Links
There are many many excellent web sites dedicated to astronomy. We can’t list them all but there are several that we reference on a continual basis. So these are our top selections:
Reference:
Heavens Above – This page provides predictions on the visibility of satellites such as the International Space Station or the Hubble Space telescope. Make sure to enter your current location to get accurate predictions.
Clear Sky Chart – These web pages provide astronomy related weather predictions (sky darkness, seeing, etc.) for a specific location. We reference these pages on our clear sky chart menu. Select your observing location from the many locations listed.
APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) – This NASA sponsored site posts a daily image related to astronomy.
HPOW (Hubble Picture of the Week) – This STScI sponsored site posts a weekly image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Sun Now (SDO/Solar Dynamics Observatory) – This NASA sponsored site posts multi-spectral imagery of the Sun usually within 15 minutes of the satellite taking them.
Virtual Sky (This link takes you to the page describing the virtual sky planetarium service provided by the Las Cumbres Observatory. This is the service used by the “In the Sky Right Now” page.)
Organizations:
Escambia Amateur Astronomy Associaton – This very active club meets at Pensacola State College. Widely known for 35+ years of outstanding sky interpretation sessions held at the Gulf Islands National Seashore (Fort Pickens) and their sidewalk star gazes held under the beach ball water tower on Pensacola Beach.
Emerald Coast Science Center – The ECSC provides a hands-on science educational resource to the Gulf Coast. The NWFAA supports ECSC’s planetarium nights.
Publications:
The Evening Sky Map – This page provides monthly sky maps. It allows organizations and clubs to print 300 free copies a month. We hand these out at our public sky views.
Astronomy Magazine – A general audience astronomy magazine. Their web page posts news articles and has interactive sky charts.
Sky & Telescope Magazine – A general audience astronomy magazine. Their web page posts news articles and has interactive sky charts.