Ease of use, cost and performance make binoculars the ideal ‘first telescope’. “To put a telescope to rewarding use, you first need to know the sky as seen with the naked eye, be able to find things among the stars with sky charts, know something of what a telescope will and will not do, and know enough about the objects you’re seeking to recognize and appreciate them.” Go into the night and learn the starry names and patterns overhead.” A great tool for learning the layout of the night sky and constellations is the Southern Star Wheel planisphere, a free download to print out and assemble.ĭon’t rush to buy a telescope. Read, read, read! “Astronomy is a learning hobby … self-education is something you do yourself, with books, using the library.” And remember, Google is your friend, too! There are many good sites on the Internet to learn from – our list of web resources is a good place to browse. The following thoughts and suggestions on astronomy as a hobby have been adapted from an article by Alan McRobert (1994) in Sky & Telescope. Download Magda Streicher’s Astronomy Delights

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