About
"People across the board seem to agree that space is cool. Some people find it a
bit scary to contemplate the emptiness and vastness of space, but... still agree
that space exploration is exciting.”
Kate Howells, The Planetary Society (Filling Space interview 2018.)
Let me introduce you to the “Galactic Eye”. This is a unique curated repository of the most fascinating information about space. All documents are available to download in PDF format and are provided free for personal or educational use. If you are interested in learning about the cosmos, space exploration or future tech this site will have something for you!
​
Firstly, there is a series of really fun astronomy and space-themed articles tailored for the enthusiast and layman. These steer clear of dry and intimidating “monoliths of text” typical of standard space science books and articles. Instead, each topic is broken up into bite-sized pieces and presented as a series of straightforward, easy-to-remember bullet points. As a starting point for further reading, most articles are followed by a list of recommended references which are all well worth a look.
​
In addition to the multitude of articles are exclusive CAD-generated vector diagrams. This format ensures that they will retain their definition and will not pixelate no matter how much you zoom in on them. Produced with plenty of detail, the diagrams are also loaded with relevant supplementary notes to put a wealth of information at your fingertips without the need for you to refer to multiple different sources. Also in this section is a booklet of Northern Sky Star Charts generated from the Hipparcos/Tycho-2/HSTGC 2.2 catalogues (approx. 17.5 million stars) together with The Catalogue of Principal Galaxies (PGC) and various catalogues of nebulae, star clusters, radio & X-ray sources (over 70,000 deep sky objects).
​
For a bit of fun and light relief, we have "In the Night Sky" - an exclusive astronomy-themed card game for you to print out and play. This an entertaining party game for 2-6 players which is suitable for all ages and easy to learn!
​
Finally, we have the ever-growing Reviews section and list of links to recommended space websites. Our reviews take a look at space books, science-fiction novels, space art books, space-themed music albums and a variety of weird/wonderful space-themed products. Some of these may be very familiar, however, there will be plenty that will be new to you. The links page will introduce you to a marvellous group of talented astrophotographers, artists and space bloggers together with excellent space news and educational sites.
There you have it: a growing archive of the most fascinating information about space!
​
So, where do you want to start?
© Steve Hetherington 2023
"The Galaxy Investigator"