Autumn 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 step

Familiarity 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........

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