Interesting Astronomy Websites

Man Looking At Night Sky
Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Astronomy has always been an interest of mine.  Many retired people think it makes a great hobby, whether you just want to read, or to grab a telescope and see what you can see.  To get you thinking below are some web sites to start your exploration.

Astronomy Magazine https://astronomy.com/

This happens to be my favorite astronomy magazine.  I’m a regular reader and subscriber.  Well, they also have a great website.  Besides featuring the magazine, they have sections for news, observing, videos, blogs, and a photo gallery that I always like.

The site has all kinds of interesting info and is a good way to keep up to date on what is happening in the Astronomy world.  For example, right now I’m looking at an article on space related Citizen Science projects where you can get involved right from home.

Astronomy Picture of the Day https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

As the name suggests this site displays a different picture every day.  Todays happens to be a movie of a NASA spacecraft touching the Bennu asteroid.  It is simply amazing.  The site also tells you what is coming tomorrow and maintains an archive of previously featured pictured.

NASA  https://www.nasa.gov/

There is always something interesting on the NASA website.  This is the site we all turn to when there is a big event happening in space exploration.

The Planetary Society https://www.planetary.org/

The Planetary Society was founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan and others.  Their mission is “Empowering the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration.”  The current CEO is Bill Nye (“The Science Guy”.)  There are all kinds of articles, membership, and suggested ways to take action to promote space exploration.

Sky and Telescope https://skyandtelescope.org/

I’ve been an astronomy enthusiast since I was a kid.  It seems that Sky and Telescope (the magazine) has been around forever.  The site includes news, observing guides, reviews and just about anything related to astronomy.

Space.com https://www.space.com/

Space.com seems to be a more commercial take on space and space exploration.  I’ve been on their mailing list for years and their emails always introduce interesting articles.  Lots of good articles even if you have to put up with a little more advertising.

Worldwide Telescope http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/home/

This site includes a web client that allows you to view images from all over the universe.  Definitely worth some exploring!

AstroBetter https://www.astrobetter.com/

This is a blog for professional astronomers.  As such it seems pretty technical.  However, if you want to see what the pros are thinking about and the tools they use you’ll find this site fascinating!

Bad Astronomy https://www.syfy.com/tags/bad-astronomy/

This is an astronomy related blog by someone by the name of Phil Platt.  It looks like the blog has moved around, starting at Discover, then moving to Slate, and now at syfy.com.  It looks like there is a post almost every day and they all look interesting.

Universe Today https://www.universetoday.com/

This is another space and astronomy news blog.  It looks like there are new posts almost every day.  The articles look quite interesting.  For example, the article I’m looking at right now is about how researchers are using clues found on Mercury to discover how earth got its water.

Of course, a simple search on Google will find many more sites to explore.  Give it a try and learn something fascinating!

Things To Do When Bored

Eyeglasses and Book on desk
Photo by Darius Sankowski – Pixabay

You know you sometimes just get in a funk.  I mean you don’t feel like doing anything.  Pushing the power button on the TV remote seems like a chore and you really don’t feel like watching TV anyway!  You are BORED, for lack of a better term to describe the phenomena.

Well, the obvious cure is to start doing something, anything!  It seems like once the wheels start turning you can keep them turning.  You need to start something.  Here are 25 ideas to hopefully get you started.

Read something.

Read anything, a book, a magazine, a poem.

Watch a really old movie. – I’m talking an old 50s Sci Fi or Western.  Maybe a Humphrey Bogart classic.

Send an email to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.

Send an email to an old business acquaintance or friend.

Clean up your computer of old files and software.  It is amazing how cluttered your computer gets with old programs, bookmarks, and useless files.  Get rid of some of them.

After you get rid of the computer junk above start organizing what is left.

Make sure you have a good computer backup program in place.  Everyone knows they should do this, but it has a way of being pushed back until disaster strikes.

Find an online course to take.

