Wouldn’t it be great if you had access to a large telescope? The Gemini South telescope with a clear aperture of 8 meters made of ULE on a TELAS mount would really be exciting to use. But, don’t think you cannot see great stuff or get good views of galaxies or even asteroids with a good home telescope.
Carolyn Matthews of Hialeah got a AstroVenture 90mm with her allowance. She found that it was easy to set up. With the optional motor drive it could follow the moon. However, she found out that she had trouble keeping track of what she was looking at. Probably the quickest way to get up to speed using your AstroVenture 90mm 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; Amateur Astronomers of Jackson in Parma, MI; Meteor Group Hawaii at the Hale Hoku Observatory in Ocean View, HI; Arkansas Valley Astronomical Society in Buena Vista, CO; Columbus Astronomical Society in Columbus, OH; STARS — Students Taking Astronomy-Related Subjects Address: Dept. of Astronomy, City College of San Francisco, MS S-95, 50 Phelan Ave., San Francisco, CA; Peoria Astronomical Society, Inc. in Peoria, IL; New Jersey Astronomical Assn. in High Bridge, NJ.
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 recommend some good scopes to you but can show you some of the best things to look at. To really get your teeth into star gazing attend a few star gazing parties. A good way to start would be to buy a pair of 10×50 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 look through their scopes. 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 you see around you while protecting your night vision. Be sure to dress warmly. Sitting still at night can be chilly – even in the summer.
