‘Star parties' planned Saturday for National Astronomy Day

1. All you need to get going is interest and the naked eye.

"Start by going out at night and looking at the sky, making children aware of the stars, the changing shapes of the moon," he said. "Most folks, even adults, are not aware that all that’s going on."

Dundee acknowledges that light pollution can be a slight deterrent for city dwellers, and he encourages glances heavenward when families are on summer vacation.

2. Visit a local planetarium and observatory.

Fernbank and Tellus, less than hour northwest of Atlanta, offer not only an opportunity to observe "the beauty of the indoor sky" in planetarium shows, but also the chance to put your eye up to a telescope's eyepiece (check ahead for observatory hours).

Fernbank offers a 36-inch telescope; the one at Tellus is 20 inches. Both provide clear pictures of the bright objects such as Jupiter, Saturn and the moon that command most kids' initial interest.

"You really begin to see some of the wonders you can’t see with the naked eye," he said of the two telescopes.

3. Check out the many activities of the Atlanta Astronomy Club.

Dundee points out that the Atlanta organization, established in 1947 (online at www.atlantaastronomy.org), "is not just a bunch of old guys with telescopes," but a terrific networking resource that claims members of all ages.

4. Before you train your sights on a telescope, consider buying a pair of binoculars.

"Before you invest in a telescope, which has a very singular use, a pair of binoculars is a good way to gauge a young person’s interest in the sky," Dundee said. "And it’s nice and portable and there’s no lengthy instructions to put it together."

The astronomer recommends 10-by-50mm binoculars -- the first number denotes the magnification, the second is the diameter of  the objective (or outside) lens in millimeters. The bigger the second number, the more light it lets in and the brighter the image. (Typically, people buy 7-by-35mm models for watching sports, but that size is inferior for stargazing.) Expect to pay between $60 and $120.

5. On cloudy days, you can still scan the Web for astronomy information.

The NASA website (www.nasa.gov) is a great place to start, Dundee said, with offerings geared for kids, parents and teachers. The smallest scientists will like its NASA Kids' Club, featuring games, coloring and other "edu-tainment" opportunities. For everybody, Dundee recommends www.heavens-above.com, a site that predicts when to look for satellites and the International Space Station passing overhead.

6. Approach the purchase of a telescope with care.

Parents should consider not only what they can afford, but how portable you want a telescope to be and how delicate or sturdy the instrument should be depending on the age of the child or children.

"I would say to test-drive a few before you actually take the plunge," said Dundee, noting that Atlanta Astronomy Club gatherings are a prime opportunity to do that.

Expect to pay at least $200 for a quality telescope, he said, adding that prices are lower around Christmastime when big-box stores tend to offer sales.

When you're ready to buy, Dundee said he's willing to advise you. You can contact him at 770-606-5720 or davidd@tellusmuseum.org. There may be no free lunch, but Dundee's advice is gratis -- an offer that's out of this world.

Event

National Astronomy Day