How do I get started in Astronomy? Should I buy binoculars or a telescope? What can I expect to see? This wonderful informal guide has all the answers for an absolute beginner to get started observing the night sky. It begins with advice on how to choose appropriate and affordable equipment and accessories, and covers basic stargazing techniques, from observing with the naked eye to binoculars and telescopes. It then takes you on a tour of the night sky, covering the Moon, Sun, stars, planets, and more. Photos taken by the author, himself, will show how objects in the sky actually look through modest amateur equipment. Whether you are a parent thinking of buying a telescope for your children, or a newcomer yourself, this book has all you need to know to take the first steps into the fascinating world of astronomy.
Though he spent most of his life in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Paul Kinzer now lives in a small town in southwestern Wisconsin, where the night sky is dark and the stars are bright. He takes advantage of his location to observe and take astrophotos through his several telescopes. Paul also travels to schools, libraries, and other venues with his portable planetarium, to share the night sky during the day. He has been an occasional guest on Wisconsin Public Radio, answering listener questions about astronomy and astronomy equipment.
Paul has spent most of his adult life working with kids, from pre-schoolers through high-schoolers, and finds their enthusiastic curiosity and endless questioning a great source of nourishment for his own desire to learn, and to share what he's learned with others.
