How could you as a beginner observe our Solar Systems' Planets?

Question

I need a manual or a web site explains how could a person observe our planets like Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, ... etc and also the other stars in the universe.

Answer 1

The easiest way is to go out in your backyard and find the brightest 'stars' in the sky. These are almost assuredly Venus, Jupiter, or Saturn.

Venus is the brightest and is visible either just before sunrise or just after sunset (being closer to the Sun than Earth, we always see it near the Sun).

Jupiter and Saturn are further away from the Sun and will be the two brightest stars you see during the night (provided they're visible - if they're on the same side of the planet as the Sun, you won't be able to see them).

This website, ( http://www.heavens-above.com/ ) provides a star chart that also labels the planets. Once you've finished entering your location, the main page has a section for Astronomy. The whole sky chart lists the stars you can see along with the planets. Change the coloring to black on white if you want to print it. You hold the chart above your head with N pointing North - the chart will match what you see in the sky.

The website also lists satellites that you can see from your backyard. The International Space Station (ISS) is often brighter than even Jupiter or Saturn and is very easy to see from your backyard. The Soviet space station MIR used to be even better. I once saw MIR while sitting at a bright intersection near an airport. I even heard a train in the background. About the only mechanical transporation missing was a boat.

Edit: Make sure you set the time to night time. It defaults to the current time, which doesn't do you much good if you create and print the chart during the day.

Answer 2

Mercury you can only cath early in the morning or just after the sunset but if you have a small telescope hardly you'll find it interesting to observe due to its small diameter and lack of visible details. Check first www.skyandtelescopes.com to see what happens tonight at the sky and fine the sky map for your location, go out when the sun goes finally down and start from finding Jupiter, Saturn or Venus, watching them thru any instrument will bring you some joy. If you posess a bigger telescope try to find Mars, there is also plenty of things to watch, Uranus and Neptun nothing interesting thru any telescope!
cheers

Answer 3

Go to www.download.com and search for astronomy software. There's lots of stuff there that'll help immensely. Walmart stocks a decent refractor telescope. Most are linkable for computer control.
The software alone will be of benefit. For the naked eye stargazer, it's customizable so that you can get yer feet wet. You'll soon get hungry for more, though. Telescopes are cool, but a pair of binoculars, and a tripod can help out a bit too.

Answer 4

Try this site http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/ . It's called "Astronomy for Kids," but it's basically astronomy for beginners. It contains a sky map so that you can find the planets yourself (often with or without a telescope), and there are tips for beginners as well.

Answer 5

Sky and Telescope magazine's web site has some good resources.

Answer 6

for all the beginners I should suggest...

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

and there are more than the solar planets