The Top Ten Astronomy Web Sites
Find out where to go for space news, observing info, homework help, or fun and games.
1. Space.com
It's all here. News, information on space flights and new technology, what's in the sky tonight, community forums. Space.com is the Wal-Mart of space web sites. Most major news sources go to space.com when they want information because it is readily available, plentiful, and includes splashy graphics. The two major space-related magazines in the U.S., Astronomy magazine and Sky and Telescope, have similar information on their web pages but run with a less glitzy feel and a fraction of the budget.
2. NASA
The endless sections of NASA's web pages will answer just about any question you have. Human space flight, a multimedia gallery, information on past, current, and future probes, an in-depth look at scientific exploration on Earth, even games for kids. It would take about a week just to read through every web page run by NASA, if you could even find them all.
3. Space Telescope Science Institute
This web site is brought to you by the people who are in charge of the Hubble Space Telescope. It includes news and images, along with some great resources for educators. School kids will want to check out the Homework Help section.
4. Spaceweather
This site is especially geared for sun lovers. Find out if the sun is active, how many sunspots are on the sun today and where they are located, and whether an aurora is in the making. (One is smashing into Earth as I write this!)
Did you know there are oodles of manmade objects in space that you can view on a clear night if you just know where to look? Input your location and this web site will tell you when and where to look to see any space shuttles in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), brilliant Iridium flares, and much more. Iridium flares can even be bright enough to be seen in daylight. If you select a satellite from the database you may even find one that has been in orbit since the year you were born.
This web site has since been made into a book. But Phil Plait continues to write blogs and post news regularly. His shtick is to point out bad astronomy that surrounds us every day. For example, he reviews the 1998 movie Armageddon. So what did Hollywood do incorrectly in this movie? Phil finds it easier to first say what the movie did right: "there is an asteroid in the movie, and asteroids do indeed exist. And then there was... um... well, you know... um. Okay, so that was about all they got right." It's not just Hollywood, but the news media and Internet myths and long-standing popular misconceptions that he sets right.
7. Wunderground
Technically, this is a weather web site. But they also have a great free planetarium. Find the astronomy link and put in your zip code to see what the sky will look like tonight. You can manipulate the date and time and choose whether or not you want to include constellation names, lines, and boundaries, star names, and other info. So if you are wondering if that bright star in the sky tonight is really a star or a planet, check the sky map to find out.
8. Nine Planets
This is a great site for kids to find a ton of information on the solar system. My only fear is that with the IAU's pending decision on what a planet is, they are going to need a new name and url.
Fun games for kids to play that are astronomy-based. And the space-word version of hangman can be pretty addicting for adults, too.
10. Astronomy & Space Suite101.com
Seriously, you didn't think I'd leave myself out, did you? Astronomy facts, news, observing info, all delivered with a personal touch. And don't forget the blogs!
