On the right foot redux

Starting in Backyard Astronomy

Presented By:NEW EYES OLD SKIES

Getting Started

So you want to know how to begin in

Backyard Astronomy? Join us and

find out how to “start out on the right

foot” and avoid common mistakes

along the way. Astronomy is fun,

educational and very rewarding.

Getting Started

Read!

Getting the right advice!

Avoid the impulse to purchase without

being informed

Visit a community outreach event

Getting Started

Getting Started Spend time under the stars

Make friends

Join a club (NYAA, SGM or RASC)

Attend a Star Party! (StarFest)

Sample equipment

Spend more time under the stars!

StarFest

Getting Started

Magazines, Periodicals, Social Media

Sky & Telescope Magazine

Astronomy Magazine

SkyNews Magazine

Social Media such as Facebook Groups

and Pages

Online Forums such as Cloudy Night

The Essentials

Curiosity

An Appetite for Wonder

The Desire to Explore

Taking the Time to Invest

You Can’t Buy your Way into Astronomy

Image by Malcom Park. Galaxies Messier 81 and Messier 82 (Right)

The Essentials

Find an appropriate place to observe

Staying warm! Four season clothing

Items to bring to make your session

comfortable (Chair, Table)

Insect Protection

Is your vehicle adequate for transporting

You, your Family and Equipment

The Essentials

Image by Karen O’Kapiec

The Essentials

The Planisphere

Looking up and sorting it out (Star Hopping!)

Identifying Stars, Planets and Constellations

Identifying objects and understanding where and what they are

Basic Star Charts

Binoculars for Astronomy (We will return to that in a moment!)

The Observing Site

Choose a site that is safe and can

accessed easily by a vehicle

Make sure the site is not inundated with

bright, direct lighting (overhead streetlight

or a bright flood light)

Best to stay within one hours drive if you

are traveling to a site

Permits and/or permission may be required

to use site

Always practice “Leave No Trace”

The Observing Site

Choosing equipment to match your site

(more about “Portability” in a moment!)

The site must be able to accommodate

your equipment without having to carry it

far from your vehicle.

Look out for “dark sky sites and preserves”

and plan accordingly

A Star Party or prearranged site through an

Astronomy Community

The Observing Site

Rural Observing Site

Tiny Marsh Photo by Marc D. Fitkin

The Observing Site

Photo by Marc D. Fitkin

Urban Observing Site,

Saddington Park, Mississauga

Aurora at Cold creek

Photo by Marc D. Fitkin

Binoculars for Astronomy

Binoculars are often the most overlooked

tool for backyard astronomy. It is assumed

that a telescope is the required entry

instrument. This is simply not true.

Binoculars can show a wealth of objects

including but not limited to:

Binoculars for Astronomy

Wide double stars and Star Colours

The four largest moons of Jupiter

Bright open clusters

Brightest galaxies and nebulae

Brightest globular clusters

Large asterisms

Satellite or ISS watching

Milky Way wide field gazing

Binoculars Ideal for

Astronomy

Minimum 42mm Diameter of Barrel

50 – 63mm Preferred

70mm+ Tripod Required

7-10 Power (without a tripod)

12-25 Power (with a tripod)

Avoid “Zoom Binoculars”

Before You Choose a

Telescope

Four pillars of choosing a telescope

How much aperture (diameter) can I

afford?

How much aperture am I willing to

transport and set up (“The Portability

Question”)

What are my goals? (What is it I want to

see? Does it also include daytime

/wildlife observing?)

Do I want to take pictures?

What to Avoid

The low-cost, “department store”,

“Christmas trash”, or “Nope Scope”

Telescope, usually a 60mm or smaller

Refractor or 76mm to 114mm Reflector.

The Telescope Optics and Accessories

tend to be quite poor

Telescopes advertised by Magnification!

An example of what to

buy on the left and what

not to

buy on the right

Starting Telescopes

Diameter is the Most Important

Specification

The Magnification is the Least Important

Specification

Portability is the Second Most Important

Aspect of a Telescope

Starting Telescopes

Refractors

Reflector (Dobsonian Mount)

Schmidt Cassegrain

Starting Telescopes

Small Refractors (70mm) for young

children

Reflectors (130mm – 200mm) or

Refractors (90mm – 120mm) for teens and

adults

Dobsonians (150mm-200mm)

Catadiotric Telescopes (102mm+)

Multi-purpose Refractors for

daytime/wildlife observing (66-120mm)

Telescope Mounts

(German)

Equatorial

Mount

Dobsonian Style

AZ Mount

Telescopes for

Astrophotography

Start slowly

Choose the right equipment

Small, less robust telescopes are not

generally suitable (typically under

$1000.00)

Get involved with club members, online

forums or an observing group

It takes time and patience

Telescopes for

Astrophotography

Apochromatic Refractors

Catadioptric Telescopes

Newtonian Reflectors

All of the above telescopes would require

a heavy duty, stable, and accurate mount

to achieve desired results.

Telescopes for

Astrophotography

Computerized Go-To

Telescopes

Computerized Mounts offer a quick

observing experience for those constrained

by time

Cost more than non-Computerized

telescopes

Sky knowledge is still paramount to

appreciate what you are seeing and is

required to locate fainter, tougher objects

Computerized Go-To

Telescopes

Full Go-To Computerization is convenient

to locate general objects

Excellent choice to host public outreach

May not be suitable for younger children

“Push-To” Computerized Dobsonian

telescopes may offer the best of both

worlds!

The Best Beginners

Telescope?

The 150mm to 200mm Dobsonian

Reflector offers the best value given the

aperture size

Reasonably portable especially in 150mm

sizes

Simple design is easy to use

Suitable for anyone 13 years of age or

older. Younger children should be

supervised

The Best Beginners

Telescope?

The Dobsonian Telescope!

A Telescope for Everyone?

The Computerized Catadioptric style offers

the best aperture and functionality versus

cost

Highly portable given it’s aperture relative

to other designs

Suitable for children with supervision,

teens, and adults alike

Certain models are quite capable for

astrophotography and deep sky observing

The Multi-Purpose Telescope

Tele Vue 76 Refractor at Rattray MarshImage by Marc D. Fitkin

The Multi-Purpose Telescope

Also known as “The Cross Over” Telescope

that is both ideal for Astronomy and Wildlife

and Bird Watching (Birding)

Ideally a Small Refractor

Suitable for Photography

Photo taken with

Tele Vue 76

RefractorImage by Marc D. Fitkin

Other Accessories

Eyepieces to form the image

Barlow Lenses for greater magnification

Dew Prevention

Aiming Devices (Telrad, Quikfinder)

Red Flashlight

Quality Star Charts and References

Small Table/Chair

External Power/Batteries

We hope to see you soon at

Thank you!www.neweyesoldskies.com

Contact us at:

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