WELCOME TO  THE  ASTRONOMICAL WEBHUB OF  THE


A  PART  OF  THE ASTRONOMICAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1970 CELEBRATING OUR 38TH ANNIVERSARY


WebHub Translations The VSC's "Favorite Links" Repository Search the VSC, or the Web! ASTROWIRE (Current Astronomical and Space Events)
The VSC's Observer's Data Sheet "Download NOW !!!" Sirius Astronomical Observatory Gleaning Pages G. Barabino's VAO Gleaning Pages The VSC's Affiliations
Honorary VSC members The VSC's Most Noteworthy Observations Current Lunar and Solar Realtime Images The VSC Latest Website Updates
 Vega News !!!

For the latest news and happenings at the VSC. Just click on the Vega News !!! button.

UPDATED: June 06, 2009


HAS ARRIVED !!!

PLEASE GET OUT AND OBSERVE THE HEAVENS

Click here to check out the "International Year of Astronomy 2009" website!


OUR  BEGINNINGS

Hello Fellow Stargazers, and Welcome to the Astronomical WebHub of the Vega Sky Center. We are Amateur Astronomers with small private observatories residing in Slidell, LA (formerly in New Orleans, LA), and Riverview, FL. My name is Melvin Dawson, and I begun my association with Astronomy back in July 1970 when I experienced my first telescopic view of the moon through a Selsi 60mm variable powered refractor, owned by Gary Barabino - a new comer to the neighborhood. Needless to say, that first look pulled me in like the gravitational effect of a black hole. I became an understudy to Gary, and we continued to observe many celestial objects. On August 16th of that year, it was a Partial Lunar Eclipse that inspired us to start recording observations of celestial objects, and started the rise of the Vega Astronomical Observatory, later transcending into the Vega Sky Center in 1975. Gary Barabino runs the Vega Astronomical Observatory, as well as being the founder of the VSC. My location is called the Sirius Astronomical Observatory, here in Riverview FL.

Our humble beginnings inspired us to help other budding as well as seasoned amateurs. With assistance from Gary, and our honorary members, we plan to cover many aspects of our astronomical experiences with the goal in mind to be a premiere resource to the astronomical community.  We truly hope the information contained within these web pages will be of  help to all all of our visitors. Via the resources within, you will find photos and design diagrams of our telescope projects completed and under construction!... Links to some of the most sought-after items and information from a myriad of suppliers, as well as various FREE Astronomy Software downloads!... Real-time astronomical data, and video links!... Links to Star Atlas's and Monthly Sky Charts... and much, much more... with new additions to come!... We even created and made available a downloadable Observation Data Sheet! Also, check out the latest news about Astronomical and Space headlines, courtesy of ASTROWIRE™. As the VSC's WebHub grows, additional sections and pages will be created to share projects, ideas, and knowledge to help amateurs in many aspects of ATM, observational, and photographic astronomy.

We truly hope everyone enjoys this fascinating adventure as we embark on a new era of the VSC... So, please let us know you were here, or send your comments and/ or suggestions by emailing us at the email address below. Your input is always welcome and valuable to us.

vsc-astronomers@vega-sky-center.com


TRANSLATE THE  VEGA  SKY  CENTER WEBHUB

     Translate to Spanish     Translate to French     Translate to German     Translate to Portuguese     Translate to Spanish     Translate to Italian     Translate to Japanese     Translate to Korean     Translate to Chinese     Translate to Arabic     Translate to Russian     


  

TRIBUTE TO A GREAT ASTRONOMICAL MAGAZINE

  • To show our appreciation to Gary Parkerson and the new astronomical magazine, "Astronomy Technology Today" for showcasing Mel Dawson's 10" f/5.6 Fork Mounted Newtonian reflector in the debut April, 2007 issue, and his North Star Field Tripod prototype, we have created a special tribute page in their honor. Please click on the "ATT Webpages" button below to pay the ATT tribute page a visit.

Cover of the debut issue of Astronomy Technology Today -- April, 2007 !!!

The VSC's Tribute Webpage to Astronomy Technology Today

 

As always... if you have questions, concerns, or have suggestions, please email us at:

vsc-astronomers@vega-sky-center.com

 


Items to soon be up for bids on    and/ or     as submitted by VSC Members

 

No items posted!


