Stargazing Guide Book
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stargazer
Space Science Learning Club
Stargazing Guide Book | Super Stargazer Program
Hello Stargazer's,
We have learnt that stargazing isn’t a hobby limited to people with a degree in
astrophysics and a Rs.30000 worth telescope in their backyard “observatory”. It’s the
perfect hobby for anyone who’s ever looked up at the night sky and wondered “What’s
that?”. All you need to do to begin your adventure in stargazing is to lie back, look up
and get lost in the beauties of the sky.
If you’re a beginner, put away the telescope and look up at the sky with your naked eye.
There are many things to be seen with the unaided eye. Start by locating a few
constellations, and soon you’ll be pointing out planets, galaxies and star clusters!
Pro Tip 1: Start with one constellation to look for.
Use a star map to help you locate it. You can nd different star map's for each season
by just googling for it. A monthly sky map gives you an idea of what constellations to
nd in the sky each month or season
Pro Tip 2: Buy a Planisphere.
A planisphere is a simple hand-held device which shows a map of which stars are
visible in the night sky at any particular time. By rotating a wheel, it shows how stars
move across the sky through the night, and how different constellations are visible at
different times of year. This will give you an exact idea of where to look for your
constellation.
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Stargazing Guide Book | Super Stargazer Program
Here are a few constellations that make great “ rst” constellations to locate with your
planisphere:
Summer: Cygnus, Scorpius, Lyra
Fall: Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pegasus
Winter: Orion, Gemini, Taurus
Spring: Leo, Virgo, Bootes
Once you’ve located your constellation, try
to nd the ones around it. This will help
you learn to navigate a star map or
planisphere. With practice, you’ll be able to
spot a few constellations each season.
Pro Tip 3: Find out what planets are out tonight.
They are usually brighter than the stars around them, so they are fairly easy to locate if
you know where to look. Use a tool like Stellarium or SkyView to nd out where the
planets are!
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Stargazing Guide | Super Stargazer Program
Pro Tip 4: Start using a Binocular
Before you go out and spend tens of thousands of
rupees on a telescope, start with a nice pair of binoculars
or a very basic Gallieoscope style telescope. Navigating
your way throughout the sky with binoculars or a simple
telescope will help you to master the skills necessary
before making a larger investment.
Pro Tip 5: Look at the Moon
The moon is the easiest object to nd in the sky with binoculars or a simple telescope.
Peering at the moon will also help with locating objects through the lens and with your
focusing skills. Also, if you’ve never looked at the details of the moon through a lens, it
will take your breath away. You could spend years exploring the craters and mountains
of the moon using some of the many reference books or on-line interactive lunar maps.
Pro Tip 6: Find Jupiter or Saturn
Chances are that you’ll be able to spot a few of the Galilean moons of Jupiter or the
rings of Saturn. If you are able to view Jupiter over several nights, you’ll discover the
four largest moons orbiting the large planet, just as Galileo did hundreds of years ago.
You may have seen pictures of Saturn’s rings, but there is nothing like viewing the
original.
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Stargazing Guide | Super Stargazer Program
Pro Tip 7: Discover the wonder of Deep Sky
objects.
Once you’ve observed a planet or two, look
for a few DSOs (Deep Sky objects). There’s
nothing like seeing a close-up of the
Andromeda galaxy, or the beauty of the
Orion Nebula. The following list will give
you a few to search for each season.
Summer: Globular cluster M13 in Hercules, Lagoon Nebula (M8) and Tri d Nebula
(M20) in Sagittarius, Ptolemy Cluster (M7) in Scorpius
Fall: Andromeda Galaxy in Andromeda, Globular cluster M15 in Pegasus
Winter: the Orion Nebula (M42) in the Orion constellation, the Pleides star cluster (M45)
in the Taurus constellation
Spring: Beehive Cluster (M44) in the Cancer constellation, The Owl Nebula (M97) in
Ursa Major
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Stargazing Basics | Lie Back, Look Up
Try again. And again. And again!
It can take months to identify even a handful of the 88 constellations in the night sky,
and locating and focusing in on deep sky objects takes time and practice. Don’t give
up! There is no substitute for experience.
Join your local Astronomy Club. You can join the year long Space Science Learning
Club Online Program to get a real time feel of learning astronomy and space science
with like minded students from around our country.
Pro Tip 8: Best time for Stargazing
If you try to see stars during a full moon, chances are, the moonlight will dominate the
sky and make it di cult to see much. ◦ You’ll have more luck if you go out when there is
a new moon. Or, in the days just before or after a new moon.
Because the days are longest in summer, you have a relatively small window to see
stars in the best conditions.
Astronomers say the ideal time to stargaze is between October and March, because the
night sky will be darker for longer during this period.
Autumn is the preferred time for many stargazers because the sky is darker for longer.
What’s more, the weather still is pleasant enough to spend a long time outside, in most
cases.
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Stargazing Guide - Super Stargazer Program
Here is a list of tools you will need as a Stargazer
◦ Something to help you see the sky: Although telescopes are what advanced
stargazers use, many recommend beginners start with binoculars. They’re generally
more affordable and offer a wider eld of vision.
◦ Something to help you see your charts: Your eyes adjust to light quickly but adjust to
darkness slowly. Using a regular ashlight to look at your charts can wipe out your
night vision in an instant and ruin your experience. Using a ashlight with a red lter
over it allows you to see in the dark without being so bright that your eyes will have to
re-adjust to the light.
◦ A compass: Being able to locate true north is essential for aligning your charts with
the night sky. This will make it much easier to nd the constellation or star you want to
see.
◦ Something to keep you warm: Because the best time to stargaze is when the nights
get longer, you’ll probably need some warm clothing, coffee or hot chocolate to keep
away the chill. You don’t want to be disappointed by going home early because it’s too
cold.
◦ Something on which to sit: You’ll want to nd an open space far away from light
pollution to get the best view of the stars, such as a park or a eld. Bring a blanket,
folding camp chair or something else to keep you comfortable while you gaze.
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Stargazing Guide - Super Stargazer Program
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
◦ The Moon - The biggest heavenly body in the night sky will be the moon. You should
be able to see a lot of detail on its surface, even with binoculars.
◦ Orion - This constellation is most visible during winter. The easiest way to identify it is
to look for the three stars that form Orion’s belt. From there, you should be able to make
out Rigel, which forms the hunter’s foot, and Betelgeuse, which is at the gure’s
shoulder.
◦ The Big Dipper - Perhaps the most well-known grouping of stars in the sky, the Big
Dipper is part of the larger constellation known as Ursa Major.
◦ The North Star - Once you locate the Big Dipper, you can use its position to nd
Polaris, also known as the North Star. If you imagine a line drawn through the two stars
that mark the upper lip and bottom edge of the Big Dipper, that line will cross through
Polaris, which sits at the end of the handle of what is known as the Little Dipper.
◦ Jupiter - As the largest planet in the solar system, the gas giant Jupiter is relatively
easy to see in the night sky. In fact, with the right magni cation, you may even be able
to see the four largest of Jupiter’s dozens of moons.
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