The MoonshotMastery Academy
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SHELF I · NAKED EYE

“Everyone says buy binoculars before a telescope, but I do not know what to point them at.”

Binocular Astronomy from a British Back Garden

What the numbers on a pair of binoculars mean, how to hold them steady, and a year of targets you can find from a suburban garden: star clusters, double stars, the Moon and the brightest galaxy in the northern sky.

The silhouette of a person raising binoculars to a starry sky above a low horizon

What you will be able to do

  1. Choose a pair of binoculars that suits your eyes and your sky
  2. Find and recognise open clusters, double stars and the Andromeda Galaxy
  3. Plan a binocular session around the Moon and light pollution

Night log: the units

  1. UNIT 01 Reading the numbers on binoculars 6 lessons · 1 h
  2. UNIT 02 Holding steady and adapting to the dark 5 lessons · 50 min
  3. UNIT 03 The Moon through binoculars 6 lessons · 1 h
  4. UNIT 04 Clusters and double stars 8 lessons · 1 h 20 min
  5. UNIT 05 Galaxies and nebulae worth the effort 6 lessons · 1 h
  6. UNIT 06 Light pollution and planning a session 5 lessons · 50 min

What is included

  • Choosing binoculars: aperture, magnification, exit pupil and weight explained without a sales pitch
  • Steadying tricks from a garden chair to a simple mount
  • Forty binocular targets in season order, each found on screen from a bright star
  • Questions at the end of every unit, answered on screen
  • 18 months of streaming access

Who it suits

Beginners who own binoculars, or are about to buy a pair, and want a list of things to see.

Questions about this course

What do I need before I start?

Your eyes, Binoculars. Nothing has to be bought in advance: the course opens with what to choose and why.

How long will it take me?

There are 36 lessons, 6 h of video in all. At about 2 hours a week that is roughly 3 weeks, but the pace is yours: clear nights decide more than the calendar.

How long can I watch it, and is there a tutor?

You can stream every lesson for 18 months from when access starts. The lessons are recorded: there is no live tutor and no marking, and the videos cannot be downloaded.

Pairs well with