Avoiding Disappointment for Astronomy Beginners

Since I enjoy public outreach Astronomy, I frequently speak to beginners, at public gatherings and online. I find they have often had disappointing first experiences with Astronomy, as I did myself more than fourty years ago.

The following articles are a result of many conversations with beginners, after which I have noted some patterns of common causes of disappointment. I try to provide some guidance and advice to avoid, or recover from, bad first experiences, and to approach the hobby in a way that will be satisfying and lasting. These are my personal opinions, advice I often provide. You’ll find other opinions out there too, often contrary to these. Gather all the information you can, and then make your decisions.

For true beginners, I suggest reading the following mini-articles in this order. However, I’ve tried to make them self-contained, so you can jump straight to sections of particular interest.

Starting Problems

An exaggerated “life in the trenches” account of a fictional beginner having a terrible time.

What Went Wrong

A summary of the problems that were the source of our fictional beginner’s disappointment.

Setting Expectations

Avoiding disappointment by understanding what a beginner should and should not reasonably expect as they enter Astronomy.

Getting advice

As a beginner, you’ll want to get advice on how to proceed. It’s readily available, but the quality varies widely.

Beginner Telescopes

General advice on choosing a beginner telescope. Pointers to good books and articles, and my own, somewhat controversial, feelings and advice.

Understanding the Sky

A very basic introduction to the kinds of motion and activity that take place in the sky, and the effects you’ll see when you observe.

Setting up your Telescope

You’ve received your first telescope. How do you set it up the first time, to maximize your chances of an enjoyable “first light”?

Basics of Magnification

Magnification is often misunderstood and often the source of absurd claims by toy telescope manufacturers. Understand what it is and how much you need.

Good Beginner Targets

Some astronomical objects are natural choices for beginners. Unfortunately, it’s easy to set your sights on something that will be difficult or disappointing. Some ideas on good objects to observe at first, and how to find them.

Accessories

Thoughts on accessories that will enhance your experience, and on others that you may find disappointing as a beginner.

Basics of Astrophotography

An introduction to the types of Astrophotography and the equipment and skills involved. Leaping into Astrophotography too soon is a major cause of beginner frustration – it’s much harder than you think.