Red Light:
Backyard Astronomy Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties) these days might literally mean trying to view a constellation through light pollution. And, if you've temporarily destroyed your night vision by looking at a street lamp, you're in even more difficulty. A red light will allow you to look at a star map or find your binoculars without having to wait for your eyes to readjust to the darkness. So take care of that first:
+ = With red light in hand and a star map, you can find all manner of sky objects. There are three major meteor showers this season so they're a good place to start. The maps shown here are for Chico, California and were created using the Stellarium program but they should give you a good feel for the sky. Find out more about using star maps at www.skyandtelescope.com.
Late on October 21 and 22, find the darkest unobstructed view possible, look to the East, and find Orion. That is where the Orionids Meteor Shower will appear to be originating. 8
Quarterly Speed Bump Magazine | Autumn 2011