Astronomy is the scientific study of universe and the objects in it. Moons, stars, planets, nebulas, galaxies, comets and everything you can see on a dark night are all part of the astronomical realm.

There is a big difference between astronomy and astrology. Astronomers explore the science of the Universe. Astrologers monitor how the moon, sun, planets and stars are related to life and events on Earth. Astrology is based on the belief that the heavenly bodies form patterns and shapes that can reveal a person's character or future.

Figure out what your observing priorities will be before you buy. Some telescopes are better for planetary viewing (reflectors, refractors), while others offer improved light gathering capabilities and are perfect for observing stars, galaxies and nebulas (dobsonians, schmidt-cassegrains).

Halos appear when ice crystals in the atmosphere refract incoming sunlight and moonlight. On especially cold days and nights, sharp and colourful peaks of light can appear on either side of a halo. These are commonly known as sundogs or moondogs.

There are countless astronomical objects you can discover with a pair of binoculars or even your naked eye. Watch the aurora borealis, track the phases of the moon, record the rise and set times of constellations, count the number of shooting stars during a meteor shower or follow the position of the planets along the ecliptic – all fun astronomical exercises that don't require a telescope.

The Sun isn't just a daily visitor to our skies, it's an integral part of our existence. The Sun is one of over 100 million stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The Sun is about 25,000 light years from the centre of the the Milky Way galaxy and 150 million kilometres from Earth. We observe solar activity to help us predict auroras and prevent damage to satellites caused by the solar wind. The Sun was born 4.6 billion years ago and will remain in its current state for another 5 billion years. Powered by nuclear fusion, it is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium atoms.

The moon has dark and light areas easily visible from Earth. The dark areas are ancient lava flows, the result of a violent period in the moon's history 3.5 billion years ago. The light areas are rugged highlands, remnants of the moon's outer crust.

An easy way to find planets in the sky is to first find the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the apparent path of the sun across the sky. The moon and planets follow roughly the same path. The band of constellations located near this path is called the zodiac.