AstroStar/ShutterstockAutumn can feel bittersweet. The nights are drawing in quickly, and spending time outdoors becomes less appealing. For stargazers, however, the longer nights bring more opportunities to explore the sky. Read more: Day and night aren’t equal length on an equinox – here’s why But where to start? Perhaps the August 2026 solar eclipse caught your imagination, or you’ve been curious for years. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with information, and not all of it reliable; an over-hyped news story, or a disappointing experience with a toy telescope. Here are seven steps to help avoid that kind of discouragement.1. Take things step by stepFamiliarity with the night sky is something that grows over time, but you can begin with a few reference points. The Plough (part of a larger constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear) points you to Polaris, the North Star. As the Earth rotates, the Plough appears to circle around Polaris throughout the night. The Plough, along with the W-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, are both circumpolar: from the UK, they remain above the horizon throughout the year and can be seen in every season (weather permitting).As winter approaches, look southwards for Orion. Find the three stars that make up his “belt”, and the “sword” that hangs from it — this contains the Orion Nebula, a stellar nursery in which new stars are being formed. Once you’ve gotten your bearings, you can then build on your knowledge. But you don’t have to go it alone. There are plenty of websites and apps like Stellarium which can help you learn about constellations. 2. Find a local astronomical societyThis is how I started out as a teenager. There is probably a society near you. The Go Stargazing website can help you find one. Most societies will offer public events where you can try out equipment and be shown around the night sky. No prior knowledge or investment in kit is required.Experiencing telescopes in action will help you learn the fundamentals better than any textbook. And it will give you a much better idea of what you’d want out of a telescope for yourself. 3. Don’t rush into buying your first telescopeThis can kill your new hobby before you’ve barely started. Too basic a setup, and you’ll be disappointed in the results. Too advanced, and you’ll have spent a lot of money on something that’s over-engineered for what you need. There are many aspects to consider. Are you aiming to stargaze from your garden, or escape to darker skies? The sturdiest telescope mounts – better for keeping a steady view at higher magnification – are cumbersome to transport. Read more: Want to buy a home telescope? Tips from a professional astronomer to help you choose In recent years smart telescopes have risen in popularity, forging an accessible route into deep-sky astrophotography. But they have limitations. They do well at capturing galaxies and nebulae, but their compact optics mean they often aren’t well-suited to capturing images of planets. A pair of binoculars can be a cheaper way to start investing in equipment. 4. Manage your expectationsThe real sky looks different to photographs. Long exposures gather light over minutes or hours, so nebulae in pictures show colours your eyes won’t detect. Meteor showers don’t light up the sky all at once (you can expect the occasional streak, but you have to be patient). You can help your eyes pick up fainter things by helping adjust them to the dark. Your eyes begin adapting to darkness within minutes, with your night vision continuing to improve over the next 20-30 minutes. Keep screens away and use a red torch if you need light. You can also try averting your vision – looking slightly to one side of a faint object can make it easier to see. 5. Find the best conditionsThe amount of sky you can see at any one time depends on your location. Light pollution — the glow in the sky caused by streetlamps and other artificial lights — drowns out light from the stars. You don’t need a remote site to get started, but the further you are away from light, the more you will see. Carefully assess where you may want to stargaze for your safety. It may sound obvious, but the dark will increase your chances of slipping or falling over, so have a quick check for anything you might trip over. If you’re stargazing by yourself, it’s a good idea to let someone know where you’ll be and how long you’re planning to stay out for. Some of the sharpest views of the skies come on clear, crisp winter nights. With fewer clouds to trap heat, these nights can also be particularly cold, so make sure you wrap up warm. 6. Sync up with the moonThe full moon may be spectacular, but it’s generally not the best time within the 29.5 days of a lunar cycle to stargaze.A full moon is opposite the sun in the sky, and therefore will rise around the time the sun sets, leading to a whole night where the sky is drowned out by moonlight. It’s also a bad time to try to view the moon itself in a telescope — not only is it uncomfortably bright, but it’s harder to see the detail. Optimal lunar observation occurs when the terminator (the line marking light from dark) can highlight the rugged lunar terrain of craters. 7. Enjoy the momentI have the immense privilege of working as an astrophysicist, using observations of the universe to help us understand its nature. This isn’t necessarily as glamorous as it sounds, and mostly consists of sitting at my laptop. But in recent years I’ve tried to go back to my roots and spend more time trying to connect with the cosmos. There is nothing quite like looking directly at the sky and knowing the starlight I see has travelled such vast distances for me to witness. The Andromeda Galaxy, which is the most distant celestial phenomena you can see by eye, is 2.5 million light years away. The stars are for everyone. I believe everyone is an astronomer in their heart. We just need to stop and take it in.Emma L Alexander receives funding from STFC for her research. She is also affiliated with Go Stargazing.