THE VEGA SKY CENTER'S ASTRONOMICAL RESOURCE LINKS

By way of the Drop Down boxes below, you will find a great collection of websites to some of our favorite magazines, maps, monthly astronomical periodicals, FREE software downloads, audio/ video sites and many links to suppliers and manufacturers of astronomical equipment, etc. We hope amateurs, young and old will find these sites useful within their astronomical endeavors,,. We did! This list is certain to increase in size over time. So please check back periodically for new additions.

 

     
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   
   
    
    
    
    
    
    

     


SEARCH THE VSC  WEBHUBOR THE  WEB !!!

 

 

 

 

THE WEB

THE VEGA SKY CENTER

  To help in locating specific information on our WebHub, we have added the search box above for your convenience.


OBSERVER’S  DATA  SHEETS

Click to view and download a copy of the "VSC - Our Observer's Data Sheet"                                                 Click to view and download a copy of the "VSC - Your Observer's Data Sheet"

One for Us!                                                                One for You!

 

To document those awesome celestial wonders observed through our telescopic instruments, the Vega Sky Center has created two well thought out observation recording forms we call the "Observer's Data Sheet". One with the VSC logo for our use, and one without for your personal use. In developing these forms, we carefully considered all the tidbits of information the average amateur would record during an average observing session. Each of the forms above is comprised of two pages, which can be printed to two separate sheets, or on a single sheet if you use the 2-sided option for your given printer. The front page contains all of the pertinent data - time, date, telescope information, object information, etc. The second page is used for sketching your object of choice, or for a photograph. We hope that you will find the form helpful in recording those splendid telescopic observations. Both Observer's Data Sheets are PDF documents and can be downloaded by clicking on the images above. All you need is Adobe AcroReader, or other PDF application to open it.

"Download a copy today, so you can start a wealth of observing memories!!!"

 


NOTEWORTHY OBSERVATIONS RECORDED BY THE  VSC

Click to go instantly to the 02-20--21-2008 Total Lunar Eclipse Page!

The VSC observes the recent Total Lunar Eclipse of 02/20-21/2008. The above image was  taken on 02-20-2008 at 21:44 EST by M. Dawson along with Kenneth Ewin through a Konus "Hybridized" 90mm f/11 Refractor using an Olympus c-4000Z [f/2.8 - Automatic Setting] digital camera in conjunction with a TeleVue 40mm Plossl attached to a homemade Universal Digital Camera Adapter.

 

By clicking on the "Observations by the VSC" button below, you will be whisked to the page containing noteworthy observations recorded by members of the VSC. Many of these observations will provide detailed synopses which visitors will find interesting and helpful. This section will assuredly grow, as we take part in upcoming significant celestial events.


CURRENT US TIME ZONES, SOLAR IMAGES,  AND LUNAR PHASE

PACIFIC
MOUNTAIN
CENTRAL
EASTERN

 

CURRENT SOLAR IMAGES FROM SOHO

SOHO Solar Image via EIT at 195 Angstroms - (Click for enlarged view)                      SOHO Solar Image in Visible Light - (Click for enlarged view)                      SOHO Solar Image via EIT at 304 Angstroms - (Click for enlarged view)

 

Click on any of the solar images above for an enlarged view!

 

CURRENT MOON


CLEAR SKY CLOCK FOR VSC LOCALES AND THE FARROUT OBSERVING SITE

 

  Clear Sky Clock for Mel Dawson's Private Observatory              Clear Sky Clock for Dennis Farr's FarrOut Private Observatory             Clear Sky Clock for Gary Barabino's Private Observatory

    Brandon, FL                                       Withlacoochee River Park, FL                                         Slidell, LA

CURRENT ASTRONOMICAL AND SPACE EVENTS VIA ASTROWIRE

 


LATEST UPDATES TO THE VSC WEBHUB

 

The VSC astronomical webhub is a dynamic resource that is ever changing to provide amateur astronomers with viable, and reliable information. Therefore, periodic updates to help with this effort are a must. To see the list of recent and past updates to our WebHub, just click on the button below. 

Last Updated on June 25, 2009

 

 


  The Vega Sky Center Astronomical WebHub -- Established 2000

© All Rights Reserved.
To contact the VSC, or the webmaster directly with questions, comments, or inquiries, please email us at:

 vsc-astronomers@vega-sky-center.com

 

Click here to go to Jamie Beckett's Website!

 

On those days when weather conditions don't work in your favor for astronomical studies, why not curl up with a good book, "Jamie Beckett's" new novel, "Burritos and Gasoline". Makes for awesome reading during those times you can't break out the scope!

"Get it now at Amazon, or Barnes & Noble!"

"God Bless, and Clear Skies, Forever ..."

You are visitor number