on the right foot redux
TRANSCRIPT
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
