Astronomy and Stargazing is a great hobby, but it helps if you know something about astronomy and the basics of stargazing. Here is a very short introduction to acquaint you with some of this. Don’t forget our public outreach events (observations) and monthly meetings. Here you can meet and talk with club members about astronomy and stargazing as well as find out about the latest in astronomical equipment. You might even consider an FAS membership, although it is not necessary to attend public events and meetings.
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The Night Sky
Start with The Night Sky. Take some time to become familiar with the stars, constellations, and asterisms visible at different times of the year.
The stars and constellations change over the course of a year. Look to the south for different constellations during each of the four seasons. Begin with Leo in the spring, Scorpius in the summer, Pegasus in the fall, and Orion in the winter. To the north, follow the Big Dipper (Ursa Major), Little Dipper (Ursa Minor), and Cassiopeia as they circle the North Star (Polaris).
Overall, there are 88 Constellations that have been identified over the years and have been officially defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Asterisms, on the other hand, are unofficial patterns of stars that we recognize, but are not constellations (e.g., the Big and Little Dippers).
There are twelve (maybe 13) constellations that most everyone is familiar with. They are the constellations of the Zodiac. You might know them better as the Astrological signs. These are the constellations along the ecliptic, which is the annual path of the Sun. Some are easy to find (e.g., Leo, Taurus, Gemini, Libra, Scorpius, and Sagittarius). Others not so much (e.g., Cancer, Virgo, Aquarius, Capricornus, and Pisces).
To learn more about the night sky, you might attend a Live Planetarium Tour in the Kaleideum Digital Dome Theater (Museum Admission rates apply).
- See A Quick Introduction To The Night Sky for an overview of all this.
- For a map of the night sky, try the online sky map Stellarium Web or an Astronomy App such as Planets, Sky Guide, or SkySafari for your smartphone or tablet.
- The IAU has a complete list and images of all the constellations and an explanation of why they change from season to season.
- See Astrology to Astronomy for more about zodiac constellations.
- For more on the history of the eighty-eight constellations, see The History of the Constellations.
Binoculars and Telescopes
Then move in for a closer look with Binoculars or a Telescope. There are many different options (and price ranges) for telescopes.
- In all cases, it is NOT about magnification, it is about APERTURE. The wider the telescope’s mirror or lens, the more light it will capture and the more you can see.
- You will use several eyepieces (with different focal lengths and, as a result, different magnification). Eventually, you will find a sweet spot between magnification and clarity.
- For someone starting out, a reflector with a Dobsonian mount (a “Dob”) is often the best choice.
- A reflex (“red dot”) finder such as a Telrad is also useful.
Smart Telescopes
Take the next step and begin imaging objects in the night sky with Smart Telescopes . Recently, several of these including the Seestar S50, S30, and S30 Pro and Dwarf 3 and Mini have opened up the world of astrophotography for even a novice.
Smart Telescopes operate from an app on your phone or tablet and do most of the work for you. They are particularly good for imaging deep-sky objects, along with the Moon and Sun (with a proper filter). They are, however, not very useful for imaging the planets.
The Moon
The Moon is a great target to observe. It is big and easy to find (most of the time). The best time to observe the Moon is during its first or third quarter when you can see features along the terminator between the light and dark sides. The worst time is during a full moon – it is just too bright, and it washes out much of the night sky. You might use a 25% (small telescopes) or 13% (large telescopes) Moon filter. Look for a red “blood moon” during a lunar eclipse. Several of the new smart telescopes will take great images of the Moon.
The Planets
Credits: NASA/Lunar and Planetary Institute
The planets are a little more difficult to spot. They generally move west to east against the background of stars. Use the online sky map Stellarium Web or a smartphone/tablet app to locate them. Most telescopes will give you a good view of the closer planets. However, the new smart telescopes are NOT particularly good for imaging the planets.
- Jupiter and Saturn offer the best view and move high across the sky.
- Lower in the horizon and alternating between the morning and evening sky are Venus and Mercury. You can’t see much detail, but you can spot their phases – similar to those of the Moon.
