My Dreams of Stars

Now is about midnight.
After the rain pours down from the sky, the stars shine clearer in the night.


What is your dream? My dreams of stars are to observe them in different latitude and locations. I would like to go to Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, which are located on the Southern Hemisphere, to take a look at night skies, and compare them to Taiwan’s; I also want to go to Central America and Africa, which is located around the equator, and embrace the southern and northern constellations together.

"A Starry Night in Brazil" from "Astronomy Picture of the Day"

And, I want to lie on the grass, and enjoy the glory of the mythology heroes which are now on the night sky; I would like to sit on the beach, and listen to the wave sing with the stars; I want to walk on the desert, and appreciate the silent night with the starlight; I would like to climb to the mountaintop (especially very high mountains which are above clouds), to catch and collect the whole clear night sky… Oh that will be so wonderful for me to have all those beauteous experiences together!!!!!

So, what is your dream? Why not wishing on stars? =)

Blossoms with Stars

『 Blossoms with Stars
You can enjoy a perfect spring by the grace of some pinky clouds along the road, plenty of petals flying in the air, innumerable blossoms in full bloom, and, above all, countless shining stars in the dark blue sky. 』
(Note by KAGAYA)



These pictures are from "KAGAYA"( http://www.kagayastudio.com/sora/hosibiyori/hana/index.html ). I really love those poetic pictures... they are just so splendid and imaginative, aren't they? Though I don't understand Japanese, I still can feel the pleasant atmosphere in the picture and among the lines... I hope I could find someone translated it into English or Chinese to me, thus I can share with more people. =)


(picture source: wikipedia)

I want to introduce the stars in the picture. As you can see, there are 7 bright stars near the cherry blossoms. Guess what are they? Yes, they are so-called “Big Dipper” and in Chinese are called ”北斗七星” and in Japanese are called ” ほくとしちせい”. I think that the reason why the author put cherry blossoms and Big Dipper together is because that the Big Dipper is one of the important element to represent spring. Because the Ursa Major( which the Big Dipper in ) is one of the target of the spring night sky and the cherry blossoms are represent the spring scenery.

The Big Dipper was very important in ancient China. Even every single star has its name. I have found the format on Wikipedia and it has the contrast between the Chinese name, ancient Chinese name and Proper English name.




(From the right hand side: 天樞.天璇.天璣.天權.玉衡.開陽.搖光)
(picture source: wikipedia)

Actually… I have memorized all the Chinese names of those stars! If you feel strange and ask me why I done this, I would tell you that I just think their Chinese names are indescribable beauty… Every time when I read those magical-liked, glamorous names, I could not help but feel that I am in a peaceful mountain and the night breeze blow tenderly through my face and bring the calmness of heart, and when I raise my head, I could see the plenty of stars and Milky Way. I know it is difficult for most of people to feel as I feel. But I try my best to make sense and hope you can feel it.

Another interesting knowledge of Big Dipper I want to share is: the relevance between the Big Dipper and four seasons which was record in an ancient China book: When the handle is pointing to east, it comes spring; When the handle is pointing to south, it comes summer; When the handle is pointing to west, it comes autumn; When the handle is pointing to north, it comes winter. And I find it also related to the four seasons wind directions in China. Isn’t it is an interesting and unbelievable coincide?

Comet of Taiwan!

photo source: Taipei Astronomical Museum

Cheers to the first comet of Taiwan! :)


Being a Taiwanese, you have to know this: Comet Lulin!
Comet Lulin was discovered by Taiwanese. You may think: “Okay… now I know that this comet was discovered by Taiwanese… so what?” If I tell you that this is the FIRST Taiwan’s comet and named by Taiwan’s observatory-- Lulin, you may be very excited!

＊ Course of Discovery
Comet Lulin was discovered on July, 11, 2007 by a Chi-Sheng Lin (Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Taiwan) and Quanzhi Ye (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China). (It was a pity not Taiwan’s Sun Yat-Sen University! ) And the International Astronomical Union assigned the comet’s number to “C/2007 N3” and named by the observatory which discovered it—Lulin. Comet Lulin is the first comet that discovered by Taiwan. That is the reason why I want to introduce it.

＃ Why “C/2007 N3”?
You may come out this question.
“C” means "a non-periodic comet"
“2007” means “discovered in (year) 2007”
“N” means “discovered in early July”
“3”means “the third comet that discovered in early July”

You may ask further: Why “N” means “early July”?
The International Astronomical Union designed this named rule:
They use 26 English alphabets except “I” and ”Z” these two letters are similar to “1” and “2” to named the comets. Without “I” and “Z”, it only remains 24 letters. And then divide 12 months into 24 parts. Then, “A” means “early January”; “B” means “latter January”… and so forth.



picture source:http://c2007n3.astro.ncu.edu.tw/index.html

＊ Orbit Features
Comet Lulin is a comet with extremely long period and it is about twenty-eight million years. That means, if you missed this chance to take a look of this beautiful blue-green comet, you would not see again in your lifetime! And if you want to observe this comet right now, I have to tell you that you missed it… The best term to greet it was January to April, 2009.




