Are you new to Astronomy? Looking to just get started, wanting to simply look through a telescope? The best way to start is to attend any of our club’s public astronomy event. You don’t even need a telescope. You can look through ours, it's expect. If you keep coming this allows you to familiarize yourself with the night sky without needing to invest in your own equipment right away; when choosing a telescope for yourself, ask club members for a beginner-friendly option but focus on learning the constellations and brighter celestial objects first. Starting with Binoculars is highly recommended.
Key points to remember as a beginner:
- Start with binoculars:
Binoculars are a great first step as they provide a wide field of view, making it easier to find objects in the sky compared to a high-powered telescope. You can use them in other areas in your life.
- Learn the constellations:
Before using a telescope, familiarize yourself with prominent constellations to help you navigate the night sky. Lots of instruction on finding night sky object start with the constellation they are in.
- Choose a beginner telescope:
Look for a telescope with a larger aperture (lens diameter) as this allows more light to reach your eyes, providing a brighter view.
- Prioritize ease of use:
Opt for a telescope that is easy to set up and adjust, especially if you are new.
- Observe bright objects first:
Start by looking at the Moon, planets like Jupiter and Saturn, and brighter star clusters.
- Join our club:
Consider joining the Boise Astronomy Society to learn from experienced observers and potentially use larger telescopes.
- Attend Planetarium shows and visit Observatories:
Observatories have telescopes to study star formations, planets, and massive events in space. Planetarium, a theater-like space that projects images of stars, planets, and other celestial objects onto a dome-shaped ceiling
Julius Jeker Planetarium
https://jjplanetarium.boiseschools.org/
Whittenberger Planetarium
https://www.collegeofidaho.edu/about/campus-facilities/planetarium
Faulkner Planetarium & Centennial Observatory
https://herrett.csi.edu/planetarium/default.aspx
Bruneau Dunes Observatory
https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneau-dunes/observatory
A nice article from the construction company on the new telescope at Bruneau
https://seawestobservatories.com/projects/bruneau-dunes-observatory
- Start visiting some great Astronomy websites:
- Get some free skycharst to pring off and smart phone app:
https://eyesonthesky.com/charts/free-star-charts/
SkySafari Astronomy - We are working on getting the links for the free andriod and apple. The proffesional is pretty cool but abit over powered when you are just starting.
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