Good ways to ease into ameteur astronomy?

[artikay]

Allow me to first introduce myself. I'm Frank Ruzzo, I'm 23, and I live in Brooklyn, New York. Since I was little, I was always interested in space and astronomy, and always wanted to take up stargazing as a hobby. But something always held me back. <br /><br />When I was young, I had no internet, and books about space were hard to find. There were no suitable places to stargaze, I couldn't even afford binoculars, let alone a telescope, so I never even tried to start, no matter how much I really wanted to.<br /><br />Well, recently I've found myself more and more drawn towards taking up stargazing again. One night I went to visit some of my girlfriends family and encountered the darkest sky I'd ever seen. For the first time in my life, I had seen hundreds of stars at once with my own eyes. From that night on, I remembered how much astronomy interested me. I followed it and read about astronomy my whole life, but never just went out to see the sights myself.<br /><br />That has to end, now. I'm starting a new job, I'm beginning to get settlein my new life, and I'm determined to take up astronomy and stargazing as a serious hobby before it's closed off from my life forever, before something else comes along and takes what free time I'd have to devote to the cosmos. My hope is that once I get entrenched in it, and began to see things with my owns eyes, I'd fight to keep it in my life, and make sure I'd keep up with it.<br /><br />That all being said, I now see the need to seek out help, and make some friends that will help me learn the ropes.<br /><br />I read all the topics, here and elsewhere about buying a telescope. Or before that buying binoculars. Or best yet, just buy some star charts and learning as much about the sky with your eyes alone at first (Which is what I intend to do). But I still find some difficulty in getting started.<br /><br />I can't find a place to purchase quality star charts for one thing. I'd rather but a large, good quality map than resort to printing

 

[MeteorWayne]

First, Frank, welcome to Space.com!<br /><br />Well, you're on the right track by finding a local astro club.<br />Most are pretty friendly, and most folks are more than happy to help someone with a budding interest. It will also give you an opportunity to sample different telescope designs (and costs) to see how you can best spend your money when you do decide to purchase something. Our Past president and current Building and ground manager of our local club {insert plug} NJAA lives in Staten Island, and skymutes out here (near Clinton on Rt 78 in NW NJ) for our darker skies. <br />Of course, living in Brooklyn, it's going to be a challenge to overcome the light pollution, but it can be done.<br />Just curious, where was the girlfriend's family, just so I can get an idea of the darkest skies you've seen? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I'd suggest subscribing to Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. The articles that describe the monthly sky events will be sure to keep your interest up. They also have maps of the sky showing current constellations vsisible, so that's a starting point for learning your way around the sky.<br /><br />There are a number of astronomy software programs that are worthwhile. I use SkyMapPro, but seem to be in the minority on that <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />, I'm sure others will chime in with their favorites. That will give you access to what the sky looks like at any given time. Will help you learn the constellation's shapes, although the view in the sky is a bit different. Star charts are nice for carrying with you into your observing location.<br />I use Wil Tirions SkyAtlas 2000, but the might be overkill for a starter kit.<br /><br />And of course, feel free to ask questions here. "The Astronomer" <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> is more than happy to answer any questions.<br /><br />BTW, the south shore of Brooklyn is a good location to see nighttime shuttle launches (well the <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

Places to find astronomy clubs<br /><br /> <br /> Night Sky Network <br /><br /> Astronomy groups <br /><br /> Clubs & Organizations <br /><br />Go to as many clubs close to you, you don't have to be a member to attend a meeting, one may be a better fit for you then another.<br /><br />Astronomy clubs are a community, when you join one you join them all. I go to about 3 different clubs events/meetings a year (SAC in Phoenix, CAS in Flagstaff, TAAA in Tucson) depending on what I have time for.<br /><br />The only contact I've had in the NYC area has been last Nov for the Mercury transit, I had to be in the Battery Park area and had posted that I was only going to be able to bring binoculars with solar filters, I got this email from a guy in AAA of NY<br /><br />AAA of NY is having a star party at Battery Park for the Mercury transit:<br /><br />http://www.aaa.org/aaabatteryparkcity.htm<br /><br />(Was googling the above page and stumbled on your astro posting. Sorry about<br />the intrusion, but it seemed a shame for you to miss it by a couple hundred<br />yards. Sorry if I have the wrong person.)<br /><br />George<br /><br />Got rained out so I wasn't able to meet anyone.<br /><br />It's a good time to get involved in astronomy, the upcoming events are: the Messier Marathons in March and Astronomy Day in April. So telescopes will be everywhere.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

