The Basics of Astrology

Most people find astrology to be a daunting hobby, picturing the need for expensive telescopes, confusing star and planetary charts, dozens of calculations for every heavenly body, and the like. But while advanced astronomy does, indeed, involve quite a bit of expense and number crunching, it's simplest forms can be enjoyed by anyone. All you really need to get started in astrology is to have a deep and abiding love of the night sky in your heart, and everything else follows.

At the start, the only thing you'll need to pick up, at most, will be a blanket to lie down on, a small map of the constellations, a pair of binoculars, and a notebook. Most astrologers start out just lying on a sandy beach or a hilltop and looking up at the sky, gazing out at their favorite constellations. From there, they move on to studying the constellations to another, equally amusing hobby, that of watching out for shooting stars.

You can start out this way, and some people are actually content to restrict their astronomy hobby to this, it's simplest level. But if the astronomy bug bites you, where do you go from there? The first step I'd suggest would be to add a little something extra to your itinerary of skywatching. The moon. You can check the internet or books for scheduled changes in the moon, as these are quite an experience to watch. View the moon during her different phases, and especially at times when she's brighter than usual like at the solstice, or changes color like the rare but impressive lunar eclipse.

Once you want to branch out even further, you can expand your hobby in one of two ways. The first is to pick another celestial subject, like a planet or far away galaxy, and add it to your itinerary. By taking this slow but steady approach, you add another something to the list until you wind up keeping an eye out for most of the major celestial figures, eventually buying a telescope for enhanced viewing.

The second approach is something you can take at any time. Astronomy, contrary to popular belief, isn't a solitary hobby for loners and contemplatives. There are actually hundreds of astronomy hobbyist groups out there, and one quick way to expand your knowledge and skills in this fascinating art is to go out and find those other groups and join one.

This lets you learn the ropes, and once your skills get better you'll be able to exchange ideas with your group mates as an equal. Where you go with your hobby from that point on is up to you.

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