General Discussion

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/vE76SU8.png[/img] [size=2][color=grey]wonderful banner by @roboticspace[/color][/size] [size=6]Welcome to the Flight Rising Astronomy Club![/size][/center] [b]This thread is for anyone interested in Astronomy, Cosmology, or Astrophysics![/b] You don't need to feel like you're an expert to join the club, just have an interest in astronomy. We'll be happy to help you learn more! That said, we want all you guys who know a lot about the field too. Whether you're a professional astronomer or an amateur we welcome you! The goals of this thread are to: [center][quote] [b]1.[/b] Share our knowledge of the universe [b]2.[/b] Show off imaging efforts [b]3.[/b] Talk about our latest observing experiences [b]4.[/b] Discuss the latest discoveries [b]5.[/b] Have a place for us space nerds to geek out together![/center][/quote] This thread will likely evolve as time goes by and a community develops. Any suggestions are welcome! [center][color=red][size=6][b]HOW TO JOIN:[/b][/size][/color] PM me with your request to join! PLEASE specify whether you'd like to be added to the Skype group or not, and also whether you'd like to be pinged for every post, or for club updates only. If you do not specify, you won't be added to the Skype group, and you will be added to the 'see-everything' pinglist. Thanks :)[/center] ----- [center][size=6][b]Skype Group:[/b][/size][/center] We also have a Skype group that you can be a part of! Simply request to be added when you sign up, or if you are already a member, ping me with a request to be added! A link will be sent to you that should add you to the chat. I do it this way so that I don't have to add dozens of contacts! For those who are unfamiliar with Skype groups: It's basically a chatroom. Everyone can see every message sent after they've been added to the chat. There should be no group calls. The Skype group often has discussions of astronomy going on, and you are welcome to join in! There are a couple of rules, which I'm sure can be respected by everybody: [b]1. Keep discussion on-topic to astronomy[/b] [b]2. Keep discussion PG rated[/b] [b]3. Do not disclose personal information[/b] [b]4. If you break the above rules, you can be removed from the Skype group.[/b] If you feel the need to talk about things other than astronomy, feel free to create your own chat with whoever you'd like to be talking with. Keep the Astronomy Club Skype chat on-topic, please! ----- [center][size=6][b]Affiliates:[/b][/size] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/fl9/1784908][img]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t100/Saraibre/C3Affiliate_zpsnxekggfc.png[/img][/url] ----- [center][size=6][b]Members list:[/b] (General, use this for pinging)[/size] @ZannaDragon @souphands @Exterreri @Cosmological @PoemsOfLou @Finian @deputykuriboh @Reltseo @limeypie @Amee @Zhukov @Catcats @Razzledazzy @NightFire102 @cosmicpoppies @Paperdragon337 @Zues @Erock @TheMageLemon245 @Nekron @Novaturen @Chronosplit @GrimdarkRoxy @MagicStar @feming @PeachySpace @Sparklepelt @solarsuntzu @RedbirdTheGreat @Butterfliez @Steffon @CEGAMischief @TiaDaWerecat @hatichu @favplusle @Spookying @PrinceAsriel @Barrypaws @Mossflight @SpaceWolf @TigerWind @Xoriat @Littletime @firecrest @luckydragon12 @GiroGirl723 @Sebak @Usatov @FireFury16 @bananaquit @Alvis @pseudovum @Gemmbot @SwiftSeagull @MiddyLark @Lup @Yatzstar @KCGallows @Verwald @Lilydale @Rattz @klefaeries @SylvrFox @melonsaur @GinaNeko @CalinaEstel @vostok @Krynne @croninians @cashe @DracoKnyght @PlayerOne @CommanderShepard @slotho @Maotai @Amaranth41 @burningskies @missy20201 @CyberNexus @Kurigon @katzentai @Attor @MidNightTiger @Glacecakes @TheClassCalico @Mochii @ButterflyGalaxy @Sivan @Saifur1982 @DragonCandle @Writerly @SparkOfRuby @FlyingSharks @Tenoria @Suttungr @WolfSelkey @DeoDraws @LaurelOfTheRain @Nonith @LCice @Anaik7 @Kyumileo @CosmicSummer @SassySkittles @Artistmal @JustinNF @Hypernovae @OrionCygnus @Spiderbee @Wolfalisk @ataraxia4me ----- [size=3](Club updates only, special permission required)[/size] @Planets @GhostQueen13 @risingmoon @roboticspace @Linoone @Zenikay @ElvenFox @sassymod @Alto1958 [/center]

