backyard astronomy
Backyard astronomy might seem daunting, but you don’t need expensive telescopes and high-tech equipment to become an amateur astronomer. In fact, all you need is a dark sky, your eyes, a lawn chair, and some knowledge of what you’re looking for!
Need a starting point for backyard astronomy? Here are some helpful beginner tips and resources for exploring stars, constellations, planets, and galaxies.
The large expanse of the sky is sometimes best viewed with no optical aid. With your naked eye, you can track the Moon’s nightly phase changes, view bright planets against the background stars, and watch bright and bold meteor showers. Our favorite is the Perseid Meteor Shower, which occurs every year between mid-July and mid-August.
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Using just your eyes, you can also spot bright deep-sky objects like the Pleiades star cluster, the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.
Binoculars can bridge the gap between the naked eye and telescopes. While any binocular will suffice for backyard observing, we recommend either the 7×50 or 10×50 size. The first number represents the magnifying power, and the second defines the width of the front lenses in millimeters. Smaller binoculars could work, but they collect less light than 50-millimeter versions.
Binoculars can capture a surprisingly large and diverse array of sky objects. Start with the Moon and spend some time observing its major features. Want to go deeper into space? Recline in a lawn chair and take a Milky Way cruise from Cassiopeia the Queen to Sagittarius the Archer. The sheer number of stars, clusters, and nebulae you encounter will dazzle you.
How To Become A Backyard Astronomer
A moderately sized and priced telescope — such as a no-frills 6- or 8-inch reflector that’s Dobsonian-mounted — will suit a backyard astronomer just fine. They’re easy to set up and use, and can capture enough deep-sky objects to keep you busy for a lifetime.
When you purchase a basic telescope, you get the optical tube assembly and mount, a pair of eyepieces (low and high power), and a finder scope for aiming. A no-frills 6-inch Dobsonian retails for between $250 and $300; another $50 to $100 will get you an 8-inch diameter scope.
Once your scope is set up, we recommend you start by exploring the Moon’s rugged, cratered terrain — a sight to behold through a telescope! Other night sky objects to observe with a telescope include Venus, double stars like Mizar and Albireo, the Wild Duck Cluster, the Hercules globular cluster, and the Ring Nebula.
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In order to successfully navigate the night sky, you’ll need to be able to locate and identify the objects mentioned above. For starters, a star chart and red light flashlight to preserve your night vision are helpful; you can even make your own red flashlight by wrapping a flashlight lens with red cellophane. What is Backyard Astronomy? Well it’s exactly that; buying your first telescope and setting it up for the first time in your backyard. In backyard astronomy, you hardly ever use long math equations or ev calculate long impossible numbers (leave that to the professionals). Instead of complicated study of the sights of the universe (geography if you will), backyard astronomy is the pleasant sightseeing or touring of the universe; with a smattering of valuable scitific contribution if you would like.
In this page is solid advice for the beginner who wants to start exploring the universe. I will describe a quick yet meaningful trip towards the infinite and three solid ways to be prepared for them. Just like you wouldn't want to hike the Appalachian Trail before you've done a day hike, you should take an initial tour of the universe with your eyes op, and your mind op for learning on how to search the stellar void; after all the universe is a very big place.
I will th give some solid advice about an initial telescope and a new alternative approach that has be the big buzzword of the hobby for a couple decades now (and revolutionized everything). I give some suggested targets at the d; some of which I am currtly studying.
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Once you are exploring space, feel free to compare notes and let me know what your seeing. feel free to use the talk page to ask for directions, and for additional resources
Every beginner wonders Where do I begin?? The answer seems all too simple. Astronomy is a hobby of looking at distant spldors with a telescope and the unfortunately result for too many people (and worst of all; kids) is the ubiquitous skinny telescope in the closet; never used.
The truth is that for people that neither know what to look for, or how to see, the telescope is a very poor tool for both. So whatever you do, Don't begin with the telescopes, begin with the sky. The sky?
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So the first thing you will need is a dark place where you intd to observe, a chart to show you the constellations, and a plan to get your bearings. I would suggest you time your initial observation to coincide with some interesting astronomical sight.
Most people that think about observing celestial objects think of far-away skyscapes in the desert where the man-made lights are eliminated. While this might be useful later on, such a place is a Hard place to get your bearings. More likely (anyway) you live in the town and city and your backyard is a good ough place to learn the constellations. Here's the basics of what you need.
Sometimes the backyards isn't the best place. But oft a neighborhood park, river, lake shore, or overlook is great. If your nearest place is particularly dark, you will actually work a little harder. Darker skies means more stars, Which will make it tough to see the basic patterns of the bright stars that form the constellations. Take heart, A little difficulty beginning is rewarded later on- Wh particularly beautiful cosmic sights is in the back yard or around the corner instead of hours away.
Exploring Our Cosmos
A planisphere is a chart that can be turned to the correct time and date to produce a reasonable copy of the stars in the sky
So if you were going on a trip, one of the more indispsable items would be a map, and preferably one showing the major intersections. Similarly in the night sky, you need a map as well. Unfortunately the earths' wobble through the season creates some definite changes in the sky over time. What happs th is that the sky rotates around a star in the north called Polaris (or the North star). You will either need a chart that rotates (called a planisphere) or you will have to use the correct chart for the year.
It is important that the chart is orited correctly in the sky. Oft this holding the chart above you as you view it. You might become disorited and confused if you sit the chart on a table. Remember, It is also very important to Use a red light to view the chart at night. This allows you to read in the dark without spoiling your night vision for looking at the sky.
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Another option is to use webpage that shows the position of the stars from your location at a particular time. One example can be found at http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/
Software to run on your computer is also available for this purpose. The free Stellarium (http://www.stellarium.org/) is a great tool. With it you can determine what will be visible wh you will be going outside.
Wh you know what you wish to find, you can more effectively plan your astronomy time. Using a chart, software or a website, determine wh the features you wish to idtify will be visible.
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If you are using a telescope or binoculars, you should practice with them during the day or inside before trying to use them in the dark. If you are unfamiliar with the controls on your telescope, trying to find a planet in the dark will be a frustrating process.
A deeper experice (sampling) [ edit | edit source] Choosing an interest [ edit | edit source] Records of your exploration [ edit | edit source] The boundary of known space [ edit | edit source] Corroborating with other amateurs [ edit | edit source] Resources and media [ edit | edit source] Video [ edit | edit source]My son loves to look at the stars on a clear night. His curiosity led me to research how to get started with backyard astronomy. Let me share with you what we discovered.
You can start enjoying backyard astronomy by simply going out and looking at the sky. Visibility will be better at a location with lower light pollution, but many of the major constellations will be visible with the naked eye.
Astronomy For Beginners: How To Get Started In Backyard Astronomy
While you can jump in without any equipment, there are a few items that would really increase your experience and serve as a stepping stone between nothing and that expensive telescope in your Amazon Cart.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Astronomy is the study of objects and matter outside the earth’s atmosphere and of their physical and chemical properties
Astrology, however, is the divination of the supposed
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