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Curtis Roelle

Curtis Roelle writes monthly on subjects relating to amateur astronomy and other topics associated with space exploration and space sciences. He spends his spare time observing the heavens from his Carroll County observatory. Web sites: StarPoints.org and Marstown.org

- Carroll County Lifestyles
Star Points: Fall a great time to view gas giants Uranus and Neptune

Uranus and Neptune are smaller and more distant than Jupiter and Saturn and are therefore more challenging to locate and observe. Whereas Jupiter and Saturn are easily visible to the naked eye appearing as bright “stars” (currently in the southwest during evening twilight), Uranus hovers just below naked eye visibility for most people, and Neptune is far too faint to be seen without optical aid.

By Curtis Roelle

Oct 4, 2019

- Carroll County Lifestyles
Star Points: Wrapping up the season of the ‘gas giants’

Our solar system’s largest planets are the four “gas giants” which also include Uranus and Neptune.

By Curtis Roelle

Oct 3, 2019

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- Carroll County Lifestyles
Star Points: On the occasion of its golden anniversary, looking back at the first moon landing

At landing there may have been as little as 30 seconds of fuel remaining. Nevertheless, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon. The date was Sunday afternoon, July 20, 1969.

By Curtis Roelle

Jul 12, 2019

- Maryland
Star Points: From 'Leviathan' to Gran Telescopio, a history of the world's largest telescopes

May 31, 2019
- Maryland
Star Points: Dress rehearsal for moon landing took place 50 years ago this month

May 3, 2019
- Maryland
Star Points: Astronomers have long held the key to precision time-keeping

Apr 5, 2019
- Maryland
Star Points: Foreign landers heading to moon a half-century later

Mar 1, 2019
- Maryland
Star Points: Mercury best placed for evening viewing in 2019

Feb 1, 2019
- Maryland
Star Points: Only total lunar eclipse for 2019 visible from here this month

Jan 4, 2019
- Maryland
Star Points: Comet Wirtanen to brighten during December apparition

Nov 30, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: Nobel Laureate to Speak to Westminster Astronomical Society

Oct 5, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to get up close and personal with the sun

Aug 31, 2018

- Maryland
Star Points: Parade of Planets visible, Bear Branch offers viewings

Although each is easily visible to the naked eye, Bear Branch Nature Center (BBNC) has been opening its observatory to the public for free views of the planets, weather permitting. The four planets involved are Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

By Curtis Roelle

Jul 27, 2018

- Maryland
Star Points: Eyes in the sky on display at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Jun 1, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: May offers opportunity to observe Jupiter and its moons

May 4, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: Celebrating 50th anniversary of release of breakthrough movie '2001: A Space Odyssey'

Mar 30, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: How fast does light travel, and how do we know?

Mar 2, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: Fake news hit astronomy in a big way last month

Feb 2, 2018
- Maryland
Star Points: Grab a lawn chair, blanket and check out the Leonid meteor shower

Nov 10, 2017
- Maryland
Star Points: Halloween's considerable connection to astronomy

Sep 29, 2017
- Maryland
Star Points: Bumps, dents and charts of Earth's wobbling moon

Sep 8, 2017
- Maryland
Star Points; Eclipse, the event amateur astronomers have been eagerly awaiting, nears

Aug 4, 2017

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