Happy New Year

[alchurch]

My name is Alan, I guess I am the newest of the newbies . My son knew I had an awe and love of starry skies and so got my my first scope for xmas. The  steep learning wall ( or is it really a curve) starts here 

[Mr Spock]

Hi Alan, welcome to SGL Happy New Year to you too.

[swag72]

Hi Alan and welcome to SGL - This is a great place, so take your time and enjoy it! Remember that none of us were born knowing any of this stuff

Look forward to seeing you around

[Scott]

hi Alan and welcome to sgl. take your time, try not to get flustered and remember....this is a hobby. We do it for fun (hard to remember sometimes ) . 

[Ruud]

Hello Alan. Welcome to the SGL.

One way to get to know your telescope better is to practice a bit on distant terrestrial targets. And a priceless (it's free) tool to find astronomical targets is the planetarium program Stellarium.

Which telescope do you have?

Best wishes!

[PeterCPC]

Hello and welcome.

Peter

[Floater]

hi Alan and welcome to sgl. take your time, try not to get flustered and remember....this is a hobby. We do it for fun (hard to remember sometimes ) .

Welcome, Alan. Scott's post says it all ... have fun.

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL. Have a very Happy New Year learning the night sky with your new scope.

[JamesM]

Hi Alan and welcome to the forum. It is a curve trust me, but rather a flat one!  Astronomy isn't difficult, it's just that there rather a lot of it but you've got a lifetime to explore the subject and that's half the fun. Given the number of discoveries that we are now able to make and how this helps change our understanding of the cosmos, in reality we are all beginners really so you're in good company by joining us all here!

Wishing you clear skies for your new scope and hope you enjoy your stay here.

[michigander]

Welcome to SGL, Alan!

Dana

[glowjet]

Hi Alan and welcome to SGL, enjoy the forum

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire

[Vox45]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Clear skies !

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi Alan, welcome.

[seo]

Hi Alan, welcome aboard.   

[Charon]

Welcome aboard from me too.

[triton1]

Hi there and welcome to SGL and happy new year to you.

[Hitman77]

Hi - don't worry, I have been observing for only a year and it gets much easier. Stellarium is a free bit of invaluable software to figure out what targets you can go for of an evening. Also a star map and Turn Left At Orion were really useful as was joining a local astronomy club or society. Good luck and happy hunting

Andy