Getting Started In Backyard Astronomy

What to know about backyard astronomy, first of all

, is that it can be much easier to engage in than most might realize. This is because everything that's needed to do it exists right within someone's head, as a matter of fact. Of course, this means that a person's eyes are the single best tool with which to engage in astronomy, though learning a bit about the night sky before doing it is always advised.

That's because a telescope will be of little use for astronomy if one doesn't know what one's looking for, after all. Known as "naked eye astronomy, " it can be a good idea to learn how to do a scan of the night sky for basic astronomical objects. These can include as constellations (learn to find and then identify them), meteor showers, planets visible even during the daylight (some are) and satellites and other man-made objects put into space.

Once this basic understanding is gained, it will then be time to start thinking about the kinds of astronomy and study of the skies that one wants to get involved in. Just go online or go to any bookstore and look in the astronomy section to get an idea of how vast the field really is. After all, with billions of galaxies, innumerable suns, moons and stars there'll certainly be much to study, right?

Consider all of these pre-astronomy activities as being preparation for really getting into the pastime. With them, one's better equipped to start seeking out astronomy clubs and also selecting a good quality telescope. A club can help in this regard because its members can make recommendations about telescopes and also about what forms of astronomy for the backyard may be the easiest to start out on.

When it comes to a telescope, for those just starting out in astronomy, it's important to understand that one doesn't need to spend large amounts of money to get a nice telescope that'll provide hours of enjoyment to the amateur astronomer. It's important, though, to learn a bit about them -- especially when it comes to understanding that telescopes all offer different things, depending on what they're made to do.

Consider the average amateur astronomer who just wants to look at the heavens from his backyard and who's on a tight budget. In that case, look for telescopes that offer the maximum viewing for the minimum amount of money. Compare their price to how well they can magnify and how wide they can see and then look for telescopes that do both those things for the amount of money that can be spent.

For anybody interested in backyard astronomy, it's good to know that there's a wealth of online tools available that can point one in the right direction. Make use of local planetariums, because they often have a lot of information about astronomy clubs and the like. As well, university astronomy departments are also good sources of information. And with telescopes running less than $100 for a decent one, why wait to start in astronomy?

by: Steve Mitchell

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