Astronomy online

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Our first stop along the celestial highway is NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day. It features a high quality image with a description of its significance written by a professional astronomer in clear, easy to understand terms. Recent images (as of this writing) were "Nearby Supernova in Spiral Galaxy M100" and "Inside the Eagle Nebula". If you miss one, don't worry, there's an extensive archive going back several years.

Astro Pix - http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Astronomy For Kids

...is a great site for kids to learn about the night sky. In the Sky Maps section, you can find out what's going on in the sky this month. (Hey, there's a solar *and* lunar eclipse coming soon!) The Sky Wonders section teaches about some of the most awe-inspiring and thought-provoking objects that are in the Universe. You'll also find Constellations, tips and resources for Beginners, and email Postcards you can send to your friends.

Astronomy For Kids - http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/

Views of the Solar System

The Hawaiian Astronomical Society has created a SPECTACULAR astronomical Web site called "Views of the Solar System". The site tells you EVERYTHING you could ever want to know about most of the astronomical objects in our solar system, gives information about the history of astronomy and space travel, and offers stunning pictures and movies from around the Solar System.

Views of the Solar System - http://www.solarviews.com

The Nine Planets

In a similar vein, The Nine Planets is an overview of the history, mythology and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our solar system. Each page has text and images, some have sounds and movies, and links to related information.

Nine Planets - http://www.nineplanets.org

The Planetary Society

The Planetary Society, the world's largest space-interest group, is dedicated to inspiring the public with the adventure and mystery of space exploration. Through our projects and publications, the Society plays a leading role in creating innovative coalitions to engage the public and fuel support for exploring other worlds.

Planetary Society http://planetary.org

Space Sounds

Listen to the history of the space program. Hear actual NASA ground and spacecraft communications from Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle missions.

Space Sounds - http://www.spacesounds.com

Launch Forecast

If you'd like to see the launch of a spacecraft up close and personal, check out this page. One example of an upcoming event: The 13th astronaut crew to the International Space Station (ISS) and Brazil's first astronaut are set to launch atop a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on March 29th.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/launch_schedule.html

Bad Astronomy

And finally, some Bad Astronomy. This website is dedicated to righting wrong ideas about astronomy and scientific misconceptions spread by movies, the media and popular culture. Phil Plait, a real-life astronomer, debunks common myths such as Hoagland's Face on Mars, the Apollo Moon Hoax and everything you've always wanted to know about Standing an Egg on End During the Vernal Equinox .

Bad Astronomy - http://www.badastronomy.com

Astronomy Clubs

Ever throught about joining an Astronomy Club? Clubs frequently offer discounts on astronomy related magazines and other printed material, loaner telescopes, and practical advice on how to get started in the hobby of Astronomy. Check out this list of clubs which covers the whole world:

Astro Clubs - http://www.astronomyclubs.com

Astronomy Newsgroups

If you're USENET savvy, you could try reading sci.astro.amateur. Here, amateur astronomers from all over the world, some with a wealth of expertise, hang out, ask questions and discuss diverse astronomy topics. Quite a few of the posts deal with purchasing the right astronomical telescope or the right equipment to go along with it. This newsgroup is also another source of late breaking news, on comets, meteor showers, and aurorae.

Astro Newsgroup - http://groups-beta.google.com/group/sci.astro.amateur

Got a favorite astronomy site? Post your comments below...