A BASIC INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY FOR THE NEWBIE. 101
Amateur astronomy is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the sky, and the abundance of objects found in it with the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes (from Wikipedia).
Knowledge of your Night Sky Guarantees a Happy Amateur Astronomy Experience.
A BASIC INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY FOR THE NEWBIE. 101
Acquiring the skills to locate and identify the objects in your Night Sky.
Your initial Introduction to Amateur Astronomy can be simple viewings of your Night Sky, from your own backyard, with your family and friends.
Begin by getting familiar with the main objects visible in your Night Sky during a clear dark night. You will need only a very inexpensive tool: YOUR OWN TWO EYES.
After about 20 minutes of sitting in the dark in the company of your family and/or friends, you will all be amazed at the many objects in your Night Sky your own eyes will be able to distinguish (your eyes are actually the equivalent of about a 9 mm pair of binoculars).
It is important that you purchase a small "red led" (IR) flashlight. Its "red" light will not disturb your eyes (after they are used to seeing in the dark) while you read the information from your Android or Apple device (please read Note 6. below), or a PLANISPHERE and match it to your viewings of your Night Sky.
Its like playing a New Learning Game. Which is that Star? To what Constellation does it belong? How about that group there? And so on...
Small children will learn faster than the adults. But adults will also learn and in a few nights, ALL, children and adults playing, will be locating and identifying the principal objects of your Night Sky.
And you, your family and friends will be acquiring the fundamental introductory knowledge to Amateur Astronomy: KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR NIGHT SKY.
Through an interest in Astronomy, our children could find incentives to pursue higher educational careers in Science.
Note 1. Binoculars or Telescopes would distract everyone from the task at hand: Learning to locate and identify the main objects in your Night Sky. Please do not take them out.
Note 2. Who is the Astronomy Teacher? Your Night Sky, The Planisphere, you and those viewing your Night Sky with you.
Note 3. Where do I get a Planisphere and a "red led" (IR) flashlight? You can Google for that answer. Just make sure that the Planisphere you order is for the Latitude where you are located (there is a different Night Sky at different Latitudes) You could try your book store. The "red led" (IR) flashlight (cost less than $15.00 delivered) and one good source is Amazon.
Note 4. Choose moonless, dark, clear nights for your initial viewing sessions. You want to discover and learn about the immensity of your Night Sky and you need darkness. There will be plenty of time for Moon viewing later.
Note 5. Additional and useful information on your Night Sky objects (origin, distance, size, etc.) can be found in a variety of Sky Charts, Sky Atlas, Pocket Sky Atlas, etc. which you can purchase new or used via Internet or at your local book store.
Note 6. Free Apps for Android and Apple devices, such as Stellarium, SkyMap, SkyPortal, etc. very helpful for studying the night sky.
Beware Consumer (Caveat Emptor): BEFORE YOU ARE LURED INTO INVESTING MANY HUNDREDS AND EVEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FANCY AND EXPENSIVE: TRIPODS, EQUATORIAL MOUNTS, and/or ASTRO-CAMERAS and accessories, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS VERY IMPORTANT FACT OF THIS HOBBY.
NATURE and only NATURE is THE determinant factor of whether there will be Clear Skies at a given location at a given night and for how long.
And you will find very few of them convenient to you, each year.
July 27,2014
December 31, 2016 - updated.
October 4, 2022 - updated
MIAMI-DADE ASTRONOMY INSTITUTE PROJECT