On 24/10/2012 21:14, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
In uk.sci.astronomy message , Tue, 23 Oct
2012 16:42:09, Martin Brown posted:

On 23/10/2012 12:48, Lunar wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and want to learn more about our solar system and
beyond. I'm eight years old and feel too advanced for what my school are
teaching me (poems about the order of the planets in our solar system!)
I want to learn more.

Ask away and we will try to answer at the right level. There is also

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/...StarChild.html

H'mmm - all it has relevant to the Lagrange Points (popular nowadays) is
a GIF of Lagrange. The deficiency has been pointed out.

Contrary to common opinion, Lagrange did not discover the Lagrange
Points - although the final step to the Points from what he did is
trivial, he did not take it in the /Essai/, and, AFAICS, nowhere else
either. Euler discovered L1 & L2, quietly. Details on my site.

Be fair John!

The intricacies of the Lagrange points are not within easy grasp of an
average eight year old. A picture of the guy is more than enough - he
was a great mathematician. Most physics undergraduates today would
struggle to derive the orbital Lagrangian points from first principles.

Another interesting site for the OP is Stellarium which provides a
realtime simulated view of the sky on a PC which shows where to look for
planets and comets. Jupiter is easy in the evening sky now.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/stellarium/

Or simpler and online by month/Zodiac sign

http://www.skyguide.org.uk/months/skywheel.htm

Or by constellation

http://www.skyguide.org.uk/constella...cassiopeia.htm

I remember being interested in astronomy too at about that age and the
main thing that frustrated me was that the star maps in books did not
include the planets! Obvious why when you know that they move about!
"Planet" literally means "wandering star".

BTW It would be nice to know if these replies are reaching
spacebanter.com and if the OP is still there.

I hope he hasn't been frightened off by Oriel36 blather.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown