NBAS: Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have a telescope, but I love astronomy. Is this group for me? Absolutely! We welcome members of all backgrounds. Members are more than happy to guide you towards choosing a good starter scope (if that’s something you want). Also, the North Adams Public Library does have a couple of telescopes available to card holders.
I don’t know much about astronomy, but I’d like to learn more. Can you help? Definitely! There are always discussions at our meetings, and public events, and we are always interested in sharing knowledge! Our website is designed to help people learn more about all the different objects in the heavens and how to appreciate them.
Do I have to be a paying member to go to meetings or public events? No. All meetings and public events are open to the public.
I am a teacher - can someone come and speak to my class? Yes! Several members are available to give public talks on a wide variety of astronomical/space topics for any level of audience.
We’d love to host a public observing event. Can the NBAS help? Certainly! In fact we’re always interested in finding new venues for our public events.
I saw on Facebook there some “big alignment” of the planets…? Unforunately most posts of this nature are hype; they don’t reflect what you’d actually see and will always be a disappointment.
However, if you know what to look for, there are hundreds of very interesting deep-sky objects reachable with small/starter telescopes, or even binoculars, and astronomical events happening throughout the year.
I have a telescope gathering dust, and I don’t know how to use it. Can you help? Yes! Reach out to us at a meeting, or if it’s not too hard, even bring it to a meeting (or public event) and we’ll be more than happy to take a look at it!
What telescope should I get for myself/my kid/my spouse? This depends on budget, and on the person’s experience and skill level.
Here are some very basic guidelines:- A good “starter scope” typically costs between $200 and $700. It’s FAR better to spend more on a reputable brand than get a cheaper scope and “hope for the best”
- If the advertizing says “Can see 1,000,000 miles!” or “Magnify 1000x” - run.
- Brands like Celestron, Orion (which you’d have to get used), and a few others ARE reputable.
- Many good starter scopes can integrate with an app (like the Celestron DX127) that REALLY makes finding things in the sky easier. Some scopes offer ways to let you take pictures through the eyepiece with your phone.
- Look for reviews on specific models online from amateurs.
- “Smart” scopes are a very different thing than “trad” scopes, but are becoming very popular. While they don’t have an eyepiece you can look through, and they’re not good at some objects (planets), they are very good at what they can do. (And you can always join your local astronomy club to look through all the other members’ telescopes!)