people take turns skywatching. (Be prepared to hear plenty of “Oohs” and “Ahs.”) Judges choose the best homemade telescopes and equipment, earning their owners esteem and sometimes even a prize. If rain falls in the evening, partygoers may watch slide shows in a nearby hall or a big tent. Arrangements vary, but often some attendees camp in the field; others rent inexpensive cabins or commute from nearby motels. Star parties may last for a night or two, or sometimes as long as a week. They attract a few hundred to a few thousand (yes, thousand!) telescope makers and amateur astronomers. And the larger star parties have websites with photos of previous events and details on coming attractions. Some resemble the AstroFests I mention later in this section, with exhibitors and distinguished speakers as well as stargazing.