In honor of our 37th anniversary, we offer 37 ideas to celebrate the hobby we love.
- Remember why you got it in the first place - Revisit the joy of stargazing.
- Scan the sky - The sky is constantly changing; there are always new wonders in astronomy.
- Share your hobby - This doesn’t need to be a solo hobby. Share the fun.
- Explore the Moon - Get a field map and log details on the moon.
- Get Ready for Jupiter - Visible now before dawn, the best planetary show in the sky is coming this fall and winter (visible in the early evening); filters help bring out the belt detail.
- Catch Saturn - Saturn is still well placed in the evening sky. You can see the rings with almost any telescope.
- Track Neptune - Neptune is in opposition in August, but still a challenge in a small scope.
- Zodiac - Work your way through the constellations of the Zodiac.
- Star Charts - Having a roadmap makes it easier to find things. Orion offers a monthly chart online
- Find the Orion Nebula - Our all-time, personal favorite!
- Find a Bright Planetary - Even in a city, during the summer, the Ring Nebula is frequently visible. To boost contrast use an OIII eyepiece filter.
- Galaxies - Explore the galaxies. Go beyond the Milky Way to Andromeda and beyond.
- View all Messier objects - Try to find as many of the Messier objects as possible.
- Go Deeper with the Caldwell catalog - Try the same thing with the Caldwell catalog
- Camera - Try astrophotography to take your hobby to a new level.
- Filters - Experiment with color filters on the planets and with SkyGlow filters for nebula.
- Sun - Break out that solar filter. Sunspots come and go all the time.
- Adjust your finderscope - Being unable to find things is frustrating. Taking the time to adjust the scope will make things much easier (or get one if your scope doesn’t have it)!
- Smartphone astronomy - Smartphone’s have astronomy apps available. Keep yours handy.
- Take Pictures with your iPhone - Orion has the adaptors to mount your iPhone to snap pictures of the moon, planets and more.
- Astrogoggles - Astrogoggles protect your night vision when you run inside. For the same reason, get a red-beam flashlight when outside reading charts.
- Laser Pointer - A laser is a fun way to share astronomy with friends.
- Use Binoculars - Binoculars are a great complement to a telescope.
- Take a course - You’ll not only learn, but meet new hobbyists.
- Earth Gazing - Turn your scope earthward. Find a high spot and explore the world around you.
- Subscribe to a blog - Learn about events. It’s over 100 years to the next Venus transit. Don’t miss another once-in-a-lifetime event.
- Join a club - Meet people and go stargazing together.
- Eyepieces - Get a new high power eyepiece for planets or a wide-field to more easily catch nebulae.
- Get a chair - Find a swiveling stool at the right height so you don’t have to stand or bend over.
- Hold an event - Invite friends and fellow hobbyists and make a night of stargazing.
- Catch a Meteor Shower - A great one is coming in August, the Perseids.
- Try finding and following the Space Station - This is about as bright as Jupiter!
- Look for Satellites. Try to spot satellites and other man-made objects.
- Bird watching - Use your scope for watching birds and other animals.
- Try sketching what you see - You don’t have to be an artist, but this can help catalog your finds. Sketch your moon findings.
- Test how far can you see - What’s the most distant object you can track down?
- Just have fun -That’s why you bought the telescope in the first place!