You may first want to look up and learn the stars with naked eye. Just look at the night sky. Get familiar with the constellations and stars.
You may first want to look up and learn the stars with naked eye. Just look at the night sky. Get familiar with the constellations and stars.
Start viewing with binoculars, no need to rush in buying a telescope. Binoculars makes it easier to see where you are pointing and helps familiarize you with the different images you see in the sky. There are thousands more stars seen with a good set of binoculars than with the unaided eye.
Get maps and guidebooks of the sky. Have fun looking at the moon during different phases, sweep across the Milky Way's band of stars, check out Jupiter's satellites, variable stars, double stars, globular clusters (faint fuzzy spots that contains millions of stars), and so much more. There are in fact special recognition designations you can get just with binoculars. Double Stars and Moon certificates are issued when you have viewed and documented them.
Telescope? After hours of star watching and pouring over books and magazines you think you are ready for a scope. Here are some recommendations that might help in choosing a telescope to suit your needs.
Test drive a variety of scopes to see what best suits you for comfort, seeing capability, portability and your checkbook. By joining a local star club you can view many types of telescopes and their mountings. There are many makers of scopes - so don't skimp on quality.
Check around and get a feel for the market. Or consider building your own scope, again, many astronomy clubs offer help, support and workshops on the different phases of building - the base to the mirrors. Needless to say, astro-clubs are invaluable for information. If your eyes and longings are bigger than you can afford. Then save up for a quality scope that you will USE!