“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates of the mystery of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to comprehend only a little of this mystery every day.”
Albert Einstein

Astronomy is a branch of science that deals with the study of the universe and all of the objects in it. Astronomy attempts to answer the question of why the universe is the way it is and ultimately may provide clues as to what our place is in the grand scheme of things. Amateur astronomy is about connecting to the extraordinary world of astronomy in a non-professional capacity.

Astronomy is also one of the oldest sciences and begins with the observation of the night sky. Ancient cultures would watch the movement of the Sun, Moon, stars and planets and notice certain regularities that could be associated with the seasons. Different cultures over time would create world views to make sense of what they were seeing and our place in it. Over time, innovations in the scientific method allowed humans to precisely calculate astronomical events and with the invention of instruments such as the telescope, extend our vision to be able to peer deeper making visible diverse and often stunning phenomena that the universe provides. Building upon discoveries, new world views would form replacing older antiquated ones. Even within the last century, some well held worldviews of the cosmos have given way to ever newer and more refined ones. One thing astronomy never does is disappoint.

Both professional and amateur astronomy have the same fundamental underpinnings; reliance on the scientific method, the search for new discoveries and most importantly, the use of the human imagination.

Most people become interested in amateur astronomy because it excites the imagination. Many people enjoy science fiction movies and the fictional worlds that are created that could be possible. Often, we hear about discoveries in the news about black holes, comets or the latest and greatest thoughts on the origins of the universe. We have even “dipped our toes” along the cosmic shoreline visiting our own Moon with humans, travelling to the outer reaches of our solar system with remote craft and the attraction of colonizing Mars is within our grasp. The lure of “what’s out there” has become so prevalent that even private companies now offer seats on rockets to amateur astronauts. Amateur astronomy allows us to connect to this world of discovery.

What do you need to do to enter this fascinating world? Here’s a list to help you get started.

How to Become an Amateur Astronomer

Curiosity and Imagination. If you’re already reading this, most likely you’ve reached this first goal. As a life lesson, never let your curiosity or imagination diminish, even if you decide to do something else. Always keep the ember of wonder burning in heart.
Look Up. Most people today rarely look at the night sky. Become an ancient astronomer and begin to observe the night sky and look for patterns and regularities first with your naked eye. There is plenty to see. Let your mind wander and watch the stars move across the night sky and see changes from day to day and month to month. Get a simple star map and try to identify some of the constellations. A great source for sky maps is Free Sky Maps. There is something about being outside on a clear dark night looking up at the night sky that is simply immeasurable. Go out tonight. What are you waiting for?
Membership. Become a member of the Denver Astronomical Society and be part of a growing community of amateur astronomers. Membership also gives you access to the Astronomical League Reflector newsletter, scope loans, access to the Dark Sky site, club events and other activities.
Resources. The following are good resources to get started:
- Monthly publications like Sky & Telescope or Astronomy magazine offer sections for amateurs.
- The Stars: a New Way to See Them by H.A. Rey is a great book for the beginning astronomer.
- In addition to the Free Sky Maps website, there are free apps for your phone such as Sky View.
- The Astronomical League has excellent resources for the beginning astronomer.
- Many libraries carry astronomy periodicals and online resources are a great option too.
Explore Possibilities. Most amateur astronomers are active star gazers, often using telescopes or binoculars, but some amateurs explore the night sky with radio observations, some do computational astronomy, some are only interested in cultural or historical astronomy, or collect antique telescopes or meteorites. There is a myriad of ways to explore the world of astronomy. You can even contribute to astronomy and help professionals such as on Zooniverse.
Have fun! Let your imagination grow with each new discovery, even if it’s been discovered a million times before by others, it’s your discovery now. Share your discovery and passion with others. Who knows, you may eventually go from an amateur to a professional astronomer one day!

Ready for a Telescope?

The next step for an amateur astronomer might be to invest in a telescope or a pair of binoculars. Here are some tips:

Do some research. Sky & Telescope has a great article here How to Choose Your First Telescope or Binoculars for Astronomy. Other sources are Top 3 Beginner Telescopes and Night Sky Gazing.
Go to DAS open houses, look through members’ telescopes and ask plenty of questions.
The DAS has a telescope loan program for members so you can try and drive before committing to a purchase.

Keep in mind you can always start with something basic and work your way up over time.