No equipment? No Problem!
You already have the most important piece of astronomical equipment – your eyes. Binoculars and Telescopes bring many more objects within reach. There is still much astronomy you can do without additional equipment. So while you are deciding which equipment is right for you, or saving to purchase that equipment, or maybe even still deciding if astronomy is the right hobby for you, there are still wonders to behold.
The Astronomical League has many Observing Programs that are intended to be Eyes-Only Astronomy (also often referred to as Naked-Eye Astronomy). And there are portions of other Observing Programs that are focused on Eyes-Only Astronomy.
The first place to start is the Constellation Hunter Observing Programs. A basic knowledge of the layout of the night sky is critical to help you find the jewels. There is a North Skies version (for people in the Northern Hemisphere) and also a Southern Skies version (for people in the Southern Hemisphere). These Observing Programs will introduce you to the 88 constellations that carve up the night sky.
There are other Observing Programs that require no purchased equipment:
- Alternate Constellations Observing Program (Constellations)
- Analemma Observing Program (the Sun, requires construction)
- Astronomy Before the Telescope Observing Program (Stars, requires construction)
- Citizen Science (every kind of object or challenge, most do not require observing)
- Earth Orbiting Satellite Observing Program (Satellites)
- Meteor Observing Program (Meteors)
- Radio Astronomy Observing Program (Radio Astronomy, requires construction)
- Space Weather Observing Program (Earth’s Magnetic Field and the Solar Wind, requires construction)
- Universe Sampler Observing Program (the Universe)
Many other Observing Programs have levels that are Eyes-Only:
- Asterism Observing Program (Asterisms, kind of like Constellations)
- Galileo Observing Program (relive Galileo’s discoveries)
- Lunar Observing Program (Moon)
- Solar Neighborhood Observing Program (Stars)
- Solar System Observing Program (the Solar System)
- Stellar Evolution Observing Program (Stars)
The pinnacle achievement of Eyes-Only Observing is the For Your Eyes Only Award.
Clear Skies and may you have many hours of rewarding observing.