There are many ways to enjoy the wonders of the universe from the comfort of Earth, whether it’s recognizing planets with the naked eye or finding galaxies using a telescope.
It takes little talent or equipment to begin stargazing or amateur astronomy, and you can do it practically anyplace. There’s a lot to see whether you use an app, binoculars, a telescope, or just your eyes.
Here are some astronomy tips for novices, as well as techniques to enhance your connection to the sky.
Choose Your Location
Some places are better for stargazing than others, but you can do it almost anywhere—from your window, balcony, backyard, neighborhood park, or somewhere more isolated.
It’s good to read up on the Bortle class for wherever you decide to observe. The Bortle scale, named after its founder, amateur astronomer John E. Bortle, measures the blackness of the sky. It ranges from Class 1 (the darkest sky on Earth) to Class 9 (inner-city skies). Even in Class 9 sites, the night sky has a lot to offer. You can look up your location’s Bortle class using an app like clearoutside.com, which can help you identify what sky objects you should be able to see.
Become Oriented
Learn where north, east, south, and west are from your perspective point if you don’t already.
The planets, like the Sun, rise in the east and set in the west. The Moon rises in the east and sets in the west, although its position varies based on where you live and the time of year.
You can also learn some tricks for estimating positions in the night sky. The sky is generally measured in degrees, with 0 degrees representing the horizon and 90 degrees being directly overhead.
Select Your Equipment
You don’t need a telescope to learn about the night sky.
A good smartphone app is the most useful piece of equipment for stargazing these days. These applications can tell you what is visible from your location and where to look on a given night. There are numerous options, and the best are routinely updated by their developers to maintain information correct and up to date.
Binoculars are the next logical step after naked-eye Astronomy. Although astronomy-grade binoculars are available, they are not required. Binoculars will enable you to see the craters on the Moon, the moons of Jupiter, and the reddish Mars. They will also enable you to see distant Neptune and Uranus, which are normally invisible to the human eye.
A telescope will allow you to see many more night sky objects, as well as spectacular planetary characteristics such as Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s stripes. We recommend that beginners begin with smaller telescopes that are easier to pack and use. Once you’ve developed an interest in telescopic astronomy, you can begin looking for larger and better telescopes to utilize.
Other Beneficial Information
Observing the Moon is one of the simplest ways to begin studying what is astronomy. You can observe the lunar cycle using binoculars or a telescope to see how your perspective changes. The Moon, for example, is dazzlingly bright and one-dimensional when it is full.
When the Moon is in a crescent shape (during the first or last quarter phase), the craters are more striking because they are well-defined by shadows.
If you don’t intend to observe the Moon, it’s preferable to do so at a time of the month when the Moon isn’t extremely full. The finest time is when the Moon is new or crescent. In this manner, the Moon’s brilliant brightness will not obscure your view of fainter objects such as planets.
When they are visible in the night sky, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus are all pretty easy to spot. A planet is most likely visible if it seems brighter than all the other stars.
Jupiter’s four huge moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, can also be seen with a small telescope. Their postures alter from night to night, making them even more fascinating to watch.
If you’re looking for specific night sky objects, it’s a good idea to research how those objects appear through your mode of observation (eyes, binoculars, or telescope) so you know what to expect when you locate them. Most popular space images are treated to bring out colors and texture, therefore it’s useful to know what they look like raw and unfiltered.
Share the Laughter
Once you’ve become acquainted with objects visible to the naked eye, you can begin to point them out to others. It’s quite satisfying to be able to confidently point to a brilliant dot in the night sky and declare, “That’s Jupiter!” You can also demonstrate how to use the instruments you’ve been utilizing, such as stargazing apps, binoculars, or a telescope, to others.
If you truly want to spread the love of the night sky, try setting up a tiny telescope in your neighborhood (also known as sidewalk astronomy). Choose a location with evening foot traffic, and make sure your city or town’s ordinances allow it. You can show guests easy-to-appreciate things like Jupiter, Saturn, or the Moon. You can even ask them to consider joining The Planetary Society if you’re feeling very inspired!
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