Astronomy can be a rewarding experience and the first time you see something in the solar system close up can be unforgettable, but how do you get started? I will give you some tips for getting into astronomy as a hobby.
Astronomy as A Hobby
First, let's define our meaning of astronomy as a hobby. Most amateur astronomers are doing it as a hobby. Astronomy is a science and can be studied and lead to a career, for this article, we are talking about backyard and amateur astronomy by people who are not looking at their astronomy as a career option.
Maybe you like to travel and have decided to take a telescope and observe the night sky from the locations you visit. Some people want to set up a telescope at home to gaze at the night sky on a clear evening. These are common examples of amateur astronomy by people doing this as a hobby.
Getting into Astronomy
There are many ways to get started with astronomy. Astronomy in its simplest form is looking up at the sky, usually at night and observing what is there. Enjoy it, let it in and you will be hooked, believe me, we have all been there.
So now you know you love doing this and are addicted, where do you go next?
Many people will buy a telescope, which is a good idea, but remember to get yourself a star chart app or one of those cardboard star charts if you are into paper and cardboard gizmos. However you prefer to do it, I recommend you start becoming familiar with what you are looking at, and where the brighter stars are from your location to help you later on when you want to do more advanced things like astrophotography and make things easier overall.
I said before. get a telescope, why a telescope and not binoculars? Well, you can start with binoculars if you want but try holding binoculars still enough to see objects in the sky. These can result in having sore arms because you can't hold the binoculars still enough to see a nice view of the cosmos. Then you will know why a telescope on a stable tripod makes more sense.
Now the big question is what telescope do you get? Oh, ok did you come here for this answer? Well, this depends on what you want to do, your budget, how much space you have and more. But you can ask people for their opinions in the astronomy forums and they can advise you. I could tell you some random options but to get the best recommendation you should ask people and tell them what you are hoping to achieve, a rough budget, and if you are looking for portability for travel.
As you get more experience your interest may grow and you may decide to try astrophotography. Keep in mind that stargazing and astrophotography are very different types of astronomy and require different equipment so make sure you know what you want to do when you are asking for help.
Joining an Astronomy Community
You can join a local astronomy club and attend open nights of institutes of science that have astronomy nights because this can help educate you about the hobby and what other people are doing. You can also use these to share your experience with others.
For a global outreach, I recommend you join the astronomy community forums here at Astronomers Hub. No bias. But seriously, look at the amazing astronomy discussions being held here. This is a great resource open to all astronomers, including people who are just beginning to get into astronomy as a hobby.