This could be useful if you have clear skies and know that a satellite is approaching . The site updates slowly so you can see the satellites move but it’s about as interesting as clock watching, paint drying etc!
There is a lot of data on this site- big lists of satellites that you can track, up to 5 at a time. If you have an interest in satellite watching this is not a bad place to start.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved the thought of space and the vast empty spaces between planets and galaxies.
This image shows a map of our Universe with galaxies colour coded to indicate their red shift. The red shift is a manifestation of the Doppler Effect- when a car moves away from you, if you hear its horn, the frequency of the horn drops as it gets further away. The horn’s frequency hasn’t actually changed, just that the sound has further to travel and so sounds lower. The light from an object moving away lowers frequency towards the red end of the spectrum; that’s the red shift.
Popularity: 14% [?]
This looks beautiful. A detailed simulation of flight in space with the Space Shuttle. It includes a detailed virtual cockpit with working Multi-Function Displays and payload bay operations, multiple camera operations, rendering of planet surfaces, realistic physics such as planetary motion, gravitation effects, free space and atmospheric flight are accurately modelled.
Plus you can land your ship at a space port on a planet surface, or dock to an orbital station and view high resolution planetary maps provide some nice visual effects.
I haven’t installed this yet, so this is by way of a preview. I’ll return to this.
Popularity: 8% [?]
30 Years ago, a Golden Record was created and put on The Voyager 1 and 2 Probes. These are now a very long way away from Earth- a shade under 10 billion miles which is a pretty long way.
The Voyager Golden Record is a phonograph record that contains sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. It is intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or far future humans, that may find it.
On this website you can hear the music and view the 116 images. It’s not a very welcoming website but the content makes it of interest. You can find out more background information from Wikipedia.
Popularity: 8% [?]
A new website launches today. GalaxyZoo is looking for your help to use Mk1 eyeball and inspect photos of galaxies to try and classify them. Are they spiral or elliptical? Which way are they rotating? Not easy with some images barely much better than smudges.
But if enough people identify them (The Wisdom of Crowds approach?) then it will help advance mankind as we strive to conquer the galaxy. (Ok I er made that last bit up!
Popularity: 3% [?]
Something a bit different- a website where you can dedicate a star (for free) to someone. Their database will accept entries for up to a million stars and at that point no more. Just that! Once you’ve dedicated your star then it belongs to you for as long as the Internet, in it’s present form, exists. Or aliens who live there decide to reclaim it.
The page shown (the Galaxy page) aims to show 50 constellations as they appear in real life. Just move the mouse over a star, find one that is free and enter your dedication- that’s also free. Just as well Uranus is a planet and not a star. Imagine “I’d like to dedicate Uran”..no lets not go there!
Popularity: 2% [?]