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CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.

Beginners Forum (No astrophotography)

A place for new astronomers to ask visual observing or basic equipment questions and report their findings.
- Advanced or specialized topics should be discussed in their dedicated forums.
- Beginning astrophotographers should read, and then post, in whichever imaging forum is most appropriate to their subject.

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Topic	Stats	Last Post Info
Pinned Cloudy Nights, Introduce yourself! Started by nicknacknock , 18 Oct 2015 1 2 3 214 →	Hot 5,339 replies 185,473 views	Sualocin Today, 04:07 AM
Pinned Best of the Beginners' Forum & How-Tos Started by nicknacknock , 12 Apr 2016	6 replies 42,019 views	nicknacknock 12 Apr 2016
Pinned Beginners' Forum Rules (Please read this) Started by Ken Sturrock , 02 Apr 2016	0 replies 12,965 views	Ken Sturrock 02 Apr 2016
OneSky Newtonian - Astronomers without borders Started by jlandy , 23 May 2014 1 2 3 199 →	Hot 4,964 replies 759,515 views	MSimmons 08 Apr 2021
The Frugal Astronomer Started by eric_zeiner , 01 Feb 2010 1 2 3 42 →	Hot 1,040 replies 139,365 views	RussL 06 Jan 2021
How Old Are You??? Started by Jon Isaacs , 16 Apr 2006 1 2 3 26 →	Hot 648 replies 26,513 views	skyward_eyes 27 Jan 2008
Hardin 6" Dobs now $99 !!! Started by lighttrap , 16 Jun 2005 1 2 3 20 →	Hot 491 replies 21,405 views	Chris Schroeder 09 Jul 2005
What Scope(s) Do You Have?? Started by werewolf6977 , 21 Feb 2005 1 2 3 15 →	Hot 369 replies 69,033 views	BSeward 26 Apr 2009
Aperture vs. Dark Skies, Who is king? Started by Aperture Mask , 18 Nov 2017 equipment, observing, dso 1 2 3 15 →	Hot 358 replies 11,811 views	JayinUT 12 Dec 2017
What is Your Financial Investment for This Hobby? Started by sojourneyer , 16 Dec 2019 1 2 3 14 →	Hot 348 replies 13,238 views	spereira 25 Jun 2020
I'm buying the 14" RCX400, and NEED HELP! Started by rdjamieson , 25 May 2005 1 2 3 13 →	Hot 324 replies 17,235 views	Relativist 06 Nov 2005
Straight through vs. Right angle Started by FarmerWhite , 04 Apr 2017 1 2 3 13 →	Hot 300 replies 9,531 views	Ken Sturrock 16 Apr 2017
How and when did you get interested in astronomy? Started by Connor Walls , 02 Mar 2011 1 2 3 12 →	Hot 291 replies 28,713 views	SpaceWatcher 09 Feb 2014
Please help: 102mm APO or 152mm ACHRO ? Started by NeilL. , 16 Dec 2017 beginner, optics, refractor and 1 more... 1 2 3 12 →	Hot 290 replies 10,589 views	Ken Sturrock 20 Aug 2018
Has astronomy become too elitist? Started by James Paulson , 16 Jul 2011 1 2 3 10 →	Hot 244 replies 12,204 views	frolinmod 26 Jul 2011
End of the "Star Party" Started by mak17 , 31 Aug 2011 1 2 3 10 →	Hot 238 replies 11,096 views	Jon Isaacs 09 Sep 2011
Very Portable Telescope for Urban/Suburban Skies Started by bhamdhw , 31 Jan 2014 1 2 3 10 →	Hot 238 replies 11,422 views	Chaz659 24 Feb 2014
Why do Maks have such a bad rep? Started by jgroub , 20 Nov 2014 Maksutov, refractor 1 2 3 10 →	Hot 230 replies 18,924 views	Ken Sturrock 28 Aug 2017
What I Saw Last Night Started by Joad , 30 Apr 2006 1 2 3 10 →	Hot 228 replies 12,143 views	mblack 21 Feb 2007
some things people say Started by SGT500 , 16 Jan 2007 1 2 3 10 →	Hot 226 replies 8,232 views	cpsTN 09 Oct 2007
3" APO vs 10" SCT vs 5" MAK first light comparison Started by Guest_DONOTDELETE_* , 05 Jul 2005 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 221 replies 8,568 views	Guest_DONOTDELETE_* 20 Jul 2005
Dobson Choice for Newbie (and Q's) Started by Agrajag , 06 Feb 2020 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 218 replies 4,869 views	Agrajag 16 Apr 2020
Nexstar 102 GT Started by ja313 , 15 Sep 2012 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 217 replies 52,507 views	newtoskies 24 Nov 2013
True, but confusing, astronomy facts Started by snorkler , 06 Nov 2007 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 214 replies 12,411 views	snorkler 05 Jan 2008
Question: What is wrong with GoTo for new amateur astronomers? Started by aeajr , 26 Sep 2015 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 211 replies 8,534 views	Ken Sturrock 02 Oct 2015
Astronomy: a dying hobby and what to do about it! Started by jrbarnett , 13 Oct 2010 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 207 replies 11,012 views	BugsInSpace 21 Oct 2010
