Asronomy 101

A guide for amateurs by an amateur

by Marvin Xylon M. Jaen

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Prologue

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

- Oscar Wilde

A personal exploration of the cosmos begins

The night sky – a magnificent wonder of nature often ignored by most people apart from a few who call themselves “amateur astronomers” – awaits us.

Amateur astronomy is becoming a popular hobby not only in first world countries but also in the Philippines. Armed with a telescope, the amateur sets out on a journey to explore the cosmos – to seek out and see the planets, stars and galaxies beyond our meager solar system. However, an essential weapon – knowledge – is more often than not, ignored.

This tutorial will, hopefully, provide the amateur their first step towards the hobby and point out essential information as understood by a fellow amateur. I will do my best to impart my knowledge about the cosmos, how I found my way in this vastness universe and how I continue to learn through experimenting, reading and learning from fellow amateur astronomers.

I hope that though this tutorial, one may be able to appreciate the cosmos in a deeper way for it is not just the telescopes that define the amateur astronomer. Rather, it is their understanding, knowledge, love and appreciation of our universe that matters.