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1. What can I see?

This depends on what you are looking for and where you are looking from, many people who live in the cities are completely unaware that there are millions of stars visible in the sky - they just don't notice them, this has more than a little to do with the fact that most cities are ablaze with light and therefore mask the existence of all but the brightest stars. Light pollution is the Astronomers worst enemy, and over the last couple of decades, has become a real problem in suburban areas, and sadly, just about anyone can go into a DIY store and for only a few pounds emerge clutching a 500W searchlight which they then bolt to the garage or shed and light up three gardens in either direction. People who become interested in astronomy are often amazed when they go to a dark site and look up and see a dark sky for the first time, many of them don't realize there are so many stars in the sky.

2. Do I need a Huge telescope

No, you can see lots with the naked eye if you know what to look for and where to look. A basic astronomy book or star chart may be all you need to get you off to a good start in astronomy, the main thing is the desire to learn more about the night sky and the universe in which we all live. A good pair of Binoculars are a good buy if you are on a budget, and even if you do intend to purchase a telescope eventually, a pair of binoculars will not be wasted. Binoculars usually have a much wider field of view than telescopes and this is much better for scanning across the sky and looking at the Milky Way, starfields etc. There are many objects that show up well in binoculars even from suburban areas.

3. How much do I need to spend?

A favourite question asked by would be astronomers this, and the answer is generally "as much or as little as you want" - when you go to an observing session for the first time, you will likely see some pretty expensive gear, however most people have built up their arsenal of equipment over many years, and you really don't need to rush out and spend a fortune to get started as pointed out in (2) above. Obviously, if you have a few grand you don't know what to do with, then you could go out and buy a massive telescope and a box or two of eyepieces and filters, but buying a telescope is something that requires a bit of thought and most astronomers will tell you to wait and find out exactly what you want from astronomy before parting with your hard earned cash. Having said all that, many people get telescopes for Xmas, and these are rarely of large aperture but still serve to generate an interest in astronomy which can't be a bad thing - In fact that's exactly how I started 40 years ago with a tiny 40mm diameter telescope, it had a fixed eyepiece and a rickety stand, but it gave me an interest that has stayed with me all my life.

4. Will I see any flying saucers?

Hmmm…….funny, but you might be surprised how often that question is asked by passers by whilst we are observing. Very often there are objects visible moving across the sky that are obviously not aircraft, but these can be communications satellites, space debris, and the space station or shuttle can be seen if their orbits are passing overhead. Sometimes we see things that we can't explain, but that's all part of the fun! As for little green men….well, this is purely science fiction, most of them are actually either blue or grey…………………….;>)