The Stuff Heroes Are Made Of
Web Directory

• 3-D Starmaps - Science fiction fans and authors of SF novels have often wondered "where everything is". Is Sirius closer to Procyon than Tau Ceti? Is 82 Eridani safely within the Terran Federation, or is it perilously close to the dreaded Blortch Empire? And just where exactly is Babylon 5? "Hard" SF writers and interstellar game designers need reasonably accurate 3-D starmaps in order to set the stage. This webpage is a feeble attempt to assist those who lack the knowledge (or inclination) to do the work themselves. You don't have any excuse now, I've done most of the work for you! If nothing else, grab the maps!
• Alien Planet Designer - These pages are on the borderline between hard Science Fiction and genuine science. In the hard SF tradition, everything here is scientifically rigorous, except when it is more fun to bend the rules. The pages have 3 aims: (1) To help people understand the general physics of stellar and planetary systems. Speculation is rife about alien worlds circling alien suns, but many are unrealistic because the effects of the universal laws governing them are not appreciated. People design alien worlds from science fiction, anthropological and role-playing perspectives. Some are happy not to worry about such details, but others might appreciate the verisimilitude a few calculations can bring. (2) To help with those calculations. Few are complicated, but they are tedious to perform, and there is no central reference with them all (if you know better, I'd love to know). (3) To look how other people have prepared their alien worlds.
• The American Astronomical Society - The American Astronomical Society (AAS), established 1899, is the major professional organization in North America for astronomers, other scientists and individuals interested in astronomy.
• The Astronomical Journal - Founded in 1849 by B.A. Gould, The Astronomical Journal is one of the world's finest journals in the field. The expanded coverage of quasars, galaxies, supernova remnants, and studies of the interstellar medium complement the more traditional areas of astronomy, including galactic structure and dynamics, astrometry, variable and binary stars, solar system studies, and cosmology. With an emphasis on observational papers and a generally short publication time, the Journal attracts many seminal papers, and is an indispensable journal for serious astronomers.
• The Astronomical League - The World's Largest Federation of Amateur Astronomers. Our basic goal is to encourage an interest in astronomy (and especially amateur astronomy). We do this through educational and observational programs for the amateur astronomer. Anyone may join us as a Member-at-Large, or through their local astronomical society.
• The Astronomical Society of the Pacific - For over a hundred years, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific has worked to explain the mysteries of the universe to students, teachers, hobbyists, and the general public. As the largest general astronomy society in the world, our membership represents a community joined by its love of the heavens and a desire to share that enjoyment.
• Astronomy 161: The Solar System - Class lectures and other good informatio about our solar system.
• Extrasolar Visions - Your guide to planets beyond our solar system.
• Home Planet - A comprehensive astronomy / space / satellite-tracking package for Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.
• The International Astronomical Union - The mission of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), founded in 1919, is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. With now over 8,300 individual members and 66 Adhering Countries worldwide, the IAU plays a key role in promoting and coordinating worldwide cooperation in astronomy. The IAU is also the sole internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and surface features on such bodies.
• NASA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory - The source for information on NASA missions.
• The Nine Planets - A overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our solar system. Each page has text and images, some have sounds and movies, most provide references to additional related information.
• The SIMBAD astronomical database - The SIMBAD astronomical database, created and maintained by the CDS, Strasbourg, brings together basic data, cross-identifications, observational measurements, and bibliography, for celestial objects outside the solar system: stars, galaxies, and nonstellar objects within our galaxy, or in external galaxies. The acronym SIMBAD stands for Set of Identifications, Measurements, and Bibliography for Astronomical Data. SIMBAD contains information for about 1 million objects, for which 3.3 million identifiers, more than 1.5 million observational measurements and 1.4 million bibliographical references are available.
• Space Settlement - A unique concept for colonization beyond the Earth. While most thinking regarding the expansion of the human race outward into space has focused on the colonization of the surfaces of other planets, the space settlement concept suggests that planetary surfaces may not be the best location for extraterrestrial colonies. Artificial, closed-ecology habitats in free orbit would seem to have many advantages over any planetary home (Earth included).
• Solar System Live - Welcome to Solar System Live, the interactive Orrery of the Web. You can view the entire Solar System, or just the inner planets (through the orbit of Mars). Controls allow you to set time and date, viewpoint, observing location, orbital elements to track an asteroid or comet, and a variety of other parameters.
• StarLore - Your Webside guide to the galaxy! An astronomy site designed by an amateur for amateurs, not only will StarLore provide you with all you need to know about the constellations, but it also has the following features: Star Indexes Galaxy Indexes Nebulae Indexes Star Cluster Indexes Monthly Deep Sky Indexes StarLore can also tell you which stars, constellations and deep sky objects are currently visible from your part of the world - cool!
• Warp Home Page - WARP is a science-fiction role-playing tool geared towards game masters which want to enrich their campaign by using real stars in their scenarios.
• Windows to the Universe - Our purpose is to develop a fun and different Web site about the Earth and Space sciences. Windows to the Universe is graphics intensive! Entry options here lead to the Intermediate content level.