TFWThom makes a great point.<br />It might be good to visit more than one club if possible.<br />Ours is pretty friendly, some I've lectured at seem a bit more formal, not exactly my style, but appreciative audiences nonetheless.<br />I note there are a couple on Long Island as well, maybe not too far?<br /><br />Of course you're always welcome out here in the sticks of NJ, but that's probably at least an hour and a half drive, and NJ transit doesn't travel out this far on weekends <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[artikay]

My girlfriends family that we visited was in Danbury, CT. Is that dark skies? It certainly is compared to the brooklyn skies I'd been looking at my whole life.. I can't really imagine them being any darker that what I saw that night. I'd love to see the darkest possible skies one day though <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks for the welcome, and the advice. I didn't know it was possible to see night launches of shuttles from Brooklyn, that sounds like fun. I spend a few weeks each year in Wildwood, NJ. I've always been by the boardwalks though, maybe next time I'm there I'll travel farther from there and see what the night sky is like.<br /><br />Hmm.. I had some questions to ask the AAA about joining them, but they havn't e-mailed me back yet, it's been two days. I don't know how much e-mail traffic they recieve, so I'll wait a while longer.<br /><br />Same thing with Orions site: I submitted for their free catalog of telescopes, and it never arrived (it's been over a week, their expected arrival time). Maybe just a bit of bad luck.<br /><br />Do you know: What would be the best area for stargazing near NYC? I'm not sure how far out I can go. I guess I'm really asking, how far from NYC do I need to go before I reach decent skies?<br /><br />One final question for now: What can I see from Brooklyn? The AAA meets very close to my hourse (one out of many locations in NY) so I assume there must be something to look at. What planets can I see? Can I see a nebula? A star cluster? What can I expect to see? (That is of course, when I work my way up to a telescope)

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re the AAA, if they are like most clubs, it's an all volunteer organization, sometimes things take time <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Orion probably ships their catalog 3rd class mail, so arrival is subject to the vagaries of the US postal system.<br /><br />Regarding dark skies, It all depends on how you define decent <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Where you are (Brooklyn) the description is: <font color="yellow">"Entire sky is grayish or brighter. Familliar constellations are missing stars. Fainter constellations are absent. Less than 20 stars visible over 30 degrees elevation in brigher areas. Limiting magntude from 3 to 4. Most people don't look up. CCD imaging is still possible. But telescopic visual observation is usually limited to the moon, planets, double stars and variable stars. "</font><br />I would add that some bright star clusters are within reach if you know where to look, and can see enough bright stars to point the way. That takes some experience.<br /><br />Danbury is in this zone <font color="yellow">"Milkyway at best very faint at zenith. M31 difficult and indestinct. Sky is grey up to 35 degrees. Limiting magntidue 5.0 to 5.5. "</font><br /><br />The NJAA is in this zone<font color="yellow"> "Milkyway washed out at zenith and invisible at horizon. Many light domes. Clouds are brighter than sky. M31 easily visible. Limiting magnitude about 5.6 to 5.9. "</font>I should point out that I have seen the zodiacal light here, see next better zone below.<br /><br />To get to this zone:<font color="yellow"> "Some dark lanes in milkyway but no bulge into Ophiuchus. Washed out milkyway visible near horizon. Zodiacal light very rare. Light domes up to 45 degrees. Limiting magnitude about 5.9 to 6.2. " </font>ou need to go to far NW NJ, Far northern CT, The Mid Hudson Valley, or the Pinelands is southern NJ.<br /><br />IMHO, the first thing you should do is get a subscription to SKy and Telescope <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[zeth]

Here's an excellent open source software project that has really helped me learn the basics of interesting locations:<br /><br />http://stellarium.org<br /><br /><br />Goodluck in your future of astronomy.

 

[artikay]

Thanks for the link to that Stellarium program. For now it should help me out quite a bit. That and a similar program I got that's given out by the Hayden Planetariums website. Speaking of which, I think I should finally get around to visiting that planetarium again, I havn't been there since they rebuilt the place all those years ago now.<br /><br />Hmm.. I wanted to send away for a subscription to Sky & Telescope, but I may be moving soon. Do magazines allow you to change the mailing address mid subscription?<br /><br />More of my traditional bad luck: I've been wanting to go outside and look at some constellations, but it's been oddly foggy these past few nights, I can't even see the roofs of some nearby buildings right now. Oh well, If can only say one good thing about myself I'd say that I am very patient. When the skies do clear up I'll head out there. <br /><br />Well, I've been reading up on all the sites I can, beginners tips, jorgon explainations, ect, just doing whatever I can right now. Been thinking of keeping track of what I do in a journal, and even sketching out constellations/moon features, ect as I observe them.<br /><br />I can't really think of any other questions... other than:<br /><br />1. What's with all the red lights? I was thinking of getting a light to use to help me write/sketch in the dark, and all lights made for stargazing are red. Is it easier on the eyes or something?<br /><br />2. I've been looking at major manufactor sites for telescopes and equipment, and couldn't help but notice a complete lack of compasses. Does nobody use compasses anymore? Star charts, chairs, swiss army knives, portable batteries, thermases... and not a single compass.<br /><br />^^I'm sure you'd say that once you learn the stars and constellations, you wouldn't need a compass, but what about beginners? (And if it randomly gets extremely cloudy)<br /><br />3. It's been almost two weeks, and still no response from the AAA astro club, sure it's all-volunteer, but is t

