In theory, amateur astronomy appears to be simple: purchase a telescope, direct it at the sky, and observe. However, if you look up into the night sky, you will notice a plethora of light sources. How do you search the vastness of space for a single star or constellation? What kind of gear should you bring? It’s quite overwhelming. Nevertheless, veteran astronomers have shared their knowledge to help people take up stargazing.
Learn to See the Night Sky With a Naked Eye
The easiest way to get started with this hobby is to go outside and learn the patterns and names of the stars above you without any extra gear. You can make use of the Use Sky & Telescope magazine's monthly naked-eye star charts, or purchase a planisphere that displays the constellations visible at any time of the year.
There’s a lot more to gaze up at than you can imagine, even if you reside in a densely populated area highly polluted with artificial light. The opportunity to look up and say, "That's Saturn" or "There's Orion’s Belt" will bring you joy and pride for the rest of your life.
There’s a lot more to gaze up at than you can imagine, even if you reside in a densely populated area highly polluted with artificial light. The opportunity to look up and say, "That's Saturn" or "There's Orion’s Belt" will bring you joy and pride for the rest of your life.
Start Stargazing With Binoculars
For various reasons, binoculars are an excellent "first telescope." Binoculars provide a wide field of view, making it easy to navigate the night’s sky. A potent telescope augments only a small patch of sky instead.
Binoculars also display a sight that is side up and directly in front of you, making it straightforward to see where you’re focusing. What you see with an astronomical telescope, on the contrary, is upside down, a mirror image, and at right angles to the location you’re taking aim at. The advantages of binoculars are that they’re inexpensive, and easy to store and transport.
Binoculars have surprising levels of performance. Ordinary 7- to 10-power binoculars upgrade the naked-eye perspective about as much as a competent amateur telescope does – for a fraction of the cost. Your ability to become a successful astronomer is determined more by your skills and knowledge than by your equipment.
Make a wire ring the size of your binoculars or finderscope's field of view for a cool star chart trick. You can see the star patterns that will appear in your perspective as you travel the sky by sliding it from point to point on the chart. It’s a good exercise to familiarize yourself with what you will later see in the sky.
Binoculars also display a sight that is side up and directly in front of you, making it straightforward to see where you’re focusing. What you see with an astronomical telescope, on the contrary, is upside down, a mirror image, and at right angles to the location you’re taking aim at. The advantages of binoculars are that they’re inexpensive, and easy to store and transport.
Binoculars have surprising levels of performance. Ordinary 7- to 10-power binoculars upgrade the naked-eye perspective about as much as a competent amateur telescope does – for a fraction of the cost. Your ability to become a successful astronomer is determined more by your skills and knowledge than by your equipment.
Make a wire ring the size of your binoculars or finderscope's field of view for a cool star chart trick. You can see the star patterns that will appear in your perspective as you travel the sky by sliding it from point to point on the chart. It’s a good exercise to familiarize yourself with what you will later see in the sky.
Study Maps and Guidebooks
Acquire a taste for maps: they evoke the thrill of uncovering secrets in far-flung skyscapes. Many astronomy guidebooks explain what to look for and what to expect when you find it. Furthermore, the abilities you will gain while using binoculars to locate these objects are the same ones you will need while using a telescope.
Planification is key for the amateur astronomer. Make plans for what you will be doing outside. Spread out your guides and charts on a large table, look for objects that should be within range of your gear, and plan your route.
Planification is key for the amateur astronomer. Make plans for what you will be doing outside. Spread out your guides and charts on a large table, look for objects that should be within range of your gear, and plan your route.
Make Use of Your Public Library
The comprehension and intellectual discovery of the sky at night are the true joys of the astronomy discipline. Nevertheless, you have to arrive at these discoveries and gather this knowledge on your own. One of the best sources for newcomers is your local public library. Peek at the astronomy aisle for papers and articles that will feed you with the fundamental knowledge you require. Read books about the history of astronomy and the astronomers that made the discoveries that changed the way we see our world and the universe.