＊ My Own Experience of Observing the Lulin Comet
February, 23, 2009, our association held an observation activity of Comet Lulin in our university. We set up a telescope outside the square and also took some photos of the comet. Honestly, though I really love astronomy, this was truly my first time to observe the comet. I was so excited that I couldn’t help but keep my eyes on the night sky. However, Comet Lulin was too dim to observe and, as you know, our school is located by the sea, so the mist was really heavy. And the mist could disturb the starlight and makes the observers difficult to see the stars. It was a little bit disappointed that we only saw a “tiny, foggy ball-shaped stuff” at the sight of the telescope. Though it was a frustration that did not see the “bright” comet, we also had a good time enjoyed the night sky constellations and photos of the comet. =)

2001 Leonids !!

Many people claim that they have seen meteor shower, so did I. But after my senior sent a youtube video to me and said he had witness this explosion and counted almost 10,000 meteors at that night at Maobitou parking lot. After I opened this video, I was completely astonished and touched by it. That is: “2001 Leonids Meteor Shower”! Enjoy it!

News of Leonids from Japan


Have you ever seen that before with your own eyes? Can you believe that DID REALLY HAPPEN? Wasn't it a magnificent, fascinating and lovely astronomical phenomenon? I have been to Chung-liao tea garden and waiting for the meteor shower for whole night in 1998. Unfortunately, it really disappointing me because I only saw few bolides fell down from the sky and except that was nothing but people’s flashlights and voices.

Few months ago, when I was chatting with my senior, he told me that he have witness the REAL explosion Leonids in 2001 and 1998 was a wrong forecast(it was earlier about 24 hours ). I sank into a deeply melancholy immediately like I missed my most favorite thing. You may think that this is kind of ridiculous but I was really depressed at that time.
But there still a good news. This meteor shower’s explosion cycle is about 33 years and the latest explosion was 1998~2002. That means, we also have chance to see the Leonids Meteor Shower like the video above with our eyes in the lifetime!! Isn’t that interesting and worth expecting? =D


Brief Introduction of Leonids:
The Leonids are a meteor shower associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle. The Leonids get their name from the location of their radiant in the constellation Leo: the meteors appear to stream from that point in the sky. The meteor shower is visible every year around November 17, plus or minus a week, when the Earth moves through the meteoroid stream of particles left from the passages of the comet.

Introduction source and if you want more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonids

Have you ever witness any meteor shower? Share with me please!:))))))

Sun and Stars --Suhai

＊ In Suhai, I heard the whispers from the shining stars,
and watched the sunshine sprinkle the light gently on the grass. ＊

Have you ever experienced such wonderful experience in one place? If no, I will suggest you go to Suhai and enjoy it! Plenty people have ask me where is Suhai? Suhai is located in Pintung and near Taitung. It takes about 3 to 4 hours if you go there by motorcycle like us. I went there last month with my association members again. This is my third time went to Suhai, and, I have to say is that Suhai never disappointing me. I have experienced various feelings everytime I went there.

First time was an amazing discovery that we found many odd and beautiful stones there. Second time was a gorgeous starlight there. Third time, though there were no stars showed up due to the rainny day, we also found that the grass were more shinny and emerald.


Suhai's star night is different from Maobitou's. Compare to Maobitou, Suhai is more distant from city. That means, without light pollution, we can have more "dark district" to observe. When the rain stop rainning, we can find that stars are more clear than we expect. With the cloud scatter gradually, stars are like the actors who go on to the night stage one by one with unknown and unpredictable paces. We never know that which star will be the next to show up and perfrom their stories.


The following photos are about my first time observation in Suhai.

Any questions about Suhai? Please leave your questions and I will give you my answers!

Maobitou-- Good Place to Close the Starlight!

Looking for a good place for observation? Hoping the place is not so far from the city? Maobitou is absolutely your best choice!


Last month I went to Kenting with my association for observation. We went there by riding the motorcycles and it was cost us about 2 to 3 hours. We set up the tents and arranged all the foods when we arrived the Maobitou parking lot. It was about night, and it was time for us to set up our telescope to observe the starry sky! Unfortunately, the sky was sheltered by the clouds. So Kevin and me decided to make a “sunny doll” and hung it on the tree.






Then I went to cook the dinner. After the dinner, magically, the clouds began to disperse! Each one of us was so excited and rearranged all the telescopes. Some of us explained the constellations on the sky. Others were busying adjusted the telescopes and took the astronomical photographs. And I was took charge of telling the constellation stories. It was such a wonderful night that we saw many constellations such as Orion (I had an introduction of this constellation before on my blog), Ursa Major, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Scorpius and so on. The starlight were like the jewels which sprinkled on the deep black velvet. The Milky Way was across the sky, just like a sliver silk ribbon tied on the black jewel case. It was a TRUE starry starry night!

