Observing the Night Sky

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There are millions of celestial objects within reach of amateur astronomers. From star hopping to your first object to exploring distant galaxies, we provide the know-how in these helpful articles.

	What Will You See in a Telescope Discover The Wonders Which Await You! >Click Here
	Astronomy with Binoculars Binoculars are an ideal instrument for touring the heavens. Considerations for choosing a good sky bino and 10 favorite binocular objects are covered. >Click Here
	Star Hopping 101 Learn how to navigate from star to star. >Click Here
	Observing Meteors You don't need any equipment at all to see these fiery invaders from outer space. >Click Here
	Observing the Sun Who said astronomy has to be done in the dark? Learn how to safely view our nearest star and what it will reveal. >Click Here
	Observing the Planets You don't need an inky-dark sky to view these awe-inspiring orbs. Here's how to get the best look and what you're likely to see. >Click Here
	Observing the Moon Usually the first, and certainly the easiest, target for beginning astronomers, the Moon holds endless fascination even for seasoned telescope jocks. >Click Here
	Observing Satellites: How to Find Iridium, Shuttle or the ISS Guide on how to spot these moving human made targets. >Click Here
	Observing Double Stars There are scads of double and multiple stars up there, and they can fun to observe. Along with some good how-to info, we give you a list of some of the better ones. >Click Here
	Observing Variable Stars Watch these stars change in brightness over time, and learn how they do it. A table of some interesting variables is included. >Click Here
	Observing Constellations Here's an introduction to the patterns of stars known as constellations. Learning to recognize a few of them is a first step for any stargazing enthusiast. >Click Here
	Observing Deep Sky Objects From galaxies to globular clusters, these exotic objects put your equipment and visual skills to the test. This article provides great observing tips and our "Top 10" coolest objects to check out. >Click Here
	Stars and Deep Sky Objects A concise review of the basic "food groups" of the night sky: star clusters, nebulas, galaxies, and double and variable stars. >Click Here
	The Messier Objects They're the most frequently gazed-upon galaxies, nebulas, and clusters in the night sky. Learn who Messier was and how this famous collection of objects came to be. >Click Here
	Seeing in the Dark This article covers why dark-adaptation of eyesight is so important in visual astronomy, and some simple things you can do to improve your night vision. >Click Here
	Sketching at the Telescope Despite the advent of photography and CCD imaging, many amateur astronomers today prefer to sketch what they see in the eyepiece. >Click Here
	Dealing with Dew Dew can put a "damp-er" (pun intended) on an evening's stargazing session. >Click Here
	Celestial Coordinates We'll help you understand the grid system used to designate positions of celestial objects, and tell you how it's useful in amateur astronomy. >Click Here
	Star Magnitudes The stars that dot the night sky run the gamut from bright beacons to dim little pinpricks. Learn more in this helpful article. >Click Here