RandyMacSC/SO
Special Correspondent
Posts: 422
Registered: 2-2-2004
Member Is Offline
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Baja Stargazing, Shooting Stars and our vast Universe...
I very much enjoy the solitude of a clear evening in a remote Baja location where I can sit a watch shooting stars all night long.
I was doing some searches tonight and I came across this awe inspiring photo, which has been labled "The EYE OF GOD".
This picture was taken with NASA HUBBLE telescope and is called the "THE EYE OF GOD".
Thought it was an awesome picture that needed to be shared with Baja startgazers.
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Ole' Irish saying (Gaelic): 'Go neirigh an bothar leat, go mbeidh an gaoth choiche sa droim agat, is go mbeidh tu thuas ar neamh leath-uair roimh is
eol don diabhal go bhuil tu marbh'.... OR 'May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, and May you be in Heaven a half hour
before the Devil knows you're dead'
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RandyMacSC/SO
Special Correspondent
Posts: 422
Registered: 2-2-2004
Member Is Offline
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Star Gazing with Starry Night's astronomy software
A few years ago, just before I went to the Baja, I attended a MacWorld conference, and on the last day the author of the award-winning, brilliantly
realistic Starry Night astronomy software brought a package of his real cool software over to our booth and gave me a copy.
When packing for my trip, I decided to bring the CD along with my portable iBook and my Meade telescope. A good decision, as this cool software
allowed me to learn more about the stars, constellations and our vast galaxy than I ever considered possible. Definitely an item to have if you enjoy
stargazing in the Baja.
If you have a portable and want to learn about the sky above, check this site out.
http://www.starrynight.com/astro_jump.html
Many many new features in version 5.0 since the version that I first got a few years ago. Time to upgrade for me. Oh yeh, it's Available for Mac and
Windows.
RandyMac
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Ole' Irish saying (Gaelic): 'Go neirigh an bothar leat, go mbeidh an gaoth choiche sa droim agat, is go mbeidh tu thuas ar neamh leath-uair roimh is
eol don diabhal go bhuil tu marbh'.... OR 'May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, and May you be in Heaven a half hour
before the Devil knows you're dead'
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4324
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
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In May of 2002 we spent 3 nights camped at Requeson and I made sure that EVERY other person camping there saw the five planets that were all visible
together after sunset. I walked around and introduced myself holding my 'map to the stars'. It was fun and something that doesn't happen often , for
sure. I think it will be another 60 years or so before they are that closely aligned.
In 95 we camped at Abreojos and on a moonless night we found Andromeda using binoculars. Every night for a week we could hardly wait for it to get
dark.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64523
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Andromeda is the furthest object one can see without any instruments... it is the next full size galaxy out from our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Light
that you see now was created over 2 million years ago. If Andromeda disappears tomorrow, we wouldn't know it for 2.2 million years!
Only on dark moonless nights, far from cities can one see the fuzzy glow.
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Frigatebird
Nomad
Posts: 215
Registered: 9-12-2004
Location: L.A. County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Soaring
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Eye of God = Helix Nebula?
If this photo is the Helix, it is the result of the outer layers of the central star being blown off into space!  The star was previously a Red Giant,  many times the size of our sun. Our own star will go through this same process as it ages and uses up it supply
of hydrogen fuel. Fortunately for us, this will not occur for several billion years, at which time David K. will need to change his Avatar to a
redder color. 
Frigatebird
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64523
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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OK... just let me know a day or two in advance Frigatebird!
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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Get out the weenies and marshmallows
Bruce
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3687
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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on a more serious note
Check out the wonderous morning "ballet" between Venus and Jupiter.
(you do need to arise an hour before sunrise to appreciate this one, however)
It is simply dazzling!!
Baja Arriba!!
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Capt. George
Super Nomad
Posts: 2129
Registered: 8-21-2003
Member Is Offline
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Ohos Azul
Glad the eye is blue, maybe I'll get in after all????
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