Astronomy - How I Began My Journey Through the Stars

Image Credits: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161120.html

By: Adrianna Deptuła

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[ Note: This blog includes underlined hyperlinks that lead to their direct sources.]

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Hey! Have you ever felt that weird feeling of excitement but unnerving urge to learn something because you're just lost and don’t know where to start? That’s exactly how it was for me with Astronomy; a field that seems so distant, yet over time, it has become more and more relevant and fascinating. I started in an unusual way; it all began with the Moon and the Sun, specifically eclipses. When I was in elementary school, there was a partial solar eclipse visible in Poland and we observed it through special glasses. I still remember how fun it was to watch that phenomenon! Today, I dream of exploring the universe: where its boundaries lie, how many undiscovered stars, black holes, and other things are still out there. I love reading and listening about space! But let’s get to the most important part, how to learn astronomy in an interesting way.

JUST WATCH THE KNOWLEDGE.

Firstly, my favorite resources are YouTube channels! I wish someone would tell me that before searching for hours for the perfect source. I would say we are lucky enough to have many of them. The places are random, and it does not mean that it is the best YouTube channel.

1. Nocne Niebo (Night Sky)

   - I love that guy. I know it is in Polish, but you can just translate it, so I think there is no problem with that. I like him because he used to do live transmissions every evening during fall and winter. 

   
   

2. AstroLife 

   - I love the way he speaks and the way he tries to make sure that the knowledge he is talking about is easy to understand. I also admire him for the way he creates his social media and creating so many interesting videos explaining normal situations on the sky for children.

   
   

3. CrashCourse

   - Especially the Universe Podcast and Astronomy Playlist, this channel is about everything literally: Native American History, Political Theory, Art History, Religions, Sex Education, Outbreak Science, Physics, and Astronomy. I really like the method and the way they try to explain something. I would say their targets are young high school students and college students. Not only that, but I think you need to try it, and ask yourself if you like the way they learn.

   
   

4. History of The Universe 

   - This YouTube channel has everything, but they specialize in the history of space. I really like their films, but I will be honest with you guys. I do not have time for their films, so I hardly ever watched them. 

   
   

5. Fraser Cain

   - My favorite one to just relax on busy evenings; Astronomy facts in a really easy way to understand (after school it will be the best option); I really like the way he sorts the film; and I love his description below every YouTube video. His voice is cozy and makes me relax even more.

   
   

OR READ ABOUT IT :)

The next source I really admire are online e-books. There are plenty of them, but in my opinion the best is Astronomy 2e, available on OpenStax. The next way to learn more about astronomy is to read some articles about space published by NASA, ESA, Astronomy Magazine, or other fantastic magazines like National Geographic. I usually use AI also, but I need to say that if you do not know how to use it ethically, do not use it. I really admire NotebookLM, because it is not a normal AI at all. If you link to its sources about astronomy, it can create mind maps, podcasts, courses, or just you can talk with him about it. Also, I just really used to google or search something on Wikipedia to find the perfect answer to my question.

So as you see, it is not that hard to learn about astronomy!

See you soon,

Ada.

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About the author: Hi! My name is Adrianna Deptuła, but friends call me Ada. I am from Poland, and I really love astronomy and astrophysics. One day, I want to be an astronaut or planetary scientist! In my free time, I love hiking in mountains, solving puzzles, spending time with my friends, and watching TV series and movies.