Beginners Guide On Getting Started In Amateur Astronomy
Amateur Astronomy is such a unique and fun hobby. There is so much to learn and appreciate just by looking up at night. This hobby helps put things in perspective and shows you how vast and beautiful the universe is. While it’s very fascinating it can also be intimidating to try and get started. However, I can assure you it’s not only easy to get started but also something you will not regret.
What Exactly Is Amateur Astronomy?
Amateur Astronomy is a hobby where people who enjoy celestial objects spend time viewing, capturing, and experiencing amazing things the universe has to offer. In amateur astronomy, there are limitless things to explore and experience. Also, a big aspect of this hobby is sharing your experiences and findings with other amateur astronomers. One of the best parts of amateur astronomy is the community that comes with it.
Why You Should Try This Hobby
Amateur astronomy is a hobby unlike any other. Amateur astronomy allows you to do incredible things such as literally looking into the past of the universe. There are unlimited things you can look at, each with its own complex story and beauty. Whether you want to see planets, galaxies, nebulas, or anything else in the night sky, this hobby can provide that for you.
There is not only the fun of seeing things with your own eyes but the unique opportunity to capture them. You can take photos or videos of what you find and share that with others. All the beautiful things put aside amateur astronomy can be both very relaxing and exciting. Oftentimes people who try out this hobby get hooked from the experiences they have. Looking at celestial objects up close with your own eyes is a unique feeling that’s hard to describe.
Do I Need Any Equipment?
When just getting started in the Astronomy hobby you don’t need any equipment. One of the best things you can do when just starting is to find a good spot and just use your eyes. You will be surprised how much you can see on a clear day when your goal is to look at the stars and planets.
A lot of the time new amateur astronomers think you need at least a $100-200 dollar telescope to get started but that is not the case. The same goes for apps and products that help you point out where certain things are in the sky. They are nice and you will likely get one in the future, but they are not necessary.
Go out with just your eyes and make sure amateur astronomy is something you would like to learn more about. At that point, I would recommend you then start to get some beginner equipment and enhance your astronomy experience.
How Do Telescopes Help You See More In The Night Sky?
A lot of people think that all telescopes do is zoom in or enhance what they are looking at. While that is the main feature, it is arguably the less important of the two for amateur astronomy. One of the most important parts of a telescope is its aperture. Aperture is the diameter of the object’s light-gathering lens.
The human eye can only take in about 7mm of light. This is a big limiting factor because when looking into the night sky the more light you take in the more you can see. This is why telescopes are so helpful. They come in all different sizes with different apertures, this lets them bring in more light and allows you to see more space.
Best Starting Equipment (Optional)
Starting equipment is not necessary but if you are adamant about it here are some good beginner options. The best thing to use that beats just using your eyes is a pair of binoculars. Preferably a free pair you already have lying around your house. Like I mentioned when looking into the night sky your eyes can only bring in a small amount of light. This is why even your average pair of binoculars can help enhance the experience a lot. They will bring in more light and let you see more of the night sky. They also have the benefit of being completely free if you already have a pair. That’s why binoculars are one of the best starting equipment pieces for amateur astronomy.
Helpful Tips
1. Try to Avoid Light Pollution
Light pollution is almost everywhere and can limit a lot of what the night sky has to offer. Light pollution is unwanted excess light from artificial lighting sources. This includes things like cities, towns, highways, etc. The best thing you can do if you live somewhere with a lot of light pollution is try to find local areas that are free of unwanted lights. This is not necessary but it can help improve the experience quite a bit.
2. Let Your Eyes Adjust to the Darkness
On average depending on how much light our eyes are exposed to, it can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes for them to fully adjust to the darkness. This means that when you go out to stargaze you need to be patient and make sure your eyes are fully adjusted. Just like avoiding light pollution, this will help you see more of the night sky and fully enjoy the experience.
3. Avoid Cheap Telescopes
I have mentioned this more in-depth in another one of my posts here, but to sum it up stay away from very cheap telescopes. They often can do more harm than good and end up turning new astronomers away from the hobby because of their poor construction and false advertising. Specifically telescopes you may find in your local department store for around $30
Connecting With Other Stargazers
One thing I highly recommend you do if you are getting into amateur astronomy is to participate in local events/groups. These groups will not only help you learn but also let you try out all the different aspects of the hobby. This includes using different telescopes and general equipment. This can help you get a better understanding of what’s out there and what is the best option for you.
The other large benefit is all the miscellaneous knowledge you can learn. Whether it’s tips about the best time of night to a specific setting on your camera when capturing photos. If you have any questions it’s likely other people involved in the hobby can give you a good answer from experience. Not only that but it can be a lot of fun to connect with other people who share a similar interest.
Conclusion
Amateur Astronomy is one of the best hobbies you can get into. In a lot of cases, all you have to do is go into your backyard at night and you can experience something very few people have. You can literally look into the past and find our neighboring and distant galaxies. You can see the planets of our own solar system and so much more. Amateur astronomy can help put the unimaginably large universe into perspective. One of the best parts is you don’t need a single piece of equipment to get started. If you have been thinking about getting into the hobby, I highly suggest you give it a try.
