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Whether you have been a Stargazer all
your life, or you have just started an interest in the night sky,
welcome to the fascinating and awe-inspiring world of Astronomy.
Astronomy is the oldest science, dating back thousands of years to when
primitive people noticed objects in the sky overhead and watched the
way the objects moved.
In ancient Egypt, the first appearance of certain stars each year
marked the onset of the seasonal flood, an important event for
agriculture. In 17th-century England, astronomy provided methods of
keeping track of time that were especially useful for accurate
navigation. Much of today's astronomy involves basic research to
satisfy our curiosity about the universe and the objects in it.
To start off, you do not need to own a Telescope.
A great way to start is with a simple pair of Binoculars and a basic
star map. Star Maps can be downloaded from many sites on the Internet,
and Astronomy magazines have Sky Maps for each month. Here at the Snake
Valley Astronomical Association, we can help you learn to use Star
maps, and the basic method of 'Star-hopping'.
If you already own a telescope you may have already seen many of the
obvious objects in the sky: Planets, Star Clusters and large Nebulas.
If you are about to purchase a telescope, that's were the SVAA can
help, by assisting you in which type of telescope is right for your
type of viewing interest. Not all telescopes are the same. Your
interest might be in the Solar System, maybe Deep Space, or you would
rather do Astrophotography. Each area of interest may require a
different type of telescope. Not only is there a difference between the
style of telescope (refractor, reflector, Cassegrain, Maksutov, etc)
but also differing focal lengths. You may also need assistance in
choosing accessories.
It is not as confusing as it sounds and it is definitely worth asking
for help before purchasing. Many people often buy the cheaper
'Department Store' telescopes, but find them to be frustrating to use
due to wobbly mounts and poor optics, often making the buyer give up on
this great hobby. Take the time to try several types of telescopes
before deciding which one will best suit your observing preference.
Here at the SVAA we are happy to assist you in this.
In the next section we help with some very basic 'Pre Viewing' tips to help you gain more satisfaction from your observing sessions
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