Is Getting Into The Astronomy Hobby Expensive?
It can be intimidating trying to get into the hobby and seeing all the very expensive equipment available. However, I can assure you getting into the astronomy hobby can be very cheap or even free. One of the best ways you can start is by using just your eyes. You will be surprised how much you can see with only your eyes if you let them adjust and get away from light pollution.
A free alternative to just using your eyes is grabbing a pair of binoculars you probably already have laying around the house. A lot of beginners think you need a $500 plus telescope to get started but that is far from the truth. While nice equipment will help enhance the experience and reveal different parts of the sky it is not needed, especially for just getting started. Before you go out and purchase the equipment you want to test the hobby and see if you really enjoy it. In my opinion, the best way to get started is by using what you already have and not spending a penny.
Astronomy Equipment Basics
People usually think that telescopes just zoom in closer to whatever you are looking at. While that is a feature arguably the more important for astronomy is the amount of light it takes in. The human eye can only take in about 7mm of light. This is exactly why telescopes and binoculars can help create a better astronomy experience. When looking up at the night sky we are looking for light. That is why astronomers buy very large telescopes to try and bring in as much light as possible and reveal more things in the night sky.
Alternative Options To Telescopes
As I mentioned above telescopes are so helpful because they help bring in more light. The same goes for the average pair of binoculars. By using a free pair you already have you can improve the amount of light you are taking in substantially. This in return will help show off more of the stars and light in the night sky and provide you with a better experience. Binoculars could help make the difference in spotting some amazing stars and galaxies like the Andromeda galaxy. Binoculars also don’t have too much magnification which can be a good thing. Too much magnification for hand help binoculars will mean the image will be too shaky. Without a lot of magnification, you can get a more still and crisp visual.
How Do I Find Out What I’m Looking At?
As a beginner, there are a lot of very affordable options for finding out exactly what you are looking at. Keep in mind when you are starting you don’t need any equipment to find certain stars, planets, etc. You can just look around and appreciate what you are looking at. You don’t need an explanation of what you’re looking at to admire it. However, if you do want to know what is above you there are a lot of free and affordable options.
One option is apps on your phone or device. A lot of them are free or only a couple of dollars. These will help orient yourself with the sky above you and point out specific things. One popular free app is Star Walk 2. It helps you orient yourself and will tell you exactly what you are looking at.
Another option that isn’t an app is Planispheres. Planispheres are circles with date and time info on the edge that when set up will show you what’s in the night sky. You can get them for anywhere from $10-20 dollars as a physical alternative option to a phone app.
Some Tips For Star-Gazing With Little To No Equipment
1. Avoid Light Pollution
This is easier said than done but it can make a huge difference. Light pollution is additional or extra light, usually, man made that dulls out the night sky. Because of all the excess light, it can be very hard or even impossible to see certain things in the night sky.
Light pollution has a lot of different levels but large cities and highways are usually the worst. Smaller towns and suburbs are not as bad but can still dull out a lot of the stars and constellations above you. The best thing you can do is head to a very rural or remote area to look into the sky. One of the big benefits of just using your eyes or binoculars is that they are easy to transport. Instead of having to move a massive telescope you can easily pack a pair of binoculars and head somewhere with little to no light pollution.
2. Let Your Eyes Adjust To The Darkness
It is very important when only working with your eyes or binoculars to make sure you are fully adjusted to the darkness. It typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes for the human eyes to completely adjust to the darkness. This in return will let more light into your eyes so you can see more. Being patient and fully adjusting is especially important as your experience will be quite a bit better when taking in all the light your eyes can. It sounds like a lot of time to wait but when you are short on equipment it can make the difference for what you see.
Why You Should Avoid Very Cheap Telescopes
It can be tempting when starting this hobby to want to purchase a cheap telescope for $20-30 dollars. Often times they include images on the box with high-quality pictures of different planets and galaxies but don’t be fooled. These telescopes usually only magnify and don’t bring in any additional light which is so important.
Cheap telescopes a lot of the time only discourage newer people from the hobby because of their poor quality. They get their first telescope and the only thing they can see with it is a zoomed-in blurry moon. That’s because all the qualities that make a telescope nice and helpful have been left out. Not to mention these telescopes are always made of extremely cheap material and are poorly put together. If you are just getting started on a budget make sure to avoid cheap telescopes. You will have a much better experience with an extra pair of binoculars or even just your eyes.
Conclusion
Despite common belief, you do not need a single penny to get into the astronomy hobby. The only things you need are your eyes and a dark area free of light pollution. If you have a pair of binoculars lying around they are a great option to help enhance the experience. If you want to find out exactly what you’re looking at use one of the many free apps on your device or purchase an affordable planisphere. Like I mentioned above avoid light pollution and make sure to let your eyes fully adjust to the darkness. Doing both of these will make the experience 10 times better. The world of astronomy is fascinating and exciting. When looking into the night sky you can literally see into the past. It helps you recognize how small we really are and how incredible the universe is. If you have thought about trying the hobby go out there and do it. You will be very happy you did.
