Start Here

2018-03-06T23:08:00.002-07:00

Get Excited

Getting started in Astronomy can be one of the most exciting things you do in your life but it can also be a little overwhelming. I think the number one thing anyone can do to enjoy the hobby is to start somewhere that interest them the most. For me, it was observing some of the spectacular things in our Solar System with my first telescope. Observing Jupiter and its moon is absolutely amazing and Saturn with its rings blew my mind. However, this may not work for you. You may be into the technical gear and learning how to use it or building your own telescope. There are so many different ways to enjoy the night sky that there is probably something for everyone. The main thing is to taste a little bit and then expand from that point.

Taste the Stars

The very first thing you should do is find a local astronomy club and go to one of their public star parties. Local Observing Parties are great opportunities to taste the stars without spending any money. You will also find people who are passionate and want to share their passion with you. Most likely there is a club near you and all it takes to find one is to check the National Astronomical Society's list of clubs. You can also head on over to good old Facebook or Google and search for Astronomy Clubs in your state or county as some may not be members of the Astronomical Society. Once you have found a local club look for a calendar or events page and see when and where they do public star parties. Take a friend or family member and go enjoy it.

*I want to add a note here that sometimes people go to see a deep sky object, or some other wonder of the sky, and expect to see the same thing as they see on the internet. A camera sensor is much more sensitive then the human eye and can pick up more of the color spectrum, and then you add in editing and they end up amazing. With your own eye you will probably only see a fraction of it but for me that fraction is amazing. Just don't go in expecting to see a Photoshop picture and you will be good to go.

Now What?

So you have gone to a Star Party, or you have already decided that this a hobby for you, let me be one of the first to welcome you to it! In my short time along this path I have had many nights of great observing and sharing those moments with my family and friends. It truly is something to be shared with all.

The next thing is to decide what you would like to do first. You could go straight to purchasing your own equipment, which is usually exciting for those that like new gear and learning how to use it. OR you could start simple and download free apps and learn the night sky such as constellations, the brightest stars, the Moon, and where the planets are located depending on the time of year. This is something that you need to determine for yourself and how much money you are willing to start with. For this post, I am going to focus on a budget under $100. Everything I reference about below, and on my next posts, are things I personal own, have owned, or is very similar to something I have owned.

$0 - $100 Budget

If your budget is $0 don't be discouraged there is a lot to learn and observe. Get your phone out and search for a free app called SkyPortal or click on your device type to go to the app page: Android or iOS. This app is by Celestron and I really like it as it is a watered down version of SkySafari, which many individuals in this hobby recommend and use. Using SkyPortal will make it so the learning curve for SkySafari is minimal in the future. I personally own SkySafari 6 Plus but it does cost money. SkyPortal is free so it is a perfect place to start!!!

If you don't want a digital device you can print and make your own Planisphere here. A Planisphere is something you can hold in your hand and use to orient the sky anytime of the year. This will assist you in finding constellations, stars, and milky way. The link above does have a section of how to use a planisphere but here is a video as well. Once you have an app, or Planishpere, just spend time outside learning the sky. Try to go to more Club Star Parties in your area and view some of the wonders for free and get to know the different types of equipment and the views they provide. This will come in handy when you decide to invest money into a telescope or other equipment.

If you have a little bit of money the first thing I would recommend is a good book that can teach you the basics of Astronomy. I highly recommend The Backyard Astronomer's Guide written by Terence Dickinson & Alan Dyer. This book covers from beginner to advanced stuff including equipment, different celestial things to observe, Astrophotography and more. It really is a great way to build a foundation of knowledge and will pay dividends as you progress down this path. It is a little dated so the pricing of the equipment wont be accurate but the technology really hasn't changed too much. The book goes for $49 and is a bargain in my opinion.

The next thing should be a pair of binoculars so you can look a little closer from your own backyard and not rely on star parties. If you already own a pair use those as there is no need to purchase any new ones. I personally own and have really enjoyed the Celestron 71198 Cometron 7x50 Binoculars. At $35 it is hard to pass up such a quality pair of binoculars. They are lightweight and I have enjoyed the clear views though them. You will be able to see more stars and some deep sky objects with them. For really quick observation sessions a good pair of binoculars is the tool you will want. In fact, I didn't have a lot of time but wanted to see Venus and Mercury last night so I pulled these out and could see both in the field of view.

Conclusion

You really don't need to buy anything to start but if you want to to be ahead of the game I would at least get a good book that will teach you some basics such as the The Backyard Astronomer's Guide. After that you are set for awhile and can save for an actual telescope, which can be a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands. We will discuss telescopes in my next post as it is the next step in our path to becoming a Hobbyist Astronomer.

It began

2018-01-08T16:29:00.002-07:00

It was the beginning of 2016 and I was celebrating my 5 year work anniversary with the usual high fives from coworkers and congrats from managers but the company also gave me a gift. The amount was for $500 that could only be used on a contracted vendors site, but it was clear that most items were older surplus products companies needed to move out of inventory. Free is free and I wasn't going to complain. I spent a lot of time looking through the catalog without really knowing exactly what I wanted but I had recently become a father and I wanted something that would be fun for my kids as they grow older as well as something I could do around the house. I looked at golf clubs, watches, and gadgets of all kinds but nothing sparked my interest until I saw a telescope. I have always admired the night sky and the stars but I had never seen Jupiter, Saturn, Alberio, or M13 with my own eyes. I had a child like feeling come over me and after thinking about it for a day or two I finally selected it.

I have used that telescope, a Meade 80MM refractor, a lot and still use it on occasion. In fact, it was the main telescope my family and I used for the Total Solar Eclipse this past August, with an attached home made solar filter. It was the first to show me Jupiter and its moons, Mars, Venus, and Saturn (which still leaves me speechless). It would then show me the Ring Nebula and other dazzling deep sky objects. The refractor will show my kids the same wonders as they grow up and, with the right care, my grandkids.

The simple choice of following that feeling I got when I saw a telescope on a vendors website has brought a wonderful passion into my life. This blog will be a way for me to document some of the things I observe but mainly as a way for me to look back and see the steps I took to find my path to a Hobbyist Astronomer and beyond. My time for observing is limited to about 1 or 2 nights a month as my family is young and the Mrs. and I are very active and share responsibilities in evenings to get the kiddos to bed.

The next few posts will be a recap of what I have learned over the last few years with varying resources, but I have to admit it won't take too many posts to get there 😁. I will also write about the newer equipment I have accumulated and a few observing sessions, one of which was The Great American Total Solar Eclipse of 2017. After I have completed my recap I will move into my current goals and how it will truly take anyone from Newb to Hobbyist to Amateur. I hope you will enjoy following my path from Newb to Hobbyist and that it may help others along the same journey.