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Rosliston Astronomy Group Rosliston Astronomy Group
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Beginners FAQ

Beginners FAQ

Every astronomer was a beginner once — and most of us wish we'd had someone to answer our questions before we spent money on the wrong equipment or spent a frustrating night unable to find anything in the sky. This page covers the questions we hear most often from newcomers to the hobby. Hopefully it saves you some time, money and frustration — but we're always here if you need more personalised advice.

What is the best telescope for a beginner?
This is probably the most common question we get asked and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on what you want to observe and how you plan to use it. A telescope that is ideal for planetary observing may be less suited to deep-sky objects, and a large instrument that is awkward to set up may end up gathering dust in the garage. As a general rule, a 6–8 inch reflector on a sturdy mount gives excellent all-round performance for a beginner. However, before spending any money, come and talk to us — our members have experience with a wide range of equipment and can help you avoid a costly mistake.

Should I buy a telescope or binoculars first?
For most beginners, binoculars are the better starting point. A good pair of 10x50 binoculars will show you craters on the Moon, the moons of Jupiter, star clusters, nebulae and much more, and they are far easier to use than a telescope. They are also versatile enough to use for birdwatching and other hobbies, making them better value for money as a first purchase. Once you are familiar with the night sky through binoculars, moving on to a telescope feels like a natural next step rather than a steep learning curve.

What magnification do I need?
Magnification is probably the most misunderstood aspect of buying a telescope. Many cheap telescopes are marketed on the basis of high magnification — "500x power!" — and this is almost always misleading. In practice, the useful magnification of any telescope is limited by its aperture (the diameter of the main lens or mirror) and by the quality of the atmosphere on any given night. As a general rule, the maximum useful magnification is around twice the aperture in millimetres — so a 150mm telescope tops out at around 300x under good conditions, and often much less.

For most observing, lower magnifications between 50x and 150x are used far more than high ones. Higher magnification makes the image dimmer, narrower and more susceptible to atmospheric turbulence. A telescope that performs beautifully at 80x may produce a blurry, shaky image at 300x. The quality of the optics and the mount matters far more than the maximum magnification on the box.

Where should I buy a telescope from?
This is really important — and the short answer is: please talk to us before you buy anything.

Telescopes sold through Amazon and general department stores are frequently poor quality, difficult to use and deeply disappointing. They are often marketed on inflated magnification figures and flimsy mounts that make observing a frustrating experience rather than an enjoyable one. These are the telescopes that end up in the back of a cupboard after one or two uses.

For reliable, quality equipment we strongly recommend buying from a dedicated astronomy retailer. UK-based specialists who know their products and can offer proper advice include:

For second-hand equipment, the Astro Buy & Sell forum at www.astrobuysell.com is the UK's most trusted marketplace for used astronomy equipment. Bargains are regularly available and the community is honest and knowledgeable. The Stargazers Lounge classifieds at www.stargazerslounge.com are also worth checking. For those of you on Facebook there are market place groups where astronomers (including some of our members) sell items. normally to fund other purchases. Try Secondhand Astronomy Equipment UK or Astro Boot UK.

That said — please come and talk to us before spending any money. Our members have owned and used a wide variety of equipment over many years and can help you identify exactly what suits your needs and budget. A short conversation could save you a significant amount of money and a lot of frustration.

Can I see colours in nebulae and galaxies like the images I see online?
Unfortunately not through the eyepiece. The stunning colour images from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes are produced using long exposure photography and specialised image processing. The human eye is not sensitive enough to detect colour in faint objects. Through a telescope, most nebulae and galaxies appear as pale grey or white smudges — but knowing that you are seeing something millions of light years away with your own eyes is a remarkable experience in itself. Astrophotography is the way to capture those colours, and it is a very rewarding part of the hobby once you are ready to explore it.

How dark does the sky need to be?
The darker the better, but there is still plenty to see from a typical suburban garden. The Moon, planets, bright star clusters and double stars are all accessible even under light-polluted skies. For faint deep-sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae, a darker site makes a significant difference. The Rosliston area benefits from relatively low light pollution for the Midlands, and our observing sessions at the Forestry Centre give members access to a much better sky than most can achieve from home. A light pollution map such as lightpollutionmap.info is a useful tool for finding darker sites near you.

What is the best time of year to do astronomy?
There is something worth observing in every season, but autumn and winter tend to be the most rewarding for UK observers. The nights are longer, the air is often more stable, and the winter sky contains some of the most spectacular objects visible from the UK — including the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus and the Andromeda Galaxy. Summer nights are short but offer the Milky Way at its best, along with the Perseid meteor shower in August. In short, any clear night is a good night.

What should I look at first?
Start with the Moon — it is the most rewarding object for a beginner and endlessly fascinating at any magnification. From there, move on to the bright planets. Jupiter and Saturn are both spectacular, showing cloud bands, the Great Red Spot and Saturn's rings even in a small telescope. Once you are comfortable finding your way around the sky, star clusters such as the Pleiades and the Beehive are excellent targets, followed by the brighter nebulae such as the Orion Nebula (M42). Our Messier Objects page is a great place to start building an observing list.

Do I need to know anything about science or maths?
Not at all. While astronomy has deep scientific roots, amateur astronomy is first and foremost a hobby — and a very accessible one. Many of our members came to it with no scientific background whatsoever and simply a curiosity about the night sky. The learning is gradual and enjoyable, and our club is a welcoming environment where no question is too basic.

How do I find objects in the sky?
There are several approaches. Learning the main constellations first gives you a set of signposts to navigate from — once you can find Orion or the Plough, many other objects become easier to locate. A free planetarium app such as Stellarium on your phone or tablet is an invaluable companion at the telescope. Many modern telescopes also have computerised GoTo systems that can automatically point at thousands of objects once set up correctly. Our Useful Software page lists the apps and tools our members recommend.

Is astronomy an expensive hobby?
It can be, but it absolutely does not have to be. You can have a very rewarding experience with nothing more than your eyes and a free app on your phone. A decent second-hand pair of binoculars can be found for under £30, and a good second-hand starter telescope for under £100. The hobby does have a tendency to grow over time as your interests develop, but there is no pressure to spend large amounts of money, particularly when starting out. Our members are always happy to advise on where to find good value equipment.

Can children get involved?
Absolutely — astronomy is a wonderful hobby for young people and RAG actively welcomes junior members. Membership for under 16s is completely free. We also run outreach sessions for schools and youth groups, and can help children working towards their Astronomy Badge with Scout, Guide and similar organisations. Take a look at our Junior Members page for more details.