- Mars is a little disappointing – most telescopes reveal little detail.
- Uranus and Neptune are not visible except with a telescope and then appear only as very small blue circles.
For some background information about the planets, our Solar System, and much more, see All About the Cosmos.
The Stars
The stars themselves can be something to view. However, in most cases, there are just points of light. But you can go hunting for stars of different color, double or triple stars, and variable stars.
- Find the brightest stars in the night sky including, Sirius (the dog star in Canis Major), Arcturus (Boötes), Vega (Lyra), Cappella (Auriga), and Rigel (Orion).
- Low in the horizon during the winter is Canopus (Carina).
- In the summer, look for the stars of the summer triangle: Altair (Aquila), Vega (Lyra), and Deneb (Cygnus).
- In the winter, look for the stars of the winter hexagon: Sirius (Canis Major), Procyon (Canis Minor), Pollux (Gemini), Capella (Auriga), Aldebaran (Taurus), and Rigel (Orion).
- Find the gold/blue Albireo (the head of Cygnus the Swan) and the double/double of Mizar and Alcor in the handle of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major).
- Search for several bright reddish stars: Arcturus (Boötes), Antares (Scorpius), Aldebaran (Taurus), and Betelgeuse (Orion).
The Sun
Yes, you can do Solar Observing. Depending on the telescope, you can see sunspots or solar prominences.
However, BE CAREFUL AND ALWAYS USE A PROPER SOLAR FILTER!
Solar Observing is done with either a dedicated solar telescope that blocks all but limited wavelengths of the Sun’s light or a full aperture solar filter that blocks most of the Sun’s light across all wavelengths. Several of the new smart telescopes will take images of the Sun (with the proper filter in place).
Deep-Sky Objects
There are many deep-sky objects worth looking for. Some, such as open star clusters and globular clusters, can be seen with even small telescopes. Others, such as nebulae and galaxies, are best observed through larger scopes. A few are spread out and binoculars offer the best view. The most well known are call Messier objects and are identified by their “M” numbers (e.g., M1 is the Crab Nebula, M31 is the Andromeda Galaxy, and M42 is the Orion Nebula).
Don’t expect glorious color from a traditional telescope! We’re not NASA. Most objects will appear fuzzy and in black and white. If you want color, you’ll have to get one of the newer smart telescopes. You could also take up more traditional astrophotography, however, the more you do, the more complicated and expensive it can become. In any event, to see some great examples, check out our FAS Astrophotography Images.
Meteors
Meteors, and particularly, meteor showers can be a great nighttime spectacle. Meteor Showers are best viewed from a dark location on a moonless night. Most peak after midnight. For these, telescopes and binoculars are not very useful. Just find a nice dark location, sit back, and look up. Although, you might see, at the most, one or two a minute.
- Meteoroids are dust and small chunks of rock hurtling through space.
- Meteors are meteoroids that enter the Earth’s atmosphere and streak across the sky with a glowing tail.
- Meteorites are meteoroids that hit the ground.
A Few Resources
Algunos Recursos
A Few Quick Links to More Information
Additional Articles and Resources
Astronomy for Beginners
- The ABCs of Stargazing (Astronomical League)
- Astronomy for Beginners (Planetary Society)
- Stargazing Simplified: What to See in the Night Sky (Sky & Telescope)
- Astronomy For Beginners (Sky & Telescope)
- Astronomy for Beginners: How to Get Started in Backyard Astronomy (Sky & Telescope)
- The ABCs of Observing (Astronomy Magazine)
- Seasons Change, Stars Change (Astronomical League)
- Astronomy Equipment (Sky & Telescope)
A Much Deeper Dive into Astronomy
- A Guide to the Night Sky and Basic Astronomy (One-Minute Astronomer)
- FAS Astronomy Resources.
- Here are deeper dives from FAS into much more.
- Aaron Clevenson. Astronomy for Mere Mortals – An Introductory Astronomy Text. Astronomical League.
The Planets, Solar System, and the Universe
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