Cosmic Voyage-The Online Resource for Amateur Astronomers

Backyard astronomy is an amazing hobby. A simple telescope reveals the greatest wonders of the universe. The Ring Nebula is a preview of the Sun's ultimate fate. An apparition of light called the Orion Nebula is a stellar nursery where young star systems are created. The Andromeda Galaxy is more than two million light-years distant and rivals our own Milky Way in size. Yet, this galaxy is visible to the naked eye as a faint smudge in the darkening sky of an October night. These and other celestial wonders await the beginning backyard astronomer. This section is devoted to helping you get started in the greatest hobby on Earth.

	Telescope Buyers' Guide Shopping for a backyard telescope can be a nightmare. There are more brands and more types of telescopes today than ever. The good news is that you can find the telescope that's just right for you. The nightmarish part is wading through a seeming ocean of possibilities. How do you pick the right telescope? This section leads you safely through the telescope-buying process.
	Collimation Made Easy Collimation may be the dirtiest word in amateur astronomy. Some folks fear collimation more than an IRS audit. It shouldn't be that way. Collimation is the key to getting the best images from your telescope and it's not that difficult. This section takes you step-by-step through the collimation process for Newtonian reflector and Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes using plain language and easy-to-understand illustrations. Get the most from your telescope. Collimate it!
	Star Test Your Telescope The star test is a simple, low tech way to "check under the hood" of your telescope. It can be done day or night and, like collimation, the star test is not nearly as mysterious as its reputation would suggest. This section shows you how to perform a star test, interpret the results and fine tune your telescope's optics.
	Polar Alignment Equatorial mounts get a bad rap. Some say they're too hard to setup and use. I guess they haven't read my polar alignment tips. It's easier than you might think. This section features an illustrated guide to polar aligning German equatorial and equatorial fork mounts.