Popular Fun Activities

So you are interested in the sky at night, maybe even bought a telescope, have been given one as a gift, or just want some basic information.

Listed below are just a few suggestions to what you should be doing to increase your knowledge and learn to enjoy and get the best out of astronomy.

Starting Out Right

Decide if you want this to be a hobby, or more.
Join a local club
Buy a monthly astronomy magazine
Join forums and blogs

The Names of the Stars
Learn to understand the star-naming systems that astronomer’s use
You will be surprised how many you already know
Get to know one part of the sky then move on

Time and the Astronomer
GMT
Local Mean Time
Universal Time

Deep-Sky Observing
Learn how to view remote nebulae, star clusters and star clusters
Use various lens for viewing different objects

Dealing with Dew
You need to learn how to manage dew
Learn how long to leave the telescope outside to settle
Various items are available to keep dew at bay

Comfortable Viewing
Have a hot drink handy
Sky watching is cold work sometimes, keep warm

Observing from a City
Light pollution is a major problem these days; learn how to reduce its effects
You will find different parts of the sky give different results

Accurate Polar Alignment

Take a long exposure picture of the North Star and you can see how it aligns compared with the rest of the sky
Search the internet for sites with information
New models such as Meade and Celestron make polar alignment easy

Use a Sky Map
You can find star maps on the internet
Download Worldwide Telescope
You can purchase excellent sky map software these days
Use a Planisphere

Terminology
Part of astronomy is learning the language
Communicate with other astronomers you will soon pick up the lingo

Spectral Types of Stars
Every star has its own colour and character
Learn the type of stars and how to recognize them
Use a filter to look at our own Sun

Learn the Names of Deep Sky Objects:

• Planetary Nebulae
• Globular Clusters
• Open Clusters
• Dark Nebulae
• Double Stars
• Clusters of Galaxies
• Galaxies
• Diffuse Nebulae
• Supernova Remnants

M: Messier
NGC: New General Catalog
IC: Index Catalog

Examples of Some Deep Sky Objects
Merope Nebula Part
Milky Way Patch
Miniature Spiral
Minkowski’s Object
Mirach’s Ghost
Network Nebula
North Orion Bubble
Lambda Orionis Nebula
Nubecula Minor

Please visit our Astronomy Forum

Filed under: Hobbies on September 16th, 2009