Hopefully you just received a big "fat" tax refund check and you are ready to buy some new night time viewing equipment. Otherwise, like most, you ended up owing and you decided you will need to wait to buy that new telescope until later in the year.  Either way, here is an article that will save some pennies for those that owe, or let you use just a small amount of that refund towards a couple pieces of essential night time viewing equipment.  Essential that is, if you are in a lazy mood and don't feel like hauling and setting up that complicated scope!

You had a rough and long 10 hour day at the grind. After spending an hour in traffic you finally make it home in one piece.  You open your old abodes door only to find that Delmar the dog has eagerly awaited your arrival. As mans best friend is know best for, he happily and excitedly greets you at the door.  "How did you get out, Delmar?", you ask.  You quickly realize that Delmar has cleverly escaped his kennel and in order to occupy his time until your arrival, he tore up the most recent edition of your favorite astronomy magazine (please read fine print below).  And sure enough, he then used it to relieve himself. (I'm speaking from experience here.)  You step outside the back porch to let Delmar out and you can't help but notice what a perfect night it is.  It's towards the end of the winter season with an unseasonably comfortable temperature outside.   Neither cloud or moon can be found, as if the heavens are playing tricks on you due to the fact that the stars alone radiate just enough light in order to cast a faint shadow through the leafless trees. "Why tonight?", you say to yourself.  "Tonight of all nights, it has to be perfect out.", you answer back.  You know you would love to set the scope up, but after the day you have had, you don't feel like doing anything but sitting on the couch, and reading your favorite wet and torn astronomy magazine.

If that paragraph even remotely describes or reminds you of a similar experience you have had, then please read on. It's days like that where you need a relaxing and easy night out of heavenly viewing.  With two basics pieces of equipment added to your arsenal, you will find that you are able to spend more time outside at night, especially for those days that have been long and hard on you.  Okay, alright.  Enough of the small talk.  Here is the list:

1 - Reclining lawn chair.
2 - Pair of "low-cost" binoculars.
3 - (Optional) Starbucks coffee or beverage of choice.

Pair of 'low-cost' binoculars

Most serious astronomers have and use a pair of binoculars often for their viewing.  The most serious astronomers advise novice astronomers against getting a telescope before you have purchased and used binoculars first.  Using binoculars is an easy way to learn the night sky.  Binoculars are also easier to use than most telescopes.  They generally have a wider field of view, and are easier to aim.  You can view all sorts of wonders with a nice pair of binoculars.  This list includes but definitely isn't limited to:

• Moon craters and surface features
• Gas Clouds
• Galaxies
• The moons of Jupiter
• Double Stars
• Orbiting Satellites
• Your next door neighbors
  

I enclosed the word "low-cost" with quotes to explain that I mean low-cost comparatively speaking to that of other astronomical viewing equipment. Notice that I didn't use the word "cheap".  There is a major difference between low-cost and cheap.  On-line auction sites will have thousands of no-name binoculars for under ten dollars.  Be weary of no-name binoculars.   Cheap optics and some of those 'special coatings' can actually inhibit your night-time viewing.  Wal-Mart sure is the one-stop shop.  I purchased a nice pair of Bushnell 12x50mm binoculars for around $50.00. 

Reclining Lawn Chair

There's not much to say here.  You know what I'm talking about.  Go to your local Wal-Mart and pick out the cadillac of reclining lawn chairs.  This time of season, your local Wal-Mart probably already has a nice selection laid out for the much anticipated arrival of Spring.  Even the cadillac of lawn chairs shouldn't put you out much more than twenty dollars.  Just make sure that it's comfortable enough to lay down in for hours at a time.  Your gonna love this type of heavenly viewing, and will easily find the time slipping by fast; a lot faster than that long and hard day of work you just had.

Instructions

If you are really feeling lazy, the lawn chair and binoculars are all you need.  I do recommend a star chart if at all possible.  A night out is always a chance for a learning experience, and reading the star chart will help you easily locate your desired object.  Of course if you are feeling serious, take the pad of paper and pencil to document and sketch your finds.  You will really find your documentation useful in the future.  And for those rainy spring nights, it's always interesting to read through your journal and realize just how interesting your nights have been.

You don't own a star-chart?  Just google around. 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=starcharts&btnG=Google+Search

Need to find interesting objects to view with your binoculars?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=star+viewing+with+binoculars&btnG=Search

Need to figure out how to potty train your Pug Dog?  Let me know what works for you!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=potty+training+pug+dogs&btnG=Search



Fine Print:  Side note for the animal activists.  In short, I would like to comment that portions of this article were slightly exaggerated due to my wonderfully dry sarcastic sense of humor.  Delmar, nor any of my pets have had to stay home 10 hours without being let out of their kennels in-between.  The author of this article in no way insinuates that you should leave your pet unattended for extended amounts of time.