Getting oriented to better learn the night sky: Stargazing Basics 1 of 3 

Thanks for disappointing me. I came here expected this to be yet another boring and confusing RU-vid video. I was disappointed. This is well presented, you speak very clearly, and the information is useful and coherent. Admittedly, I already knew almost everything you said having been an astronomy buff since the 70's, but it was definitely a wonderful review of the basics. Keep up the great work!

Thanks - I figured there are some folks who are interested, but don't know how to get started and may be afraid to ask. This way they can get the basics of the terminology, where and how to look, and then ask better questions. I'm hoping that astronomy clubs may find these useful to put on their websites too, as it should help beginners get basic astronomy questions answered so newcomers will feel better informed.

You're welcome! Remember, the zenith is different depending on your latitude (and not the same as the celestial north pole); it is the point directly over your head, no matter where you are on Earth. So nadir is directly down through the ground, wherever you are, and won't point at south pole unless you're at north pole. Altitude is degrees above your own horizon; azimuth is the direction "around" that horizon. Download free program Stellarium; bottom tabs have most of these listed.

Thanks dude, I'm trying. Started stargazing as a kind of therepeutic thing with some binoculars. I do struggle to orient myself, sometimes I can easily spot constellations when I'm lying down, then I move around and look up and it takes me ages to get my bearings again. This should help with that. It's really cool though, feels like I'm reconnecting with my ancient ancestors and the universe again, we are all stardust after all. It feels great to learn the constellations, once you can see them properly it's like your painting the night sky with your imagination.

This guy: no one lives at the North Pole. Santa: Am I a joke to you?

You're welcome, and I'm glad that things "clicked" for you! :-)

After listening to this guy....I'm getting spaced out ~

Thank you Jim. What I was thinking was astronomy clubs might want to put them on their websites, to help people get oriented in the night sky, so they feel more educated if/when they show up to outreach events or meetings. But I also use them to supplement my own live presentations at libraries and park districts, because I cover the same concepts each time. This way people can review them at their leisure on my website or on RU-vid too.

I love your videos. So well at explaining things precisely and clearly. Thanks :)

What a great video! Thank you for posting and keeping it simple! I am 51 years old and received a telescope for Christmas and trying to learn the basics before I attempt to use it!!

Awesome videos...Highly appreciate your efforts in making these...

Hi Charles - thanks for the thoughts. I guess I look at this way: In the story of the tortoise and the hare, the tortoise won. Maybe comparing myself to a tortoise isn't the greatest one to make, but the point is this: Over time, the views will go up. That's what matters. I'm not worried. :-)

Im 15 and my love for astronomy i had as a child is starting to grow again. Ive been looking for information about the planets and the night sky for a week now , have installed an app to help me too. I'll buy a telescope in a few months when im completely ready!

Thanks. This explains whole lot for me. As in Contact . Jodie Foster was talking about right ascension and declination :) I had no ide what she was talking about :) Ty

thanks so much! i have my astronomy gcse tomorrow afternoon and i really didn't understand declination and right ascension until i watched this! many thanks from the UK :D

Excellent! I liked how you explained everything clearly. I'm interested in this subject but I was often fooled by fake, not-so-clear, clickbait videos. Finally found your channel & hopefully watch more videos from your channel. Added to a playlist: Astronomy, cosmos, universe. Thanks again from Great Britain. (Mon 11 Oct 2021 12h10)

Wow thanks for that! I couldn’t put into words what I was thinking to explain to someone what I was trying to understand. And the simple words of “getting oriented with the night sky” sounds so basic but is powerful thanks! 🙏🏽 🎉 🌎

Excellent video, thank you. A true astronomer! Wearing a comfortable black hoodie while presenting an instructional video to thousands of viewers.

Awesome videos bud. Keep them coming learning something new with each video. Thanks again.

I'm sort of late to the party, but I just wanted to take a moment to thank you folks at eyes on the sky for all the helpful information!

Went from my 11PM to the 15PM in natural. Love it. Awesome bit of kit.

Posted eight years ago and still replying to comments, what a chad. My town uses the wrong lights so there's lots of light pollution. Terrible shame because the night sky is so beautiful, still helpful for what I can see. Thanks!

Hey man thanks for these videos. they are really helping me figure out this RA and declination. I appreciate it.

I like that he used stellarium !

Really enjoyed this video. Informative, straight to the point and with a friendly disposition, and fine graphics to supplement the info given. Grade A quality. Thanks!

Thanks for this. I'm taking an Astronomy class next semester, and this helped me wrap my head around the concept of the celestial poles. I never knew stars rotated in the sky though, I always assumed they just went from East to West like the Sun. Interesting stuff!

Absolutely fantastic video. Exactly what I was looking for

David, David, David! Thank you! Now that was the best explanation and presentation I have seen on this subject. For a little over a year I've been heavily into astronomy, reading a lot and even trying to make sense of this Coursera (Duke U.) Into Astronomy Course, and you really nailed that for me. Thank you!!!

Boom this is exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

Always refreshing to see videos like these from you.

David, I am just getting into astronomy and found your videos. They are truly awesome, thank you for all the obvious hard work you put into them. Watching the sponsor's ads in full in the videos, thanks.

SO clearly explained! Thank you!

