Stargazing for Beginners
The unaided eye can see galaxies 2 1/2 million light years away. With binoculars, you can see craters on the moon. Beginning stargazers start with a curiosity about the night sky that increases through learning and experience. A lifetime of exploration awaits anyone interested in astronomy.
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Study the Sky
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Learn the sky using your unaided eye. Study naked-eye charts available in astronomy books and Internet sites such as skyandtelescope.com and then go out at night and learn the patterns and stars you see. A wealth of information can be found at any library. Read up on the stars and constellations you see and about how the stars change with the seasons. Learn about the craters, plains and mountains you can see on the moon. Read about Venus' crescent phase and Jupiter's moons. Use guidebooks and study maps. Spread them both on a table and refer to the guidebooks to study maps.
Binoculars
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Buy a good pair of binoculars. They will give you a wide view and make it easy to navigate the sky. Unlike a telescope, binoculars allow you to scan the sky directly in front of you with a view that is right side up. They are easy to carry and store and will provide enough detail to see galaxies, star clusters and nebulae. When stargazing, use a binocular with large front lenses and high optical quality. You will also need a red LED light. When referring to star charts, any bright light will affect your night vision and it will take about an hour for eyes to readjust.
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Join Stargazers Club
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Join an astronomy club or society to meet others who share your interests. Seek advice and pointers from experienced stargazers and talk to other amateurs to share discoveries and experiences. Attend events held by these organizations for an opportunity to try different telescopes, learn how they work and start to get an idea of what to look for when you are ready to purchase one.
Visit the Country
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Escape the city or even large towns to see the night sky with minimal light pollution. The darker the area, the better you will be able to see clearly at great distances. Relax and enjoy yourself, taking pleasure in your new familiarity with the stars. Don't get frustrated over what you can't see. Pace yourself and be patient. You may need to make several attempts to find something you have studied, but don't give up.
Telescopes
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After spending time learning the night sky and studying books, maps and charts, you will be ready to invest in a telescope. Decide if you want a small, high-quality telescope or a larger, more expensive one. Learn the different types of telescopes and know what to expect of them. Quality is important for this purchase. Be sure it has a steady solid mount that works smoothly. It must also have high-quality optics that are diffraction-limited. Look for a large aperture, but keep portability in mind.
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References
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