This is a website for amateur astronomers keeping an observation log of astronomical objects: stars, the moon and just about everything else that appears in the night sky. Even some objects that appear in the daytime.
Do you need help keeping track and retrieving your astronomy observations? Want a custom observing list made just for you?
Want a single place to keep record of your observations for these observing lists?
Want to know what's left to observe to meet your goals?
Then you need AstronomyLog.com. This is your electronic astronomical log book, kept online in the cloud, safe, backed up and always available. An online observation log, easy to use and integrated with your goals.
There is no charge to start! You begin by entering your observations. You can immediately make a free report of all your observations. As a Premium Member, tell us your goals and we'll give you a report on what you have left to observe to reach them. When you've hit a goal, we'll give you a report ready to submit for your award.
Come by between observing session to read the informative tutorials that will help you improve your observing skills.
As a member you will be automatically subscribed to the monthly newsletter, the New Moon Reporter, and get ideas on things to observe right now. Plus, there are additional articles teaching about astronomy and observing that will help you become more skilled quickly.
Astronomy reviews and product recommendations that will make your seeing improve. The observation entry and reports are available only to registered members. You must join to receive the benefits!
Join AstronomyLog.com with a simple registration form and start logging your observations right now!
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against (and hence obscuring a small portion of) the solar disk.
Is this rare?
Transits of Venus are among the rarest of predictable astronomical phenomena. They occur in a pattern that repeats every 243 years, with pairs of transits eight years apart separated by long gaps of 121.5 years and 105.5 years.
Most of the time, we want an uninterrupted light path and perfectly clear optics for viewing the night time sky. It may surprise you to learn that putting something in the path to decrease the light actually improves the view, but it’s true. Below are descriptions of the top filters that can improve your observing. Bonus description of a few more to make it a Baker's Dozen, describing nearly every type of filter used most often by amateur astronomers.
Many people just starting out with astronomy could use a few tips to shorten the learning curve and reduce the challenges of a new hobby. Skills increase faster with a few basics in your toolkit. Here’s a handful to get you started.
Regardless of your skill level, you need a few books to help your astronomy observing. Start with a book that describes what you will find and how to find it. Later you'll want a detailed star atlas and a catalogue that describes lesser-known objects.
Making observational notes is key to remembering what you have observed. Looking back at my early logs, I saw a clear pattern. Everything was "beautiful", "brilliant" or "striking". I needed a thesaurus when I went observing to keep myself from being repetitive. I noticed I could not tell you much about any of the objects I observed. My descriptions were too vague and tedious...
I decided to learn how to describe what I was seeing more clearly. By taking notes that were based primarily on objective parameters, I've become a better observer. I notice the details that previously were lost in the awe. Since learning the skills of taking better astronomy notes, I can tell you why and how those objects are "beautiful", "brilliant" and "striking". This document can help you improve your observation logs and take your skills to the next level.
Read more to find out what I've learned to make informative and memorable observations.
It's not hard to find the Orion Nebula or the Pleiades with your binoculars because they are bright enough to see without magnification. Look straight at them without help, then put your binoculars in front of your eyes. With just a little practice, the object will appear in the binocular view the same as naked-eye, only bigger.
On the other hand, finding objects too dim to see naked-eye is challenging to most new observers. How do you find something that is too dim to see without magnification? The easy answer is to point at the bright star right next to it and hope you can see the dim object too. But what if it is not right next to a bright star?
The trick is "Star Hopping". This article will teach you how to hop from bright naked-eye objects right to the dim objects you're wanting to find. We'll use a technique practiced by experienced amateur astronomers for generations.
...do you mind answering a couple of questions? I'm gauging the skill level of people/observers who stumble across this site. What is it you are looking for when you click a link for AstronomyLog.com? I've prepared some very simple survey questions and polls.
Most of the time, we want an uninterrupted light path and perfectly clear optics for viewing the night time sky. It may surprise you to learn that putting something in the path to decrease the light actually improves the view, but it’s true. Below are descriptions of the top filters that can improve your observing. Bonus description of a few more to make it a Baker's Dozen, describing nearly every type of filter used most often by amateur astronomers. 
Making observational notes is key to remembering what you have observed. Looking back at my early logs, I saw a clear pattern. Everything was "beautiful", "brilliant" or "striking". I needed a thesaurus when I went observing to keep myself from being repetitive. I noticed I could not tell you much about any of the objects I observed. My descriptions were too vague and tedious...
It's not hard to find the Orion Nebula or the Pleiades with your binoculars because they are bright enough to see without magnification. Look straight at them without help, then put your binoculars in front of your eyes. With just a little practice, the object will appear in the binocular view the same as naked-eye, only bigger.
