Sidewalk astronomy
Sidewalk astronomy
Overview
Examples of people setting up telescopes on urban streets for public astronomical viewing go back well into the 19th century and maybe even further.
Because the sidewalks tend to be in light-polluted areas, sidewalk astronomers often coordinate their activities at times when brighter celestial objects like planets, the Moon, and bright stars are visible. During the day, sidewalk astronomy often includes use of a solar filter on the telescope to allow people to view the Sun. Telescopes are often larger than the average available "department store telescope", sometimes very large.[2][11]
Amateur astronomical activities
With the advent and growth of organized
See also
- Amateur astronomy
- Citizen science
- Star party
- A Sidewalk Astronomer, 2005 documentary about John Dobson's activities, including sidewalk astronomy
References
- ^ "Sidewalk astronomy: Taking it to the streets". Article Archives. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
- ^ a b Latimer J. Wilson, Adventures in Street Corner Astronomy, Popular Science Mar 1921
- ^ Frederick News Post - What's it like ... to be a street corner astronomer? Originally published October 16, 2008 - Herman Heyn, Bal street corner astronomer. Archived February 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Story of the Heavens - By Robert Stawell Ball – Herschel, after 1774
- ^ The Historical Society of Southern California quarterly by the Historical Society of Southern California, Pioneers of Los Angeles County v. 38 – 1956 “The "sidewalk astronomer" was conspicuous in Los Angeles. One such gentleman in the late 1870s and early 1880s was Mr Grosser by name, who, for a small fee would allow the passerby to gaze not only through his sizeable telescope but also through the illumined microscope he carried”
- ^ a b Theatrical management in the West and South for thirty years By Solomon Smith, Sinclair Hamilton Collection of American Illustrated Books before 1868 – mention for pay
- ^ Journal of the Franklin Institute – 1880 – page 418 - Sidewalk Astronomers in Paris
- ^ Jerome Sydney Meyer, "Great inventions" - Page 51
- ^ Brown, John (2009-01-16), John Brown's New Orleans Sidewalk Astronomy web page, retrieved 2009-06-23
- ^ Friends' intelligencer Page 298 1862
- ^ a b "Moser, Don (2005-11-01), 35 Who Made a Difference: John Dobson, Smithsonian.com, retrieved 2009-06-23
- ^ Sidewalk Astronomers
- ^ Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers - The Sidewalk Astronomers, who we are and what we do!
- ^ Liverpool Astronomical Society Sidewalk Astronomers
- ^ John Dobson: Amateur Astronomy's Revolutionary, Space.com, 5 May 2000, p. 2, archived from the original on 2009-05-24, retrieved 2009-06-23
- ISBN 9781741762761.