Things You'll Need:
- Your own curiosity and appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the Universe!
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Step 1
So you want to be an amateur astronomer? You see all of the amazing pictures taken by the Hubble, maybe seen pictures taken by advanced amateurs (trust me, advanced amateurs can take AMAZING photos of the universe). You say to yourself, "I want to see all of those amazing sights!"
The first thing you should do is - lower your expectations. Most people who see astronomical photos, or astrophotographs as they're most commonly referred to, expect to see the same view through a telescope eyepiece. Unless you're looking at the moon...it ain't going to happen. Sorry to disappoint you, but the human eye just isn't capable of reproducing what long exposure film and digital cameras can capture.
Most galaxies appear in telescopes as very, very "faint fuzzies." Get used to that term. Learn it, know it, memorize it. It will come in handy after you're an experienced amateur and you're trying to explain to your less experienced brethren what most astronomical objects outside of our own solar system look like. Other astronomical objects, such as globular clusters and open clusters, are much more appealing through a telescope, yet they still aren't as pleasing to the eye as long exposure photographs. -
Step 2
Okay, now that you've lowered your expectations, it's time to go to your local big box store and buy a telescope! Right? WRONG! It's time to buy a quality pair of binoculars, preferably something in the 12x60 range. If you're not familiar with binocular specifications, 12 refers to the power, or magnification, and 60 refers to the diameter, in millimeters, of each binocular lens, also called the objective.
If you much buy something else at this point, purchase a planisphere for your latitude, or as close to your latitude as possible, and learn the sky. A basic observing book would be a good idea at this point as well. -
Step 3
Next, and if possible in conjunction with your binocular purchase, locate an amateur astronomy group in your area. Most large cities will have several and many smaller cities will have one not too distant. In fact, if you live in a dark area, chances are a group from a not-too-distant large city that is plagued by light pollution will hold club star parties, often open to the public for at least a limited amount of time, in your area.
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Step 4
Subscribe to an astronomy magazine, such as Astronomy or Sky & Telescope. These feature monthly star charts for the coming month - if you didn't already know, the constellations visible in the sky change with the seasons, thus the importance of monthly star charts. Of course, you can buy monthly star charts each year, but the magazine have many interesting and informative articles, as well as information regarding solar system objects, such as planets, asteroids and comets, that are visible each month. Magazines will also have equipment reviews as well as coverage of amateur astronomy clubs and star parties.
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Step 5
Spend some time with members of the astronomy group - or groups if you're lucky. Talk to them. Ask questions. Get their advice. Most amateurs are willing to spend time with anyone who shows an interest in the hobby, and unless they are in the middle of an astrophotography session, like nothing better than to share the wonders of the night sky with others. Hearing the "Ooohs!", "Aaaahhhs!" and "Wows!" of novices (and even other experienced amateurs) is like music to their ears!
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Step 6
"Now is it time to buy a telescope?" you might ask. Yes, it's probably time. Just don't go to the local Mega Mart and buy a scope that has as its most visible specification its magnification. 650X! it might scream at you. When you see that, run screaming from the store!
What kind of scope should you buy? That depends on your budget and your commitment, as well as what you want to see, as well as if you might be interested in astrophotography. And all that is probably best left to a future article.
