Note: these blogs appeared for the first time as columns in the Newcastle Advertiser (Caxton)
“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I bet they’d live a lot differently. When you look into infinity, you realize there are more important things than what people do all day” (Calvin and Hobbes). Profoundly true – the universe is humbling and gives us a sense of perspective…
It was this sense of wonder that inspired me as a 9 year old to start exploring the universe with a pair of binoculars and later a telescope. I will never forget seeing my first planet, gasping at the craters on the moon or watching my first meteor shower with the naked eye. Anyone can start studying and observing the universe and with today’s technology it is far easier than most people realize. An interest in astronomy is a journey that will take you to other worlds and hopefully inspire you to gain further knowledge about the origin of life and our place in the universe.
You only need your eyesight to begin with and from there, if your interest is sparked, invest in a portable telescope or pair of binoculars to take your journey further. Always remember the best instrument to buy for a beginner is the one that is used often hence the need for portability.
Over the coming months I hope to take you on a journey into the observable universe and hopefully inspire you to sit outside and look upwards at the stars a little more often.
*Angus Burns uses primarily Celestron products as well as Sky-Watcher and Canon Cameras*
Angus Burns Photography 