Unaided Eye Beginner Observing Objects
The time of year and your latitude makes a difference if and when the objects are visible.
The beginner observer's objects are a good starting point for a person with no previous observing experiences.
Most of these objects are bright and the challenge is to locate and learn to use reference materials to locate these objects in the sky and determine when they are visible.
Sun
- Observer a Sun set. This will indicate a generally West direction.
- Observer a Sun rise. This will indicate a generally East direction.
Moon
- Chart moon's motion against background stars, note moon's phase changes over time.
- Check sky events for moon's location and phase.
Planets
- Unaided eye bright visible planets: Venus and Jupiter.
- Chart the planets, motion against background stars, note changes in apparent brillance over time.
- Check sky events for planets' location and phase.
Comets
- Check Sky & Telescope Observing for unaided eye comets.
Meteors
- Check the following Web sites for for the best time to observer meteors.
- Sky & Telescope Observing
- Examples of meteor showers through out the year:
- January: Quadrantids
- April: Lyrids
- May: Eta Aquarids
- June: Ophiuchids
- July: Delta Aquarids
- August: Perseids
- October: Orioids
- November: Taurids and Leonids
- December: Geminids and Ursids
Constellations
- North reference constellations: Ursa Minor
- Bright circumpolar constellations: Ursa Major and Cassiopeia
- Bright Constellations on
meridian at 11:00 PM local Standard Time (12:00 PM Daylight Saving Time) during the middle of the month:
- Zodiac Constellations:
Stars
- Polaris the North star
- First magnitude stars:
Sirius,
Canopus,
Alpha Centauri,
Acturus,
Vega,
Capella,
Rigel,
Procyn,
Achernar,
Betelgeuse,
Agena,
Altair,
Acrux,
Aldebaran,
Antares,
Spica,
Pollus,
Fomalhaut,
Deneb,
Beta Crucis,
Regulus.
- Open star clusters: Haydes M45
- Milky Way
© 1998-2003 David Haworth
Unaided Eye Beginner Observer's Objects