Now that I’ve returned though, the question came to my mind, where is the least light polluted area I could find?

Fortunately after some research (and yes, I mean Googling…) I’ve found Jonathan Tomshine’s site with a very handy Google Maps implementation of a map that will help the aspiring Astronomer find the general area to get the best viewing results. The data comes from the Royal Astronomical Society and so I’ve a feeling it’s quite trustworthy.

You should visit the site here : http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/

Here’s an idea of the resolution you can expect to get

South West Ohio Light Pollution

Users have also added in notes about the site they have observed in, with some handy information such as if there is a parking lot or bathrooms.

I’ve found other sites that offer this data, however they’ve proven to be difficult – with maps that are not as user friendly or lacking in data, sometimes only providing info about specific areas.

Unfortunately the site only covers America, and I’m hoping in the future that Jonathan will be able to provide a European version for when I return to England. For now though, it was a great find and I’m excited to test it. Now I only have to worry about if the weather will cooperate and provide me a clear sky!

First let’s look at the physical size of the Apollo 11 crafts and rocket :

Apollo 11 Crafts and Rocket compared to a Semi Truck and Space Shuttle. You should click the image to enlarge.

We’ll start with the Command/Service Module and Lunar Lander. When combined these two vehicles are barely longer than your average Semi Truck and have an internal area smaller than that of the 1 bedroom apartment in which I currently sit. For 4 days the astronauts lived in this small space on their journey to the moon. Also try to imagine how the crew of the lander would have to maneuver inside of the module while wearing the bulky spacesuits and backpacks required to explore the Lunar surface. Armstrong, as the mission commander, got to make the decision to be the first out of the module and onto the moon, but it was also the logical choice to have him exit first due to his piloting position near the hatch. With both Neil and Buzz suited it would be extremely difficult for Buzz to get to the door first.

Wernher von Braun next to the bottom of a Saturn V Rocket

Now let’s look at the Saturn V rocket, which still holds the record as being the largest rocket ever built. I remember as a child seeing this behemoth at the Kennedy Space Center on a family trip and being in awe. This rocket dwarfs the Space Shuttle, today’s most well known space fairing vehicle, and is also just one foot shorter than St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. In addition to all this, Saturn V was also the first rocket that wasn’t a converted U.S. Air Force missile, and was built specifically with the aim of space exploration.

These facts illustrate to me some of the amazing things about Apollo 11 that I’ve learned over the years. If you’d like to find out more I’d suggest checking out We Choose the Moon, a wonderful site that shows recreations of all the stages of our trip to the moon.

This year, 400 years ago Galileo Galilei first demonstrated his telescope, discovering the moons of Jupiter, and 40 years ago in 1969 the American NASA Mission Apollo 11 landed on the moon. It is now 2009 and this year has been designated the International Year of Astronomy and it couldn’t come at a better time. There are many disciplines of Astronomy that are making observations which are changing the way we understand the entire universe. Astronomers are comparing these decades to those when Einstein and Plank created a revolution in Physics in the early 1900s.

For example, In the last 10 years we have discovered more planets outside our solar system than ever before, 300 planets. This year the Kepler satellite was launched and will monitor over 100,000 stars for signs of orbiting planets, so soon we will find even more. Also this year the European Space Agency launched the Planck satellite which will let us look back to a time when Galaxies began to form. To put that in perspective – human life on Earth Started .007 billion years ago (7 million years ago) – Hershel will look back to 13.2 billion years in the past. That’s more than 8 billion years before our sun and planets even existed!

I’d like to encourage you to participate during the International Year of Astronomy because it’s a wonderful science that is rapidly changing with new observations year by year. With recent technologies we’re learning more about our whole universe per year than ever before.

I invite you to listen to some excellent podcasts which will entertain you, and help you to learn more about… well, everything!

iTunes : 365 Days of Astronomy – ( Site : http://365daysofastronomy.org/) : This podcast provides a new Astronomy segment each day for all of 2009. Each are about 15-30 min in length and the subject changes each day. Great to listen to on your way to work!

iTunes : TheJodcast – ( Site : http://www.jodcast.net/ ) : The University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank (UK) provides a wonderful bi-monthly summary of the latest Astronomy news ands also information about Stargazing (looking at constellations and planets) for the month for both the northern and southern hemispheres

iTunes : Slacker Astronomy – ( Site : http://www.slackerastronomy.org/wordpress/ )  : This podcast specialises in interviews of Astronomers and gives a good lay men’s take on complex astronomy subject

While not a pod cast, make sure to check out the Bad Astronomy blog by Phil Plait. He covers many aspects of astronomy, and also subjects that scientific people can relate to.

If you want to get connected and help Astronomers checkout the American Association of Variable Star Observers : You can help Astronomers by watching stars and reporting your results with no equipment required. Just look at the stars and compare them, then report your results. It’s just that simple.

Everyone I know has as sometime looked to the sky at night and been in wonder about how and why our universe has come to be the way it is. Is other life out there. Can we reach other planets, like Mars or light years away. When I was at Bowling Green University I had a job for the Astronomy Department working for Dr. Dale Smith. I taught astronomy students about the sun, the planets, and the universe. And when I was even younger I remember being literally star struck when my father would point out constellations.

How can we not be in wonder about the universe around us?

This is your time and mine to learn more about our place in the universe. Get listening and see how you can participate in the International Year of Astronomy.