Don’t you wish you could sit down and look through a large telescope? The VLT UT2 Kueyen telescope at the European Southern Observatory with a clear aperture of 8 meters with an M1 F# of 1.75 weighing in at 430 metric tons would give you some great viewing nights. But, don’t think you cannot see great stuff or get good views of galaxies or even asteroids with a good home telescope. Caroline Chavez of Huntington Beach got a Meade LightBridge Truss Tube Dobsonian, 8″ for graduation. She found that it came with a good eyepiece. With the motor drive it could follow a star. However, she found out that it was a challenge to figure out what to look at.
Probably the quickest way to get up to speed using your Meade LightBridge Truss Tube Dobsonian, 8″ is to join an astronomy club. There are many astronomy clubs in most countries of the world and in most states of the USA. Here are a few in the US: Shoals Astronomical Society, Inc. in Florence, AL; Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society in Knoxville, TN; Fairfield High School Astronomy Club in Fairfield, CT; Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers in Kimberton, PA; San Francisco Amateur Astronomers at the Morrison Planetarium in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA; Astronomical Society of New York City in Staten Island, NY; Auburn Astronomical Society in Auburn, AL; Central Missouri Astronomical Society in Jefferson, MO.
In fact, it would be a better idea to start attending an astronomy club before you go out and buy a telescope. They will not only let you look through their telescopes but can show you some of the best things to look at. To get a feel for what is involved in planet watching attend a few star gazing parties. A good way to start would be to buy a pair of 7×50 binoculars. Take them with you to the star gazing party. They will let you see anything from the craters on the moon to the closer planets.
When you go to your first planet viewing party, you will be surprised at how eager people are to let you see what they are looking at. However, there are a few things to consider. Their equipment is expensive, so be careful. If you have children with you, make sure that they are careful as well. A small child running around will make people nervous very quickly. You may need a flashlight to make sure you don’t trip over things. But, you will want to put a red filter over the end. Red light lets your eyes adjust to the dark the quickest. Be sure to dress warmly. Sitting still at night can be chilly – even in the summer.