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Where Do I Begin? - An Introduction to Astronomy |
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Getting started in Astronomy might seem like a daunting prospect. So that your first steps into this great hobby might be less timid, we've put together some articles and collected some links to various websites that should make these first steps fun and less challenging. Rather than try to reinvent or rewrite what many have already written with regard to "Getting Started in Astronomy", we've decided to first provide some links to some well written pamphlets provided by the two prominent astronomy magazines that almost every amateur astronomer subscribes to - Astronomy Magazine and Sky and Telescope.  
Astronomy Magazine Sky and Telescope These pamphlets will answer many of your questions about how to get started in Astronomy. Just click on the images above and they will get you started. They are in PDF format, which will allow you to print the provided sky and moon maps provided. Both Magazines also provide many articles and links for beginning astronomers that are available on their websites by clicking on the Magazine's name just above. 
Click on image above for Quicktime Version of Presentation given at Red Rock Star Party Use cursor or PgUp/PgDn keys to move through presentation. For PDF Version - Click Here We've also provided some of our own articles that provide additional information about "Buying that first telescope" and other topics of interest. You'll find these articles on this page below. |
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Written by Rob Lambert
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What telescope should I buy? The first question often asked when the public visits one of our LVAS star parties is not easily answered. If you were to ask 10 people what should a beginning astronomer consider as their first telescope, you would most likely get 10 different opinions. The number of opinions would probably decrease if you were to only ask members of the LVAS, since we seem to be inclined toward similar opinions. Well, I'm going to attempt to give you the opinion of a relatively new amateur astronomer, since I've only been enjoying this fascinating new hobby for about four years. Hopefully, you'll find some helpful guidance in what follows. |
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Written by Rob Lambert
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A simple word that confounds even experienced amateur astronomers in how it is pronounced, nebulae is the plural form of nebula. Nebulae is pronounced "NEB-yu-lee". A nebula (Latin for "mist") is an interstellar cloud of dust, gas and plasma. Originally nebula was a general name for any extended astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way (some examples of the older usage still survive; for example, the Andromeda Galaxy is sometimes referred to as the Andromeda Nebula). There are several types of nebulae that we encounter in our search of the night sky.
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One of the easiest skymaps to use is the one provided by Skymaps.com. Click on the Skymaps logo above to access their current map of the evening sky. Once printed, the front or first page will be the current map of the night sky for the month you chose. There is also a chronological list of celestial events for that month. The backside or second page contains lists of various night sky objects that are visible with the naked eye, binos, and telescopes. |
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Understanding the Phases of the Moon |
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Written by Rob Lambert
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One of the questions I am most frequently asked by the public is, "Why does the moon have different shapes?" If one has never studied the moon in any detail, this is an understandable question. And with the help of a special diagram I hope to shed some light on the subject. |
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