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Begin by choosing brighter deep-sky objects as your destination.
The brightness of an object is measured by its visual magnitude;
the brighter an object, the lower its magnitude. Choose an object
with a visual magnitude of 9 or lower. Most beginners start with
the Messier objects, some of the brightest and most beautiful
deep-sky objects, first catalogued about 200 years ago by French
astronomer Charles Messier.
Using your star chart, determine in which constellation your
object lies and locate that constellation in the night sky. Turn your
binoculars to face this general direction. Find the brightest star in
this constellation and center your view on it. Consult your star chart
again, and determine the next brightest star between your currently
focused star and your object destination. Move your binoculars
slightly to focus and center this next star.
Continue on this course, using each star as a guidepost for the
next, until you reach the area in the sky in which the object of your
hunt should be seen. Center the object and bring it into focus.
You’ve just found a deep-sky object.
If the object is still not in view, retrace your starhopping steps and
start again. Remember, expertise in this hobby will require both
patience and practice. Good luck out there!
ADVANCED OBSERVATION
