Stargazing is one of the oldest human pastimes, and one of the few that costs nothing to begin. You do not need a telescope, an app or any special knowledge to look up and be amazed. With a little patience and a few simple tips, anyone can start to make sense of the night sky.
Start with your own eyes
The best first instrument is no instrument at all. Find a spot away from bright city lights, give your eyes around 20 minutes to adjust to the dark, and simply look up. You will be surprised how many more stars appear once your eyes adapt. Avoid looking at your phone, as the bright screen ruins your night vision in an instant.
Learn a few signposts
Rather than trying to memorise everything at once, learn a handful of easy landmarks. The Plough, or Big Dipper, points the way to the North Star. Bright constellations such as Orion, with its distinctive belt of three stars, are easy to recognise and act as anchors for finding fainter objects nearby.
Planets, the Moon and beyond
Some of the brightest objects in the night sky are planets. Venus shines brilliantly near sunrise or sunset, while Jupiter and Mars are easy to spot once you know where to look. The Moon is a rewarding target too, with its craters and mountains visible even through cheap binoculars, which are a great and affordable next step up from the naked eye.
Tools to help you
Free stargazing apps can identify stars and constellations simply by holding your phone up to the sky, and many show when the space station will pass overhead. A planisphere, a simple rotating star chart, is another classic aid. Most of all, keep a record of what you see and return often, because the night sky rewards the regular observer.
