Here are the first steps to gaining a working knowledge of the observable cosmos.
You canbuy one for very little, ormake your own by printing out the discs you need.
To locate the darkest areas near your house, check out thisinteractive light pollution map.
key in your zip code and check out the Bortle Number of nearby locations.
The lower it is, the better.
Dont be discouraged if theres nowhere dark near you, though.
There are plenty of interesting things you could see in the sky from any location.
Unless youwantto look at the moon, of course.
Terrain: Higher elevations tend to be better because they’re often above atmospheric interference.
Open areas are good too, for their unobstructed views.
I like beaches, because beaches at night are the best.
For more in-depth information onfinding a perfect star-gazing spot, check out this article.
If you want, you might buy binoculars relatively cheaply too.
For astronomy, look for large front lenses and high optical quality.
ThisCelestron TrailSeekeris a good example.
Its recommended by bothspace.comand Amazons customers who rate it at 4.5 stars.
Telescopes are a specialized tool, with many disadvantages for a beginner.
Youll see craters, mountains, and large lunar planes.
It’s very cool.
(But dont look inside binoculars or a telescope pointed at the sun even if youarewearing eclipse glasses.)
If youre in a DIY mood, you couldconstruct a sun projector.
Find it and check it out during the day.
The International Space Station: Check out NASAs tool forISS spottingand see when its making an appearance near you.
It’s better seen at night with a pair of binoculars, but daytime sightings are possible.
Comets and meteors:Both comets and meteors can be bright enough to see during daytime.
Check outSky and Telescopes listingsand search Facebook to learn where local star-peepers hang out.
There are meteor showers, lunar eclipses, rocket launches, and more.
Check outLifehackers schedule of 2024s big sky shows.
