Getting to know this Program
Before you start learning about the planets and stars it will help to plan ahead and discover what will make the experience easier and more enjoyable for you. It is amazing how much difference a really dark sky will make as compared to a relatively dark one. If you are in artificial light, many items will be hard to make out.
Locating Entities
It will be a while before it is possible to make out what each object is. By distinguishing one entity it will be possible to work out what is around them. Once you have your bearings, finding other stars and planets will be fine. As a tip, the Plough is an ideal one to start with and once you know this and the North Star, your viewings should be fruitful.
Use Printed Material
There are plenty of charts available and using one of these will enable you to find more than you would if you were alone. Learn how to use it and combine reading it with using the telescope. Again, the Plough is the point to look for and the surrounding items will be easy to locate.
Enlarge the Sky
For this it is possible to use binoculars rather than a telescope and still get amazing results. It will be best to start on a large object first and the moon is the ideal one. Like a telescope, stands can be used so you can still balance correctly and make notes while viewing, rather than having to move the binoculars from the item being viewed.
Just Do It
You don’t have to invest a fortune to do well at astronomy. Meteor showers, comets and phenomena such as the Northern Lights can be seen with the naked eye. The addition of binoculars or a telescope will add to the experience, detailing craters on the moon, multiple stars and far afield galaxies.
