W hen it comes to choosing and purchasing equipment to observe the night sky, there’s a lot to take in. Which telescope should you get? Which magnification is best for your first binocular? Do you need to buy extra eyepieces? These are just some of the questions that you may have found yourself puzzling over when choosing astronomy kit. It may be that the daunting task of selecting telescopes or binoculars has put you off pursuing a hobby in astronomy. Maybe you have bought a telescope that doesn’t meet your requirements and is too complicated for you to use. If you took the plunge before you were ready, it’s most likely left you feeling frustrated and disappointed, with nothing to show for your efforts other than a piece of equipment gathering some dust in a rarely visited corner of your home – not to mention a lower bank balance.
Blunders like this aside, it certainly is possible to take part in backyard astronomy without having to spend an incredible amount. The trick is to do your research, whether that involves reading up on your hobby in stargazing books or getting some advice from a seasoned amateur astronomer at your local astronomical society before you make your first purchase. It’s also essential that you shop around to compare prices, making sure that there’s a trade-off between how much you can afford and what a piece of equipment can actually offer.
Lastly, you should always think ahead – will your equipment still be usable a year into your backyard astronomy
