Expert: Paul Wagner - 2/3/2005

Question
we 4 friends r going 2 start a new astronomy club in our college . wht equipments v require 2 start with ,what precautions n steps should we take?

Answer
Dear Pranav:

I don't think you need much equipment.  Don't forget that even some professional astronomers focus on subjects that can be viewed with the naked eye.  Meteors, for example, are best seen without any equipment at all.

I think it is more important that you work together to find a mutual interest in the sky.  You can challenge each other with your observations, and catalog them for future members of the club.  And you can take trips to observatories or special observing sites for other adventures.  

If I were starting a club, I would get a nice 20cm relfector telescope to start, something that is big enough to see deep sky objects, and small enough to be carried to remote locations for use.  And then I would start observing as often as I would with the other members.  Work your way through the Messier list, the planets, double stars, and keep observing, finding new objects every night.

Paul Wagner