There are so many free and low-cost choices out there.  There is no excuse not to keep educating yourself for your entire life.

Write something.

Write anything.  Make a journal entry (or start a journal.)  Write an article or start a book.

Read your bible or meditate in whatever spiritual way you choose.  It will do you a lot of good and if you’re really in a funk it might help to get you out of it.

Organize your photos – computer or printed.  You have hundreds or thousands – do something with them.

Take a walk.  This could be a walk around the block or an all-day hike.

Take a drive to nowhere in particular.

See what is new in the next town over.  Or maybe drive in a different direction than you ordinarily go.

Organize your Christmas decorations.  Good to do even if it’s not near the holidays.  Do it while you are not exhausted and rushed.

Clean out a drawer.

Drawers have a way of getting full of all kinds of junk.  You might even find some loose change (see below.)

Clean out a closet.  Pick a closet, any closet.  Who knows what treasures you might find.  Maybe donate some stuff you find or sell on Craigslist or Ebay for some extra cash.

Review your books and find some to donate to a library or second hand shop.  I just did this just recently.  I read a lot and rarely do I reread a novel twice.  So, if it’s not a classic why not donate it.

Organize your music.  If your music is scattered all over different devices and locations why not consolidate.  You may have more than you think.

Find a new band or musician to listen to.  The Internet and YouTube is great for this.  Find something new or try a new style of music.

Listen to a podcast.  Maybe listen to something different than you usually do.

Wash and wax your car.  You and your car will feel better and it will help it last longer.

Clean out the garage.  You know it needs it!

Clean out the basement.  You know it really needs it!

Search around for loose change.  And then if you don’t really need it donate it to a worthy cause.

Organize your desk to be more efficient.  You know you are much more productive if you start with a clean organized working space.

Go to the dollar store and find 10 unusual $1 items.  It’s amazing what you will find if you go up and down the aisles.  And you can walk out with a haul of stuff for not much cash.

Now. why don’t you come up with more ideas!

Where to Learn New Things

Love to Learn Sign
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

When it comes to learning the Internet has been a miracle.  It is like all the world’s learning institutions are available through your computer screen.  You have access to more knowledge than any world leader or wealthy individual did just a few decades ago.

There is so much out there you need a plan.  What are you trying to accomplish?  Are you looking to just learn a skill?  Do you want a new career? Do you want to begin a new hobby?  Or do you just enjoy learning new things?

One approach might be to make your plan based on your goals.  Then browse through the course offerings at the various sites and make a list of possibilities.  Finally drill down and research each course.  Is the course relevant? How old is it and when was it last updated?  Can you ask questions of the instructor?  Are there reviews from fellow students?

Many of the available courses are free.  Others can be more expensive.  My advice would be to see what the free and low-cost courses offer first.  Then when you know exactly what you want the more expensive options might make sense.

Here is just a partial list to get you started.  Good Luck!

Alison https://alison.com/

Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative https://oli.cmu.edu/

Code https://code.org/

Codecademy https://www.codecademy.com/

Coursera https://www.coursera.org/

Dash General Assembly – Learn to Code https://dash.generalassemb.ly/

edX https://www.edx.org/

Fast Company 30 Second MBA https://www.fastcompany.com/user/30-second-mba

FutureLearn https://www.futurelearn.com

GCF Global https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/

Harvard Extension https://www.extension.harvard.edu/

iTunes U http://www.open.edu/itunes/

Kadenze https://www.kadenze.com/

Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/

MemRise https://www.memrise.com/

MIT Open Courseware https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

OpenLearn https://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Open Learning Initiative https://oli.cmu.edu/

Open Yale Courses https://oyc.yale.edu/

Stanford Online https://online.stanford.edu/

Udacity https://www.udacity.com/

Udemy https://www.udemy.com/

U of Berkley Class Central https://www.classcentral.com/university/berkeley

University of the People https://www.uopeople.edu/