Web Links

Shown below are websites related to Astronomy. There is a separate listing of Physics websites that may also be of interest.

Measurement and Calculation
    Powers of Ten - Images zooming in by factor of ten; good "order of magnitude" demonstration
    World Factbook - Maps and data from CIA
    The Prime Meridian - about Greenwich's key reference for time and location
Charting the Sky
    Time Exhibits - calendars, time zones, daylight saving, clocks, etc.
    Time Calculator - determines sidereal time and Julian Day
    USNO Time Service - time calculators, clocks, etc. from US Naval Observatory
    NOAA Solar Calculator or here - sunrise, sunset, apparent noon, solar altazimuth position, etc.
    Calendar Converter - compare dates on many different calendars
    Apparent Movement of Star - interactive Java applet relating appearance of a star to coordinates and time
    SkyMaps.com - monthly sky chart (free) and on-line astronomy store
    The Constellations - an index with history, mythology, chart, observation tips, etc.
    Constellations & Stars - listings of constellations, bright stars, Messier objects, etc.
    Sky & Telescope - the essential magazine for amateur astronomy
    JPL Ephemeris Generator - calculates ephemeris (position, time, phase, etc.) for selected celestial objects
    NASA Eclipse Home - tables, figures, maps, animations, etc. for Solar and Lunar eclipses
Cosmological Models - History of Astronomy
    Ancient Planetary Models - Animations of Ptolemy's systems of deferents, epicycles, equants, etc.
    Models from Antiquity to Renaissance - Euxodus, Ptolemy, and Copernicus: text and animation
    Ptolemy and Astronomy - History, diagrams, web resources
    Kepler's 2nd Law - java animation showing "sweeping" concept
    Planetary Motion - Interactive Flash app for simulating orbits
    Newton and Kepler - overview Newton's Laws vs. Kepler's Laws (w/ animations and illustrations)
    Solar System Live - "live" diagram of planets' orbits
    My Solar System - interactive flash simulation of gravity and orbits
Electromagnetic Radiation and Spectroscopy
    Waves on a String - Interactive Flash simulation
    Radio Waves - Interactive Java animation
    Polarization - Interactive Java animations of polarizing filters
    MyBlackBodyApplet - Interactive blackbody curves and resulting appearance
    Blackbody Spectrum - Interactive Java simulation Wein's Law and Stefan-Boltzmann Law
    Mini Spectroscopy - interactive spectroscope w/ lines and graph
    Bohr Model Applet - Animation of spectral lines versus electron transitions
    Bohr Model - Flash animation illustrating energy levels and photons
    Bohr Model - Java animation illustrating energy level transitions and series
    Doppler Effect on Spectrum - Interactive animation
    Doppler Physlet - Java animation showing classical and relativistic doppler effect
    Doppler Applet - Click and drag Java animation
    Various Animations - Doppler, Blackbody Radiation, and more . . .
Telescopes and Observatories
    Geometric Optics - Interactive Flash simulation of images formed by a lens
    Adaptive Optics Animation - Quicktime movie showing basic idea
    Hubble Space Telescope - Telescope orbiting Earth
    SOHO - Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
The Sun
    SOHO - Home page of Solar Observatory spacecraft
    Space Weather - Conditions of the Sun affecting the Earth
    Solar Physics on the Web - Info and hyperlinks
    TRACE - Home page of Transition Region and Coronal Explorer spacecraft
    Sunspot Plotter - Java applet to graph sunspot data
    The Sun's Power - Text and animation explaining energy output
    Basic Fusion - Text and animation of Proton-Proton chain and CNO process
    Proton-Proton Chain - Text and Java animations
    Solar Neutrinos - Links to other sites
    Various Animations - Fusion, Blackbody Radiation
The Stars
    Parallax - Interactive animation
    Various Animations - Parallax, Proper Motion, H-R Diagram, Eclipsing Binaries
    Spectral Types - Java applet illustrating connection with temperature
    Spectroscopic Binaries - Animations showning shifts in spectra
    Interactive HR Diagram - Animation and Practice Questions
    Interactive HR Diagram - Explore relations of temperature, color, radius, luminosity, etc.
Planets
    Nine Planets - General information and links for planets, moons, asteroids, comets, KBO's
    Solar Views - Collection of images of solar system objects
    NASA - Home page with links to missions, multimedia, etc.
    JPL - Home page of Jet Propulsion Laboratory with links to missions, multimedia, etc.
    JPL - Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Dynamics
    Galileo - Archive of data from spacecraft that orbited Jupiter
    Cassini - Spacecraft orbiting Saturn
    Mars Exploration Rovers - Spirit and Opportunity roaming Mars
    Mars Global Surveyor - Spacecraft orbiting Mars
    Mars Odyssey - Spacecraft orbiting Mars
Comets and Asteroids
    Minor Planet Center - Extensive data concerning asteroids, comets, and KBO's
    Kuiper Belt Objects - Info on minor planets beyond Neptune
    Deep Impact - Spacecraft visiting comet Tempel 1 and delivering "impactor"!
    NEAR - Spacecraft visited and landed on asteroid 433 Eros
Extrasolar Planets
    California & Carnegie Planet Search - Lots of info on exoplanets
    Planet Quest - Exoplanet Multimedia from NASA & JPL
    Planet Hunting - Explanation and animation from How Stuff Works
    Transit of 209458 - Info on exoplanet transit of a star
    Doppler Velocity Curves - Graphs of exoplanet induced doppler shifts
    The Extrasolar Planet Encyclopedia - Just what it sounds like!
Miscellaneous
    Office of Naval Research Space Sciences - various simulations and interactive pages
    Astronomy Animations - from Valdosta St. University
    Project CLEA - Contemporary Lab Exercises in Astronomy, Free Educational Software
    Astronomy Picture of the Day - various images relevant to astronomy
    Clear Sky Clock - Clear skies, cloudiness, haze, darkness, and light for Knoxville by the hour
    Powers of Ten - Images zooming in by factor of ten; good "order of magnitude" demonstration
    SEDS - Students for the Exploration of Space - lots of astronomy links and info
    Space Science - Variety of topics from NASA