If you have a telescope and don't already belong to an amateur astronomical organization, you ought to join one—not only to make new friends and swap ideas, but also to get help and advice if you need it, and to keep yourself posted on developments in your particular areas of astronomical interest.

By far, the largest national organization of amateur astronomers in the United States is the Astronomical League (AL), whose member clubs hold annual and regional conventions at which amateurs talk shop and exchange useful ideas. The AL is composed of scores of local amateur astronomical clubs and groups, totaling thousands of individuals. In Canada, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) has around 5000 members with centers in most large cities.

Many astronomy clubs also schedule field trips.

In any club, you'll find that what one person lacks in telescope skills is usually made up by another member. One person might know the sky well and can suggest targets, while another can help with the setup, and so on. Don't go it alone—the stars offer solitude, to be sure, but observing with another person will often be yield more rewards than two people observing independently. In almost all cases, two heads (or more) really are better than one!

If you own a telescope, but are experiencing problems with it, there is no better place to go than an astronomy club. Besides, there is also the camaraderie of spending time with other people from different walks of life, all who share the same love for the nighttime sky.