 

[MeteorWayne]

1. Yes red lights have less affect in ruining dark adaption. In dark skies, when you go out, it takes your eyes a while to adjust to the darkness. Off the top of my head, I think it takes half an hour or so for the rhodopsin to regenerate, which is used by the rods for dim perception.<br />Now the top of my head ain't the safest place to be, so I will check my facts tomorrow; but the valid point is that red light does less damage to your dark adaptation than white light.<br /><br />2. Once you know where the north star is, you will never need a compass again at night. It should be one of your first projects. It's always at the same spot, day or night, any season, any time of the night. So once you know where it is, and how to find it, looking at a compass at night would only ruin your dark adaption, as above <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />3. I can't speak for the AAA, perhaps that's not a good sign, but be patient. It is midwinter.I assume that e-mails to the NJAA are answered promptly, but since I seldom write, I don't know for sure. I know when meteor questions get forwarded to me, I jump on them like fleas on a dog <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

Red lights....ever seen a submarine movie? The "rig for red" before they surface at night.<br /><br />If you plan to use a star chart or book while observing, you'll need light. Red light is best because it affects your dark adaption least. I don't suggest you take an ordinary flashlight and wrap a piece of red cellophane around the lighted end. A bright light, even if it's red, will draw the ire of observers around you and will not maintain your night vision. I do suggest you purchase a flashlight that is adjustable in brightness. (my personal favorite is to paint the lens of a flashlight with red nail polish) As your progress further into amateur astronomy, you will find that the amount of light you use for viewing star charts, etc., diminishes greatly. Simply put, brighter light means you see less at the telescope because your eyes take longer to re-adapt to the darkness<br /><br />Compasses.......not needed because in astronomy we don't care about magnetic north, we want celestial north. <br /><br />Needed for an equatorial mounted telescope.<br />A telescope mount in which one axis lies parallel to Earth’s rotational axis; the motion of the telescope about this axis can compensate for Earth’s rotation. (one axis is aligned with celestial north)<br /><br />As far as AAA.........I'm in Arizona so I don't know.<br /> <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

From the referenced article....<br /><br />"The curve asymptotes to a minimum (absolute threshold) at about 10-5 cd/m2 after about forty minutes in the dark."<br /><br />So my estimate from memory of 30 minutes (based on my thousands of hours of meteor observing as well) was not too bad.<br /><br />A very interesting article, as I am acutely aware of the eye-brain interface as a meteor observer <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" />. <br />And after scanning most of it, I will have to read and digest it in detail.<br /><br />Thanx!!<br /><br />Wayne<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[kdog72]

ARTIKAY: I'm in the same boat as you, bud. I'm down here in deep south Jersey and I JUST got a scope to observe with. I had not looked through a telescope since I was about 14-15, almost 20yrs. ago! Last night was the clearest night we've had in while, so I bundled up (it was cold!) and got out my brand new 90mm Mak. Saturn was out according to Stellarium (great program, especially for the price!) so I aimed it there. Even with the stock eyepiece that only gives 37x, I was taken aback with what I had been missing all these years. I could clearly make out the rings and I'm pretty sure I could see one of the moons off to the right(Callisto?). I was stunned. And hooked! I plopped the other eyepiece that gave me 100x and was even more excited. <br /><br />As far as telescopes, the guys here are a great source of info. But I set myself up to own 2 scopes - one powerful but portable one ( the Celestron C90 Mak) and in the future a nice big fat light bucket! I'd love to get the 12" Dob from Orion! I was considering getting the Celestron C130mm Mak but I'm glad that I DIDN'T get it. The 90mm Mak turned out to be considerably bigger and heavier than I thought it would. Its at the limit of what I'd consider portable and/or compact. I can't imagine how big/heavy the 130mm would have been. And for the price of the C130, ($330-ish) I could have easily went with a 6-8" Orion Dob, which would be considerably more powerful. Anyway thats' how it worked for me. Maybe you have different criteria for what your looking for in a scope. But get out there! You'll love it.