stargazing 2

Dummy's guide for sure-fire sure-succeed stargazing:
step 1. Get a laptop/ tablet pc.
step 2. download and install "stellarium"
step 3. Find a day with no clouds, no haze; find a place with no/ less light, no noise (save two noisy companions of a brother and sister)
step 4. take a compass, the laptop/ tablet with "stellarium", and perhaps a mat to lie down on. Head down to that place.
step 5. using the 3d star maps of stellarium, match them to the stars you see, aligning with the north/ south poles.
step 6. bingo! you are successfully identifying stars. You've now upgraded to a true blue stargazer.



Precisely what I did. This time round, the sky was extra clear, and I added constellations after constellations into my "life list". This was what (confirmed) we saw:

(seen before and again)
1. orion
2. Gemini
3. canis major
4. Auriga

more seen today:
5. canis minor
6. Puppis
7. Vela
8. Hydra (1 star)
9. Leo
10. Lepus
11. Perseus
12. Taurus
13. ... saturn!!!

So thrilled. Really can't believe the sky today man!!!! Going to sleep now. Still have rugby tomorrow.