Astronomy is now such an enormous subject that you would find it difficult to become an 'expert' in all areas. The constellations and observing with telescopes are the easy bits, while some areas, like black holes or gamma ray bursts (don't ask!), you can study for your entire life alone without fully understanding the nature of the thing; and then you may find you've got it all wrong anyway! Where's the fun in that? Watching the phases of the Moon on its orbit around the Earth is pleasant, happy and rewarding, while Quantum mechanics can leave your calculator steaming, not to mention your brain!

The Horsehead Nebula in Orion, the Hunter

I want it all to be fun, so I intend to stick to the simple stuff on this site, which includes some fascinating information for you to throw around at parties.

Many astronomers have their own particular preference - the Planets, the Moon, the Sun, Meteor Showers, Asteroids (although you can buy cream for that), Comets, Galaxies, Nebulae, the Universe...it's endless! There can even be some rivalry, take for example a deep-sky observer who has to cope with the full Moon drowning out the sky.

For most of us everything starts from an initial interest in the night sky; maybe by viewing a bright evening 'star', a shooting star, or news of a comet such as Halley's or Hale Bopp, any of which sparks the imagination on a quest for knowledge.

I'll be uncovering the secrets of the night sky which will include a guide of what you can see after the Sun goes to bed as well as covering topics such as buying telescopes, starting observing, comets, meteor showers, life in the Universe, black holes, the constellations and more.

Here are my pointers for Astronomical Success - Make it Happen!

Astronomy: Your way to the Stars

1. Learn the stars and constellations in the night sky before you do any crazy thing, such as buying a telescope. As you find your way around the heavens, you begin to understand the objects that are out there, what they are, what time of year to see them, etc. A basic understanding of all this will help you no end.

2. Join, or start, an astronomy club. Yes, why not get a group of friends together and form a society - you could call it after yourself then. Most clubs have rather ordinary abbreviated names like the Blackwell Tunnel Astronomical Society (BTAS), but you could go for the more amusing one, like the Space And Universe Society All Gravitationally Excited, or SAUSAGE for short! If this does not suit your taste, then the local library will have full details of your nearest Astronomy Society. Here you should get the chance to have a look through some telescopes, and maybe get the feel for them, before you choose which one to buy. Link: Choosing a Telescope.

3. Watch the skies (safely) whenever you can. There is always something happening up there: satellites, including space stations, fly over, as do shooting stars; there may be a comet in the sky, or you may see the zodiacal light, or anything. The list goes on and on. It is well worth keeping a notebook with dates, times and directions of what you have seen.

4. When a space news story appears on the tv or in the newspapers, find out a little more than they tell you. The internet is now a great place to find out anything astronomical, so there's no excuse!