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Originally Posted by stan4
I've been interested for a long time and just uncertain how to get started (besides just reading books).
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Hit the local library or bookstore and pick up the book
NightWatch. It's widely accepted as the unofficial beginner's guide, and is worth reading cover to cover. It takes you through all of the basics, and it's not a clinical read at all.
If you have a pair of binoculars, you can start tonight - 'binos' are a great way to view the night sky. Just find a comfortable lawn or lounge chair and a dark spot in your yard, out of the line of sight of any porch/street lights (if possible), and look up.
When you're ready to start looking for a scope, you can (and should) ask lots of questions here or elsewhere - there's a particularly popular forum site for astronomy, but I won't mention the name here - I don't want to break the C-D rules.
Choosing a telescope can be a formidable task - as someone new to the hobby (as I was several years ago), trying to understand all the specifications (e.g. aperture, focal length, focal ratio, equatorial vs. alt/az, etc.) and how they relate to your viewing experience can seem overwhelming at first. Don't give up, and don't be afraid to ask questions. It's a short learning curve and well worth the effort.
