the night sky

[imamartian]

What is quite weird is how the Sun and all of the planets move in the same plane across the sky.

It's not odd at all; the solar system formed out of a cloud of gas and dirt with angular momentum in it and it had a dominant axis of rotation. There had to be rotation or else the whole lot would have collapsed into a star without planets. (Somebody once told me that a star has to rotate as well or it won't be stable - but don't quote me on that.)

It's been too many years since I studied space dynamics but I can't quite see how a star system with orbits at random angles could come into being.

ok you're quite right, it's not weird, but it is exciting... and you can clearly see how the ancients thought everything revolved around us.... (the Earth i mean, not DIYnot !!)

And another exciting thing is seeing the Milky Way (on a clear night away from light polution !! It's just above Orion i think.. bubt incredible..

And another weird thought is all the stars and constellations you don't see in the southern hemisphere...

 

[joinerjohn]

I went to Ibiza some years ago and around 3 o clock in the morning, I sat outside (as it was quite warm) We were at the North of the island so light pollution was a lot less. Looking up into the night sky was quite wonderful. A myriad of stars shining brightly against the dark backdrop of space. There must have been thousands of stars visible, which couldn't be seen back home (because of the light pollution) A stunning view of our universe.

 

[sooey]

It was me who misunderstood you. I thought you were saying that you could see how a planetary system with random angles of orbits could happen.

It does, to a degree. Explain comets? Saturn and its moons. Our moon for instance, the orbit is not a constant. Our planet is not on a set orbit, but not too random...........but is constantly changing in relation to its orbit. See the points, facts yet ?

No, I don't see the point you're trying to make there.

 

[Alarm]

Florida for me, balcony on house.
Night sky and a cold cold cold spiced rum and fresh orange juice.

For the stars.

For sunset cloud formations, Keswick
. Sitting on the roof of the house watching the sunset. Clouds decided to "dance" then the stars came out.

Both breathtaking moments.

 

[sooey]

I went to Ibiza some years ago and around 3 o clock in the morning, I sat outside (as it was quite warm) We were at the North of the island so light pollution was a lot less. Looking up into the night sky was quite wonderful. A myriad of stars shining brightly against the dark backdrop of space. There must have been thousands of stars visible, which couldn't be seen back home (because of the light pollution) A stunning view of our universe.

Another amazing thought is that all the stars you see with the naked eye are just our closest neighbours. If the galaxy was scaled down to the size of an average city the stars you see would probably represent a few streets of it.

 

[Susiejb]

Another amazing thought is that all the stars you see with the naked eye are just our closest neighbours. If the galaxy was scaled down to the size of an average city the stars you see would probably represent a few streets of it.

That why I love the Hubble site sooey....It really is quite fascinating....and has the most amazing images.
I have recently been reading and watching some you tube clips about Carl Sagan the american astronomer ...although he died in 1996 and things have come a long way since then, he is still very interesting indeed.....well at least I think so

 

[sooey]

Yes I remember watching his series "cosmos" it was great.
I think he was probably the first proper scientist to popularise space geekery. He blazed a trail that many others have tried to follow.