Astronomy On A Cheap Budget
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Cost can be a prohibitive factor in many interests but not star gazing when in the beginning it doesn’t have to cost you a cent - so if you are interested, read on. So now you know that it can be achieved without spending any money, but what exactly do you need so that you can conveniently probe what lies in the Universe which surrounds the earth where we live in? Well to start with a start chart is an absolute necessity and this is easily obtainable from a book on astronomy or even astrology. They also come in different formats from very simple ones with a few stars and connecting lines between them to others that look like wheels. Available from planetarium or any observatory, you can get the cheapest of the lot as you only need to get familiar with the brightest star and the rest can be incorporated by yourself.
When it comes time to purchase a telescope then the best advice is to avoid cheap scopes (the sort children are given) that quite frankly will spoil your vision of looking at the stars. Many would be astronomers forget that most of the stars they look at will fade from view as the earth rotates - this is quite normal and no concern is needed. There is no need to be disappointed by this, the star will back the following night so instead of putting the scope away, focus it on another. I recommend buying a Meade telescope.
My second tip is a far cheaper option but one that will bring many nights of star gazing and all you need to do here is lend, borrow or buy a normal 10×50 set of binoculars. With this sort of power you will be able to see the moon much more clearly than ever before but you will also find it easy to see whole constellations in their entirety. As for information, other than the internet of course just about every library will have a number of books on star gazing but so will your local school so you will not be short of help.
Look for books that contain star charts, preferably pull-out versions and don’t worry if the book is quite old because the stars won’t have changed. Before you go into too much depth, locate the Southern Cross or Scorpio in the book and then see if you can find it in the night sky. The location of the Southern Cross is the south and as night moves on, you can see the Orion traversing over your head from East to the West. Just keep in mind that sometimes it won’t be visible when you look for it as it will rise later or in the early morning.
Most people seem to think there is a lot to learn before you can enjoy it and while this is true, it is not necessary to enjoy it but in all probability you will want to know more as you start to recognise stars. You can acquire plenty of such information in books meant for children which would provide you with some basic knowledge. To summarize, when star gazing you need at least a star chart and at least one eye and you are on the verge of discovering the Universe. And then you get yourself a pair of binoculars and once you have grasped the basics, invest in a good telescope. Buying a Meade telescope is well worth the money spent.
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