[ATM] Questions you should know sidewalk observing answers

[Curt Diggs]

The number one question I get at public star parties is "how far can you see with that thing?" I usually answer with something like... "heck, you can see all the way to the next galaxy with it". That usually gets a chuckle and sometimes sparks a discussion about stellar and intergalactic distances, resolving power, light gathering power, etc. Best to keep the answers short and sweet, though, or the eyes'll start to glaze over.  
   
  The kids always seem to ask the best questions, though. A young (8 or 9, maybe) Einstein walked up at out last star party and asked "where's the center of the Milky Way?" He stumped me for a bit. Luckily I had the laptop set up and was able to Google it. ;-)
   
  Curt Diggs
   
  >Message: 9
>Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:04:48 -0800
>From: Mike Shuken <mikeshuken at value.net>
>Subject: [ATM] Questions you should know sidewalk observing answers
 >for
>To: atm at atmlist.net
>Message-ID: <7.0.0.16.2.20061218130249.038dba30 at value.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
>Hello,
>
>If I was going to set up my telescope for a sidewalk observing 
>session and invite passer-bys to look through it, what kinds of 
>questions do you typically get asked?
>
>I know there was a Top 10 list floating around some ATM sites but I >
>can't find it.
>
>I'm sure there will be the basic "How far away is the moon?" and "How 
>many stars are there?" but what else do people typically ask?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mike


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