Often hobbies develop with just that bit of curiosity, and fortunately, many are such that it needs precious little to get started.
When you spot that delightful bird in your backyard which you may not
have noticed earlier, you are eager to learn more and soon find that
bird-watching can be an interesting activity. Similarly, almost all of us watch the moon and stars in the sky, but perhaps too cursorily. The night sky is just so many twinkling stars and little else to many of us. But with a little persistence and a guide book, star gazing can become a fulfilling pastime.
Of course for the city-dwellers, the opulently-lit night offers few
possibilities, but when you go out of the city, to some countryside or
a farm house over the weekend, you must take in the night sky. Away from throbbing lights, the night sky
puts up a star-studded show which has to be seen. Initially, the sky
seems like a crowded canvas of dots, too closely clustered for comfort
and you may actually wonder what star gazing is all about, after all. It is not simply lying down on the grass and looking at them, but then again, it is that too.
Tools of the trade
You may associate star gazing
with telescope, but you'll need that only when you graduate deeper into
the hobby. The naked eye is enough to spot stars. A powerful flashlight
would be a good aid to begin with. You may need to flash it to describe
a pattern, especially if you are communicating with someone else. Armed
with this, all you need to get started is a guide book
or star charts to help identify constellations and planets. If you are
into bird-watching and possess a good pair of binoculars, that should
serve the purpose for star gazing, too.
Star charts and guide book
The star charts are nothing but sky maps that locate stars. For all
practical purposes, the stars are in fixed positions in relation to one
another, hence they can be mapped. Astronomers have grouped stars into
constellations and these patterns are documented. The most familiar
constellation, which many of us know from our school textbook, is the
Great Bear or the Ursa Major. When you join the seven stars to form a
ladle in the sky, you get this constellation, which is also called the
Big Dipper. Having located the constellation, the star chart will
further guide you on how to locate the Polaris or the Pole star in the
North with the help of the two stars in this constellation.
Locating constellations
So you see you just need a landmark to begin with.
Therefore, look for the brightest and the biggest stars, figure out
which constellation they belong to and soon you'll find patterns
emerging in the night sky. In bird-watching you look for the characteristics of birds and with the help of a guide book try and identify them. Soon, over a period of time, you graduate into their nesting behaviour and habitats. Similarly, in star gazing,
initially you should learn to identify constellations and planets, and
over a period of time, you'll find how stars change their positions
with seasons, and much more.
Soon Orion - the hunter with his belt, Big Dog
of Canis Major, Leo with its mane and Little Bear constellations will
appear like so many friendly friends in the sky! Just as interest
begets interest, soon you will be tripping over yourself trying to find
more and learn more.
Graduate to telescope
There are many local astronomy clubs where like-minded star gazers get together to discuss and observe the night sky.
You can take weekend trips with them to places on the outskirts of the
city; many of them would have telescopes which they would surely share
with you. Planetariums are a good source of information if you
seriously wish to pursue this hobby and take if further from just
identifying constellations.
Occasionally, cosmic events like a lunar or solar eclipse and comets raise excitement and arouse interest in star gazing
and astronomy. Soon you will want to graduate to locating deep sky
objects like clusters, galaxies and nebulae through your deservedly
acquired telescope!
