Astronomy is a fascinating hobby but maybe thought too challenging for some people. However, this is not the case, and even absolute beginners can learn to identify the constellations.
If stargazing is on your bucket list, you can take it to the next level by exploring the night sky and looking out for individual constellations. Of course, you could always use an app, but that takes away much of the fun!
Do You Need Any Specialist Equipment?
You may be surprised to learn that there is much to be discovered, simply with the naked eye. When you look up at the dark skies, you can actually see galaxies that are over two million light-years away! With a good pair of binoculars, the craters of the moon are clearly visible. To get the most from your experience, you should purchase a basic telescope. This will definitely bring the constellations into view.
What to Look For
The easiest way to start is to look out for the North Star; this will be your reference point to finding the constellations. Having located this star, you can now see the Little Dipper, which is the easiest one to spot and is shaped like a bowl with a handle attached.
If you are unsure of how it should look, there are plenty of YouTube videos to guide you.
You can then move on to find the Big Dipper and other constellations such as Gemini.
Learning to identify constellations is an easy task to cross off your bucket list and may lead to a hobby that gives you pleasure for many years to come. The five major constellations are visible year-round, so you can start at any time. As there are 88 currently recognised constellations, there are plenty of opportunities to increase your knowledge.
