Virtual Astronomy Club

Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Astronomy

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Phase 1: Before You Go Out
Phase 2: Your First Night
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VAC/BGBeginner's Guide to Backyard Astronomy
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Beginner's Guide to Backyard Astronomy

Sixty-three lessons in seven phases, from unboxing the telescope to your first galaxy. Take them in order or jump to the phase you need tonight.

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Phase 1: Before You Go Out

1-1Welcome to the Beginner’s Guide to Backyard AstronomyLocked1-2What Equipment You Actually NeedLocked1-3The Four Types of TelescopeLocked1-4Setting Up a Refractor TelescopeLocked1-5Setting Up a Newtonian ReflectorLocked1-6Setting Up a Dobsonian TelescopeLocked1-7Setting Up a Compound Telescope (SCT or Maksutov)Locked1-8Setting Up an Equatorial MountLocked1-9How to Collimate Your TelescopeLocked1-10Aligning Your FinderscopeLocked1-11Understanding Eyepieces and MagnificationLocked1-12Understanding Your Field of ViewLocked1-13Why Everything Looks Upside Down and Back to FrontLocked1-14Choosing Your Observing SiteLocked1-15Understanding Seeing and TransparencyLocked1-16Dark Adaptation: Why Your Phone is the EnemyLocked1-17Preparing for a SessionLocked

Phase 2: Your First Night

2-1How to Use Your Telescope: A Complete WalkthroughLocked2-2Starting With the Moon: Your First TargetLocked2-3What to Expect Through the Eyepiece (vs. What Photos Show)Locked2-4Your First Night: A Step-by-Step Session GuideLocked2-5Your First Star HopLocked

Phase 3: Understanding the Sky

3-1Magnitude: How Brightness WorksLocked3-2Measuring the Sky With Your HandsLocked3-3Circumpolar Stars: Always Above the HorizonLocked3-4Winter Constellations: Orion and GeminiLocked3-5Spring Constellations: Leo, Virgo, and BoötesLocked3-6Summer Constellations: Cygnus, Sagittarius and the Summer TriangleLocked3-7Fall (Autumn) Constellations: Pegasus and AndromedaLocked3-8How to Read a Star ChartLocked3-9Planning a Session With Free Software (Stellarium)Locked3-10How to Plan What to See TonightLocked3-11Star Hopping: Finding Faint ObjectsLocked

Phase 4: The Moon

4-1The Moon: Your Most Rewarding TargetLocked4-2Understanding Lunar PhasesLocked4-3The Terminator: Your Best Observing ToolLocked4-4Named Features to Look For on the MoonLocked4-5Going Further: The Lunar 100 ChallengeLocked

Phase 5: The Planets

5-1How to Find a PlanetLocked5-2How to See Mercury Through a TelescopeLocked5-3How to See Venus Through a TelescopeLocked5-4How to See Mars Through a TelescopeLocked5-5How to See Jupiter Through a TelescopeLocked5-6How to See Saturn Through a TelescopeLocked5-7Pushing Further: Neptune and UranusLocked

Phase 6: A Year of Objects

6-1How to Find and Observe Deep Sky ObjectsLocked47M42 & M43, the Orion Nebula in OrionLocked48M45, the Pleiades in TaurusLocked49M94, Croc’s Eye Galaxy in Canes VenaticiLocked50M51, Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes VenaticiLocked51M65 and M66, Spiral Galaxies in LeoLocked52M57, The Ring Nebula in LyraLocked53M27, the Dumbbell Nebula in VulpeculaLocked54M17, Omega/Swan Nebula in SagittariusLocked55M20, The Trifid Nebula in SagittariusLocked56M31 & M32, Andromeda Galaxy in AndromedaLocked57M52, Open Cluster in CassiopeiaLocked58M1, the Crab Nebula in TaurusLocked

Phase 7: Going Further and What's Next

7-1Light Pollution and Dark SkiesLocked7-2Troubleshooting: Common Beginner ProblemsLocked7-3Keeping an Observing LogLocked7-4Where to Go From HereLocked7-5What’s Next: The Virtual Astronomy ClubLocked
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