all in English
2007-10-30 18:55:07 · 12 answers · asked by Cathy H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Wiki!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_bang
books suck, because they can't be updated.
2007-10-30 19:00:37 · answer #1 · answered by Mercury 2010 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First of all, I'll agree with everyone who recommended buying a book or two. This is much better than browsing a variety of web sites, when you have no idea what the quality of those web sites might be. A book will organize it all for you, and give you a framework on which to hang your further interest.
The absolute best book for a beginner is Terence Dickinson's NightWatch (Firefly). Thorough, written with great clarity, and brilliantly illustrated. That's the place to start.
Several people suggested buying a telescope right away. Bad idea! Many people make this mistake, buy a useless telescope, and don't have the foggiest idea what they're looking for or how to find it. The book above talks about telescopes and other equipment you may want to purchase, and gives sound solid advice. You really need nothing more than your eyes and a dark sky to enjoy astronomy. Binoculars are a help from the beginning, but a telescope often gets in the way of learning about the stars.
Magazines like Sky & Telescope and Astronomy are great (Astronomy Today in the UK). Find a local club and attend some meetings, especial;ly a "star party" or two, where members view through their telescopes, and are only too happy to share the view.
Finally, look around your neighbourhood tonight (Hallowe'en). You may find somebody out with a telescope for the kids. A lot of us do "sidewalk astronomy" on Hallowe'en!
2007-10-31 07:52:51 · answer #2 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have a lot of good advice here but one thing that no one mentioned was
Join a local astronomy club / Astronomical Society.
You will get far more hands on advice and fun knowledge along with meeting a lot of new friends who can help you to learn more than you thought you ever could. You can go to their star parties and check out their wide variety of telescopes with your own eyes and decide if and what kind of scope that you might want to get in the future. Astronomy clubs have some of the very nicest people that you could ever want to meet.
Geoff's book list and advice is very good too. (above)
2007-10-31 08:59:54 · answer #3 · answered by B. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wonderful topic to have an interest in. You can actually now purchase and have a star named after someone or something too. I've included a number of good reference links that have photos, descriptions, and data bases that will help you. I should mention a good telescope is a must as well if you are really interested. Some times you can find one at a pawn shop or on line. I have a 150x power that I started with, which is low but really helped. Have fun and enjoy a good deal of history comes from the stars, ships sail by them, they have helped farmers, and told calender years. Even our own lives are to have been told to have some effect by the way the stars and solar system was aligned.
2007-10-31 02:04:05 · answer #4 · answered by Ghostwriter1959 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Books. Go to your local library and do a keyword catalogue search for things you're interested in. Take your time. Don't try to get educated about it (or believe that you are) in a week.
This is better than the web. You will pick up a book and browse through it anytime. You'll see something that interested you the day before and it'll stick in your mind. You can take it with you. Web pages are good if you're looking for a specific piece of info. But you have to be careful anyway. There's a lot of crap on the web, but books in a library are less likely to be on the lunatic fringe.
2007-10-31 02:24:47 · answer #5 · answered by Choose a bloody best answer. It's not hard. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Turn Left at Orion" is a good book to start off with.
Borrow it from your local library.
"Sky and Telescope" and "Astronomy" magazines have star maps in them that are very helpful.
Binoculars will be very useful for studying the constellations, open clusters and brighter nebulas.
Most of all, take it slowly, and enjoy yourself. It's a fantastic hobby.
2007-10-31 03:54:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Telescope.
Purchase an astronomy book
2007-10-31 02:46:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
do you have a near by observatory? Great starting point.
You can also learn about the stars though astrology books, classes, and websites.
Go to the library.
2007-10-31 01:58:26 · answer #8 · answered by xvkarbear 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
first study them in a book or so
If you are really interested in it then dont just spy at them
Just read about them
2007-10-31 02:48:45 · answer #9 · answered by CHIA 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like google skys my self..PG
2007-10-31 02:05:46 · answer #10 · answered by pearl g 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
outside....use a telescope or take an astonomy class at a college
2007-10-31 01:57:38 · answer #11 · answered by Jen-jen 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