My wife and I teach practical observing from a biblical view in the Philippines. One thing we do comes from a lesson that is often recommended but seldom done, because the WOW effect of optics tends to cause people to forget some basics. We were reminded of the value of this old lesson as we taught a group of excited "students" (actually teachers and staff) in the Philippines. Here is the lesson:
1. Pick a night at the beginning of learning how to use a telescope and binocular by putting them away.
2. Get a planisphere and a weak red light so you can read in the dark.
3. Get your bearings for North and South.
4. Face North and dutifully find the most significant constellations and major stars.
5. Face South and do the same thing.
It's that simple. But take your time. And...hold to a self agreement: don't get out the optics. Just use your eyes.
There is no better substitute for exposure to the heavens that we know of because it gives people an overall sense of where things are and how they appear compared to how they seem to appear on the Planisphere.
We repeat the lesson often--even for ourselves. Preferably, it's good to do it every quarter or so because of the sense a person gets with the changes over time. And, you get to see things that optics cannot deliver better in terms of wide field.
1. Pick a night at the beginning of learning how to use a telescope and binocular by putting them away.
2. Get a planisphere and a weak red light so you can read in the dark.
3. Get your bearings for North and South.
4. Face North and dutifully find the most significant constellations and major stars.
5. Face South and do the same thing.
It's that simple. But take your time. And...hold to a self agreement: don't get out the optics. Just use your eyes.
There is no better substitute for exposure to the heavens that we know of because it gives people an overall sense of where things are and how they appear compared to how they seem to appear on the Planisphere.
We repeat the lesson often--even for ourselves. Preferably, it's good to do it every quarter or so because of the sense a person gets with the changes over time. And, you get to see things that optics cannot deliver better in terms of wide field.
Roland Beard
site: www.christworksministries.org
blog: www.rolandlinda3.wordpress.com