I want to see details of planets on a low budget Started by ryansmonacles20 , 11 Aug 2020 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 205 replies 6,344 views	Mr_K 26 Aug 2020
Learning the hard way, but determined to learn Started by Goldengirl52 , 16 Jul 2020 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 200 replies 3,584 views	Goldengirl52 25 Jul 2020
First telescope...what you wish you'd known Started by 4thpage , 12 Sep 2017 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 192 replies 9,847 views	Roger Corbett 15 Oct 2017
How to Locate Some of the Major Messier Galaxies and Helpful Advice for Novice Amateur Astronomers Started by Dave Mitsky , 12 Jan 2012 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 185 replies 94,050 views	Dave Mitsky 03 Apr 2021
Beginner looking for first scope Started by a5ehren , 23 Mar 2014 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 185 replies 6,427 views	a5ehren 30 Mar 2014
"How much did that cost?" Started by steve-in-kville , 31 Mar 2013 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 183 replies 7,963 views	geekgroupie 17 Apr 2013
Help! Trying to set up my new 8inch dobsonian and can't figure out how to align viewfinder or collimate Started by SeliseO25 , 29 Nov 2020 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 180 replies 3,867 views	Asbytec 01 Jan 2021
I don't get astroimaging and I am not trying to be rude Started by jayhall0315 , 29 Oct 2014 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 179 replies 10,027 views	Ken Sturrock 26 Apr 2016
Achromats & Apochromats - Cutting Past The Hype Started by rsimpkins , 24 Apr 2014 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 177 replies 7,332 views	LDW47 02 May 2014
Telescope = Time Machine ??? Started by Guest_DONOTDELETE_* , 05 Dec 2004 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 175 replies 8,398 views	jrcrilly 10 Dec 2004
My first scope Started by newtoskies , 27 Jul 2012 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 174 replies 9,049 views	newtoskies 09 Aug 2012
Seeing galaxies with a refractor Started by microwerx , 12 Apr 2016 beginner, refractor, mount 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 173 replies 12,899 views	$Seeing galaxies with a refractor - last post by View2$ View2 28 May 2016
Why a dob? Started by Island , 19 Feb 2007 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 173 replies 7,460 views	miniventures 24 Feb 2007
12 inch Dob "Life time scope"? Started by Spockk , 26 Mar 2017 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 172 replies 15,105 views	Tank 02 Jan 2019
Some REALLY great deals on Skywatcher scopes Started by N7XW , 22 May 2010 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 169 replies 15,503 views	mwedel 24 Jun 2010
Anti GoTo Preachers Started by jonnyastro , 22 Mar 2007 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 167 replies 6,931 views	desertstars 23 Mar 2007
Why are dovetails so expensive? Started by Seldom , 18 Nov 2013 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 165 replies 8,011 views	WOBentley 25 Nov 2013
First scope: Zhumell Z130 Started by MathewM , 17 Jul 2016 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 160 replies 12,002 views	BigC 21 Aug 2016
Post a picture of your observing site Started by Randy Spiker , 11 Mar 2007 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 159 replies 13,522 views	Randy Spiker 22 Mar 2009
What was Your First Telescope? Started by Den25 , 21 Jun 2014 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 157 replies 10,287 views	Arthur L 18 Jan 2015
CONFUSED BEGINNER & NEED HELP PLEASE Started by Yegob2011 , 15 Aug 2017 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 155 replies 6,328 views	Starman1 26 Dec 2017
Safety At Night Started by yatindalvi , 11 Sep 2013 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 154 replies 10,199 views	Tony Flanders 01 Nov 2014
Need help choosing a first telescope with a limited budget Started by MichaelBird , 08 Jul 2015 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 154 replies 5,936 views	Sky Muse 31 Jul 2015
To Intelliscope or Not to Intelliscope? Started by jrbarnett , 15 Oct 2010 1 2 3 7 →	Hot 152 replies 22,980 views	Celestronian 02 Jul 2011