This series of videos is awesome, thank you! Starting from here.

Great video sir, my daughter and I watch this 3 videos 3 times each.

I just discovered your videos, and I find them truly educational. Thank you for preparing this content to teach to us. I'll keep studying.

Nicely explained subject with very good graphics.

Superb information video Dear ❤️... Thank you for sharing 🙏❤️

Thanks for educating and getting me really started on star gazing...this is very nice n clear explanation. u deserve full marks. you can load more videos on this topic & astronomy in general

Just watched basics 1 through 3, I've had a Eureka moment, thanks, really enjoyed (and understood) the vids.

Good job Mr David, keep it up.

I just got a telescope today and spotted your videos. You Da Man! You Da Man! Will use you every time for instructions and help.

Great! This is amazing! Thanks so much!

Amazingly helpful. Thank you!

So um, I had done an astronomy crash course about 5 years back. Wanted to get back into star gazing. Thanks for making this video. It is truly amazing

Very interesting. I have Star Chart for iPad, and have always knwon a BIT about Right Ascension and Declination, but now I understand it more.

I gotta apply practice thanks for this David.

oh wow, i can't believe I missed the "night sky part" .. i understand it now. thank you sooooo much!!.. more power to you!!!

Nice and simple. Now I can buy an Accurist Celestial watch, and begin by understanding the lines!

Thxs for your videos, I am a novice and just purchased my 1st telescope and I am clueless , but your videos are of grt help

Thank you David ! .nice videos !

Iv always loved space since i was a kid, its one of my main interests and i want to learn the constellations and how to star gaze thank you!

Good idea to outline the basics for beginners.

Loving the content

'Thankyou" for knowledge and video.

👍Your videos are very helpful and easy to understand. Thank you!

Excellent! I know what I'm doing tonight :D

Great video, thanks! Noticed that E and W are swapped in your visual that explains the zenith, ecliptic etc.?

All you explain is korrekt and we use it in this way.

You're welcome - glad they help! :-)

Greate work,like it.

You are the best... Keep it up...!

Excellent video!!!!

Excellent video, learning this stuff just for fun and taught a lot.

This is a great video.. Thanks

Couldn't be explained any clearer. Crisp and clean without assuming anything about the viewer which is a rarity!. Thank you for taking the time to make these. .

Hello Hello Happy Holidays! Thank you so much, wishing you the same. We hope this season ends on a joyful note and continues into a safe and prosperous New Year for you and your Family.

Hi David, your videos are amazing, they're helping me a lot for my astronomy class. One thing though, you said that the ecliptic is higher in the sky during winter and lower during summer... did you say that because you were in the south pole? I'm kind of confused.

fantastic! I teach Astronomy and your videos are great to prep and share.

This is great ! I studied physics some years ago but never had a chance to get into Astronomy. Now I'm hiking in the wilderness more and wanted to appreciate the night sky better. Question: Can I use the position of Polaris, to determine magnetic declination for normal daytime compass use ? Seems like one could do that.

Thank you. Very helpful.

Awesome video man

hello david, would you recommend me buying either of these for a beginner star gazer... Bushnell Barska Starwatcher 525X Reflector Telescope or Pacifica 10-30x50mm Zoom Binoculars ?

Hi sir any different in latitude when we measure it on sea and same on earth from north star

Enjoyed your explanations on telescopes. I did bump into a little serious Astronomy, after I created DIY Barlow Lens for a Dime, took some moon shots, now I am trying to observe crescent Venus with this...there is a bit of aberration issues. I should be able to resolve it I am sue. Do find my moon shot with my own DIY telescope and J6 plus mobile. Loved your channel, continue inspiring the world..........myself an architect, musician....!!!

your videos are fantastic!

Thank you for making this video

Absolutely fantastic

Great help! I'm going through an old stargazing book and its nice to have a little video to supplement

You're amazing!

Great video ty

It's a very useful video. Thanks :-)

being familiar with globe ( earth ) including longitude and latitude having basic idea of earth rotation and earth"s path around the sun and moons rotation around the earth I picked up on what you described as CELESTIAL SPHERE and the idea of ZENITH and fundamental movement in sky of stars and planets ( same as sun- E to W ) good basic lesson my next step is to understand declination and ascent later

Great Video

wow this is incredible

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Very informative and helpful. Thanks.

so how exactly do i calculate the suns position at any given hour using DEC-RA?

Super video❤️👍

Thank you! : )

"The ra and decl.s are always changing...how can they have fixed coordinates?" Because Earth is rotating. If you took a rocketship out into space and then sat, unmoving for example, the stars wouldn't move, but Earth would be rotating. So the RA and Dec only appear to change to us b/c EARTH moves (rotates/revolves) and we're along for the ride which causes the stars to rise/set, but they're actually fixed in their points in the sky. Make sense?

I LOVE YOU FOR THIS! You da bombbbb

You are very welcome - thank you for watching.

he reminds me of a friendly dad. I trust this man.

Very well explained! 😉

U great teacher🤟🏽

ok, i think i pretty much get it, but how do the coordinates of any object stay the same as the earth rotates? wouldnt they change since the coordinates are projected out from earth? thank you for the help

Thank you!

Super! Thanks

awesome vid...

GREAT 👍