[center][size=5][color=red]Calling on Featured Image submissions![/color][/size] [size=7][b]Featured Image[/b][/size] [size=4][b]Click on image for hi-res version[/b][/size][/center] [url=http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160722.html][img]http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1607/abells1063_hst_r.jpg[/img][/url] Galaxy Cluster Abell S1063. Taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. [size=2][/size] [b]Notes:[/b] This latest image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a distant galaxy cluster called "Abell S1063". The intense gravity of the galaxies within distorts the light passing through the cluster, causing gravitational lensing of the background galaxies. Every blue streak in the image is a galaxy. In fact, some streaks on opposite sides of the cluster are the same background galaxy, its light refracted along multiple paths! Abell S1063 is 4 billion light years away, but some of the background galaxies visible are as far as 12.7 billion light years away, meaning that we are seeing them as they were only 1 billion years after the Big Bang. Read more: http://www.space.com/33500-star-trek-hubble-telescope-final-frontier-view.html ------ [center][size=5][b]Past Featured Images:[/b][/size] [size=2]Latest first[/size] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/69#post_21709494]Galaxy Cluster Abell S1063[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/63#20459685]Saturn's Polar Hexagon[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/57#19941400]Sombrero Galaxy[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/21#18409638]Red Rectangle Nebula[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/20#18300832]Lagoon Nebula[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/11#17947108]Southern Pinwheel Galaxy[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/10#17851474]Antennae Galaxies[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gend/1755925/9#17850554]Carina Nebula[/url] [/center] ----- [center][size=7][b]Current Sky Cam[/b][/size] [size=4]From Sliding Spring Observatory, Australia[/size] [size=1][s]let's see if this will update![/s][/size] [img]http://site.aao.gov.au/skycam/currentskycam/static/currentskycam.jpg[/img] ----- [quote=Space Spotlight]----- [center][size=7][b]Space Spotlight[/b][/size][/center] ----- Hey everyone, I'd like to spotlight a fantastic [b]free[/b] software! It's called [b][url=http://en.spaceengine.org/]SpaceEngine[/url][/b], and holy heck it is the best space program... ever. It's a "planetarium program" where you get fly around the universe, enjoying the sights. You can change the flow of time, the exposure, and select objects to see more info. It has basically every class of astronomical objects, and even things that blur the lines a little such as captured asteroids. Heck, I've even found a couple of planets orbiting so close to their host star that they were behaving like comets. This, folks, is a completely astronomically correct universe sim. And it's [i]beautiful[/i] too. ----- [center][size=6]These are all unedited screenshots:[/size][/center] A ringed planet inside of a nebula [img]http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah248/AryaDragonmaster/SpaceEngine/scr00000_zpsbrh8uqkm.jpg[/img] The view from another ringed planet inside of a nebula [img]http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah248/AryaDragonmaster/SpaceEngine/scr00041_zpsqyop3adj.jpg[/img] Another ringed planet inside a Globuar cluster (they're not all ringed planets, promise! The ringed ones are just more photogenic) [img]http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah248/AryaDragonmaster/SpaceEngine/scr00013_zpskhosz6ra.jpg[/img] Or you can go big picture and look at the galaxies, galactic clusters and superclusters: [img]http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah248/AryaDragonmaster/SpaceEngine/scr00100_zps4vz8v9y5.jpg[/img] (The view from Earth with galaxies highlighted, showing clusters and filaments): [img]http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah248/AryaDragonmaster/SpaceEngine/scr00038_zpsdr3zaw6i.jpg[/img] ----- [center][size=6]In summary:[/size][/center] It is [b]free[/b]. It is [i]awesome[/i]. And you should totally download it, right now. Download link: http://en.spaceengine.org/load/core/spaceengine0972/2-1-0-19 [/center][/quote] ----- [center][size=7][b]Banners:[/b][/size] Use these to show everyone that you are a proud member of the Flight Rising Astronomy Club! Simply copy the code and place in your signature or lair page. Every banner comes with a link-back. 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@Planets @Cosmological

(I'm starting an astronomy club and thought you guys might be interested. No pressure though!)

Clear Skies!

@Planets

Great! Adding you now. :) Tell me more about these events you mentioned! Are they on-site, or real life?

Clear Skies!

@souphands

Absolutely! We'll be glad to have you :) If you have any questions, feel free to come to me!

@Exterreri

Adding you now! We're happy to have you.



@SpacemanZotar @browny811

Either of you guys want to join?