Beginner Guides

If you are into stargazing for the first time you’re in the right place. My astronomy beginners’ guides will take you through things you need to know when choosing gear including the magnifications, eyepieces, how to find objects, maintaining your telescope, and how to store it safely when it’s not in use.

To begin: Beginners Guide to Backyard Astronomy

Barlows And Star Diagonal

How To Use A Barlow Lens [+ What To Look For When Buying]

Getting the most out of your telescope can depend on how well you know the accessories as well as what ...

Wearing Glasses Or Not With Telescope

Using a Telescope With Glasses, Yes Or No [What To Know]

Should I use my telescope with or without my glasses? It’s a dilemma most eyeglass wearers have when using a ...

Telescope Finderscope Upside Down

SOLVED: Telescope & Finderscope Upside Down Image Problem

My telescope image is upside down. The image through the finderscope is also back to front or upside down or ...

Broadband Coatings On Eyepieces

The Ultimate Showdown: Fully Broadband vs. Ultra-Wide Band Optical Coatings

Are you ready for the ultimate showdown in optical coatings? In one corner, we have Fully Broadband, boasting its wide ...

Optical Coatings Explained

Discover the Power of Optical Coatings: A Guide for Backyard Astronomers

When choosing telescope eyepieces or binoculars you’ll likely come across these different types of optical coatings. If like me, what ...

Best Telescope To Take With You

Best Portable Telescope Options [What to Know]

A portable telescope is great for stargazing when on the move. You don’t want something that’s chunky and difficult to ...

Beginners Guide To Star Gazing

A Beginners Guide To Backyard Astronomy

Here I cover what I’ve found of value for starting out as a backyard astronomer including what to know about ...

Mars With White Polar Cap Shown

Mars Through A Telescope. Best Timing and Magnification Setup

You might be wondering what magnification works best for getting a close-up of Mars and what features you’re likely to ...

Star Magnitude (360 X 280 Px)

Stars: What Magnitude can I see with my Telescope?

How does stellar magnitude relate to your night sky viewing experience? As a newbie, I found terms like this a ...

What To Look For In A Telescope (360 X 280 Px)

What to Look For When Buying a Telescope

What telescope should you buy?  What features should you consider and what do they mean? It can be frustrating, the ...