The dark winter nights are approaching and provide the perfect opportunity to head outside to begin your new hobby

A common astronomy myth is that you need a telescope to be an astronomer. This is something that beginners to astronomy often hear when they’re asking for advice on breaking into the hobby. It’s true that a telescope can show you much more than the naked eye, or even a pair of binoculars, but the truth is, you don’t really need a telescope to enjoy the night sky. What’s even better is that getting involved in astronomy is absolutely free.

A beginner will often be advised to simply use their eyes to familiarise themselves with the night sky - most likely with the aid of a star map or a planisphere. In general, even if you’re looking to buy a telescope at a later date, learning your way around is essential. Of course, if you’re happy to use the bare minimum of tools available to you, then you’ll be pleased to know that there’s plenty you can see with the unaided eye.

Before you head outside there are a variety of things you should be aware of to get the most out of stargazing. First, you should allow your eyes to adapt to the dark to observe the fainter targets, and second, you should ensure that you’ve chosen the darkest site possible. Any light pollution is sure to make taking in the night sky difficult. While the Moon is one of the best targets for naked-eye and binocular-wielding astronomers, it is also a source of light pollution, and must be at its new phase or a slim crescent to cause minimum interference.

Finding yourself under untouched skies is a breathtaking experience, and you’ll be amazed what you can see with the unaided eye. Star clusters, such as the Pleiades, are easily detectable, as is the star-forming region known as the Orion Nebula. The dusty path of the Milky Way is easily seen from a dark location. A cheap star guide or planisphere will help you to find these targets, but given that they are so readily visible, you’re likely to find that you’ll see them straight away. Astronomy really doesn’t come at a cost at this stage.

It’s not until you decide to get some magnification in your hands that money gets involved, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Provided you choose wisely, your first pair of binoculars, or indeed your first telescope, can last you for years, and could even serve as a trusty backup to a later purchase.