http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml Internet Info for Sizing Up The Universe Astronomy http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/SUTU_DJ_0629CZ_cover_small.jpg http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Mar05 Here's a picture of NGC 3628 showing three very distant quasars in the same image. rvdb@princeton.edu Mar 05, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Feb25 Here's a star trail picture I took a few nights ago from my bedroom window. rvdb@princeton.edu Feb 25, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Feb10 A recent paper by Lissauer et al. announces the discovery of an exo-planetary system consisting of four planets the middle two of which are in a so-called Horseshoe orbit. rvdb@princeton.edu Feb 10, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Feb05 The Rosette Nebula is a beautiful star-birth region in the constellation Monoceros. rvdb@princeton.edu Feb 05, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Jan30 The Crab Nebula is the remnant of the supernova explosion that took place in 1054 AD, which was recorded by both Chinese and Arab astronomers at the time. rvdb@princeton.edu Jan 30, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Jan25 The Straight Wall on the Moon is a popular target for both visual observers and astrophotographers. Its straightness is remarkable. rvdb@princeton.edu Jan 25, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Jan20 Here's a picture of the Eagle nebula taken under light polluted skies using narrowband Hydrogen-alpha and Oxygen-III filters. rvdb@princeton.edu Jan 20, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Jan05 Check out this 3D stereographic image of the orbits of the outer bodies in our Solar System. It helps explain why Pluto was demoted from planetary status. rvdb@princeton.edu Jan 05, 2011 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Dec31 Here's a picture I took of the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae using just a telephoto lens outfitted with an H-alpha filter. rvdb@princeton.edu Dec 31, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Dec21 Here are the pictures I took of the total lunar eclipse last night (actually, it was early this morning). rvdb@princeton.edu Dec 21, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Dec20 There will be a total lunar eclipse tonight. It will start about 1:30am and end about 5:00am. Totality will last for more than one hour. Forecast looks promising for the east coast. rvdb@princeton.edu Dec 20, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Dec15 Yesterday, New Scientist ran a very nice review of our book by Marcus Chown. rvdb@princeton.edu Dec 15, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Dec10 Back in 2004, Venus crossed in front of the Sun. The next time this will happen is on June 5/6, 2012. Mark your calendars. rvdb@princeton.edu Dec 10, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Dec05 Check out this high-resolution 3D stereographic image of Mars. rvdb@princeton.edu Dec 5, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Nov30 On May 9, 2005, I took a picture of the Whirlpool galaxy (M51). On June 28, 2005, it was discovered that a star in M51 had recently exploded creating a supernova. On July 10th, I took a second picture with the exact same equipment to compare to the first. The light from the supernova is clearly evident. rvdb@princeton.edu Nov 30, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Nov25 Given accurate pointing, it was easy to find Jupiter in the eyepiece. I was even able to see Jupiter's cloud bands. But, I didn't notice the GRS or the Jovian moons until I stacked and sharpened the images I acquired as video using a cheap webcam. rvdb@princeton.edu Nov 25, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml#Nov20 Being on a closer, faster orbit about the Sun, the Earth ``laps'' Mars every few years. The moment we pass Mars is called ``Closest Approach''. Mars has a noticeably eccentric orbit. Sometimes a closest approach brings Mars closer to us than normal and at other times it is farther from us... rvdb@princeton.edu Nov 20, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/index.shtml New blog entries http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/SUTU/events.shtml New book signing events