Astronomy

Basic Night Sky Tours These basic sky tours of the northern and southern hemispheres are organized more or less by season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.  Start with your current season and go from there.  Each has a one-page circular map you can print and take with you for your stargazing sessions, as well as a few tips about how to read the maps.  Move onto the other seasons of the year as your schedule allows. Northern Hemisphere Spring (April-June) Summer (July-September) Autumn (October-December) Winter (January-March) Southern Hemisphere Autumn (April-June) Winter (July-September) Spring (October-December) Summer (January-March)  Choosing Telescopes and Binoculars These articles will show you the basics of choosing a beginner’s telescope and a good pair of binoculars for visual observation of the night sky.  With this know-how, you’ll be able to choose the right stargazing tools for your budget and personal situation, tools that will let you see thousands of beautiful and memorable celestial objects that few people ever get to see.