Astronomy is the oldest of the sciences, and so amateur astronomy may very well be the oldest of the scientific hobbies. Human fascination with the heavens is timeless and has an appeal that's hard to describe. Stargazing is intellectual as well as aesthetic. It combines the thrill of exploring new realms of knowledge with the delight of appreciating new spheres of beauty.

With all this in mind, we present a step-by-step guide to help you maximize your skywatching efforts. It is geared to help beginners, but also offers useful tips that even seasoned stargazers will find helpful.

At the end, we have also included a small sampling of books you can consult on various aspects of stargazing with the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes. But first, here are the Steps to Rewarding Stargazing...