(The photos below were all taken by our association.)

＊　Maobitou parking lot

Map Source: http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/scenic.aspx

Reopening !!

Hello all !

This is Isabella's Astronomy Lover. As you can see below, I have post some posts on last semester. And this semester I will keep my topic -- astronomy. Because astronomy is my favorite so I don't want to change my topic. I hope to find people who also have the same interest with me then we can have wonderful discusses about astronomy! That will be really exciting!!
By the way, I will go to Kenting this weekend and have an observation with my association astronomy members. I am truly look forward to that!!

Good Place for Observation and Useful Astronomy Websites

The best place I want to introduce to you is:

Yuanfong!

The air in the such high mountain is really clearly and the atmosphere, too. Yuanfong is a place where you can easily find amatuer astronomers doing their observation or astronomical photography there, no matter which season. They often bring very expensive instrument to observe the night sky. If you want to take a look the night sky from their telescope, don't be afraid, just go and ask. Generally, people who love astronomy are friendly. They usually willing to share with people who also interested in astronomy. I think that it is because when you go outside and doing observasion, you can't without other peers' help. Or you have to setting the instrument alone, cooking alone, setting tent alone and packaging alone. You have to cooperate and share with others. I think that is what makes astronomy lovers friendly.

Before you go there, you should package more clothes to keep you warming. No matter in summer or winter, the temperature of night at the high mountain will be very low. I suggest you can take some hot chocolate or hot milktea drinks with you, because they are really useful when you feel cold and begin shivering!

Map:

source : http://www.taroko.gov.tw/TarokoPortalEng/4_1_0/Default.aspx

I have post some useful links about astronomy before, and now I want to post more.



Graduate Institute of Astronomy, NCU

http://www.astro.ncu.edu.tw/

It provides the professional astronomy knowledge.




Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy

http://aeea.nmns.edu.tw/

It provides general knowledge of astronomy.

Hubblesite

http://hubblesite.org/

Hubblesite, as it's name, it is a website about all of Hubble. Included lot of unbelievable and unforgettable images.

I put the website from general to professional, hoping you enjoy these websites no matter who you are and love astronomy!!

Special, Magnificent and Gorgeous Constellation in Winter !

I am going to introduce a constellation that everyone should knows in winter!



That is -- Orion!



Since we all know that in Greek mythology, Orion was stung to death by scorpion. Of course, Orion would afraid scorpion ever after. So that is the reason why he is placed in the sky opposite Scorpius. Orion sets, then the scorpion rises.



Orion is one of the most glorious constellations. He representing a giant hunter or warrior by his dogs( the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor ). Orion's belt is the most distinctive feature. It is a line of three second-magnitude stars.



There's a picture that can help you visualize:

Also, there is still some beautiful things I want to show you!

From the middle of Orion's belt hang his sword, which contains the Orion nebula ( also known as M42 ), just visible to the eye. M42 is an enormous star-forming cloud of gas 1500 light years away and covering over two Moon diameters of sky. It is really magnificent. There's a picture:

By the way, in the late October each year, the Orionid meteors appear to radiate from a point near the border with Gemini.

Okay, that is the briefly description of Orion. Let's have a test, to test if you can recognized Orion in the night sky:

It is not very difficult, right?





Here comes the answer:

Hope you not only enjoy the beautiful pictures but also walk out and observe it!

pictures source: Astronomy Picture of the Day http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Want more information? Just click and enter the website, click"search" and type "Orion". It will provides you so many pictures about Orion and gives plenty of information.

Enjoy it!!!!

International Year of Astronomy

picture source: http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/branding/



Happy new year and happy astronomy!!



2009 is an important year for astronomy lover. It is because that 2009 is International Year of Astronomy!



The International Astronomy Union (IAU) launched 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009). And the theme is " The Universe, Yours to Discover ". The reason that set this year as IYA is because 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the first astronomical observation through a telescope by Galileo Galilei. 2009 will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, with a strong emphasis on education, public engagement and the involvement of young people, with events at national, regional and global levels throughout the whole of 2009.

information source: http://www.astronomy2009.tw/en/intro.html





In Taiwan, we definitely have some celebration and activities. The main host of IYA will be Wei-Hsin Sun(孫維新), who is the Professor of Institute of Astrophysics of National Taiwan University.
He is enthusiastic at Astronomy and publish and translated many books about astronomy. I certainly have one, too. Everyone who has touched astronomy would know him. Because compare to other astronomy schloar he is the most active in Taiwan.


Details about Taiwan's IYA celebration and activities please check this website:
http://www.astronomy2009.tw/zh/activity.html


As an astronomy lover, I am really looking forward this year's activities!
How about you? :)


Oh and by the way, I am next president of our school's astronomy club, so I may take charge of southern Taiwan's IYA activities!