Astronomy

Detroit Observatory, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was the largest refracting telescope in North America when it was first built.

What's Inside

From this page, you can find links to general astronomy facts and activities. The number of activities continues to grow bit by bit, so check back often. Some activities can be done right on the site, while others are things you can do at home or in your classroom. If you're looking for some good books on astronomy, check out the book list we've provided.

Information and Activities

Astronomy Books	This is a list of good books on astronomy. It includes a brief description of each book. A link to Amazon.com is provided if you're interested in purchasing the book or want more information about it.
Stellar Luminosity Classes	This page includes a brief explanation of stellar luminosity classes and a list of the classes.
Variable Stars	This page includes brief descriptions of the basic types of variable stars along with a list of the brighter examples in each category.
Light Years And Parsecs	Contains a brief explanation of these two distance units. The page also includes a conversion utility that you can use online.
Time Measurements	Definitions of various time measurements in astronomy.
Julian Day Number	Find the Julian day number for almost any date.
Date of Easter	Find out which day Easter falls on for almost any year.
Lunar Phases	This is a diagram describing the phases of the Moon.
Meteorite Collection	If you have an interest in collecting meteorites, you can print this page to help you keep track of your collection.
Meteor Showers	This lists several major meteor showers, including information about each shower.
Safely Observe the Sun	Instructions for a safe solar viewing device (adult supervision is highly recommended for younger people).
Constellation Flashcards	Test your knowledge of the constellations online!
The Constellations	This lists the constellations, including information about each constellation.
The Twenty Brightest Stars	This lists the twenty brightest stars, including information about each star.
The Messier Catalog	This lists the entire Messier catalog of deep sky objects, including information about each object.
Related Fields of Study	This is a list of various areas of science that are related to astronomy. It includes a basic definition of each science or field of study.