Getting Started in Astronomy

What can you see from the UK?

Even from a town, a surprising amount is visible with just your eyes:

The Moon, which changes night by night and is spectacular in any optical aid.
The bright planets. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars often outshine the stars.
Constellations such as Orion in winter and the Plough all year round.
The International Space Station, which crosses the sky as a bright, steady moving light.
Meteor showers, such as the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December.

Away from street lights you can also see the Milky Way, star clusters such as the Pleiades and even the Andromeda Galaxy, over two million light years away.

One thing to know about UK astronomy: around midsummer the sky never gets fully dark, so autumn, winter and spring are the best seasons for faint objects.

Start with your eyes

Before buying anything, learn a few constellations. Give your eyes 20 minutes or so to adapt to the dark, and use a red torch to read charts, as white light ruins your night vision. Wrap up warm: it is always colder than you expect when standing still.

Binoculars or a telescope?

Many astronomers recommend binoculars as a first instrument. They are affordable, easy to use and show craters on the Moon, the moons of Jupiter, star clusters and much more. Binoculars marked 7x50 or 10x50 are popular choices for astronomy.

A telescope shows more detail on the Moon and planets and reaches fainter objects, but it takes a little more learning to set up and use.

Choosing a first telescope

Aperture matters most. The diameter of the main lens or mirror decides how much light the telescope gathers and how much detail it shows.
Ignore big magnification claims. Useful magnification is limited by aperture and by the steadiness of the air.
A steady mount is essential. A wobbly mount makes any telescope frustrating to use.
Consider portability. The best telescope is the one you will actually carry outside.

Please ask us before you buy. Members are happy to share their experience, and at our telescope workshops you can get help setting up a telescope you already own.

Understanding the night sky

The sky changes with the seasons as the Earth orbits the Sun, and objects rise in the east and set in the west as the Earth turns. The planets move slowly against the background stars, and the Moon's phase affects how dark the sky is. A planisphere (a rotating star chart) or an app will show you what is up tonight.

Useful apps and tools