Lodging & Leisure
Get started with these stargazing essentials
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Want to explore Western skies during the International Year of Astronomy? It doesn't take an astronomical budget. Here are some affordable items that will give you a better view of the stars than Galileo ever had.
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas
• Buy this atlas
Of the many available books, this classic easy-to-use spiral-bound guide to night skies is considered indispensable by legions of astronomers of all levels ($20).
TheSkyX Student
• Buy the student version
From Software Bisque's highly respected planetarium series, this software package with super-realistic graphics helps novice- to-intermediate stargazers develop a greater understanding of astronomy, track planetary motion, watch solar and lunar eclipses, and search the heavens of the past, present, and future ($100). The module to the left features TheSky6 Serious Astronomer Edition, if you're more advanced.
Orion Resolux 10.5 x 70 Astronomical Binoculars
• Buy these binoculars
More comfortable and easier to maneuver around the sky than a mounted telescope, a good set of binoculars is the starting point for amateur astronomers. The Resolux line is made with all-metal housing and thick rubber armor to ensure durability and comfort. Impressive light-grabbing optics are perfect for wide-field stargazing ($370).
Celestron NexStar 60 SLT Computerized Telescope
• Buy this telescope
From one of the most popular brands in the field, this intermediate scope with a 60mm refractor is great for both celestial and terrestrial viewing. Computer-control technology includes a database that allows the telescope to automatically locate more than 4,000 objects in the sky (up to $300).
Meade LX90-SC
• Buy this telescope
For advanced sky viewing, Meade's Schmidt-Cassegrain optics provide some of the best value for the money. The oversize 8.25-inch primary mirror brings pricks of light and objects invisible to the unaided eye into startling clarity. The scope is also designed to accommodate astrophotography ($1,800).
Product links
• www.oriontelescopes.com
• www.bisque.com
• www.celestron.com
• www.meade.com
Once you have the tools, what do you look at and how do you find it? Visit Astronomy magazine at www.astronomy.com for all kinds of info about the skies and stars, including "eclipse cruises." Registered users can download free podcasts on night-sky targets by calendar date.
• Also on C&I: Celebrate the International Year of Astronomy under Western skies
