Astronomy is the oldest of the sciences, and so amateur astronomy may very well be the oldest of the scientific hobbies. Human fascination with the heavens is timeless, having an incommunicable appeal. Stargazing is intellectual as well as aesthetic. It combines the thrill of exploring new realms of knowledge with the delight of appreciating new spheres of beauty.

All this in mind, we present this 10-step guide to help you maximize your skywatching efforts. It is geared to help beginners but offers useful tips for seasoned stargazers, too.

To the question, "Why stargaze?" the responses of many echoed that of Margo Centabar of West Islip, NY: "Stargazing has always been a source of therapy for me. When my children were little and I finally got them all to bed I would go outside for an hour or so with my plainisphere, binoculars and my $20 cardboard telescope on a wooden mount. All the tiredness and tension of the day would drop off like leaves from a tree."

At the end of this article, we have also included a small sampling of books to consult on various aspects of stargazing with the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes. But first, 10 Steps to Rewarding Stargazing:

Even if you live in an urban area, try to find a location that offers you as wide a view of the sky as possible, free from obstructions such as tall buildings.

Of course there is still the problem of light pollution from excessive or misdirected outdoor lighting. Sadly, in many large metropolitan areas, it is becoming increasingly difficult to trace out even a simple star pattern like the Big Dipper. So city dwellers might improve a night's efforts traveling to a darker location. You might only have to travel 15 or 20 minutes ... or perhaps as much as an hour or two.

If you live in a suburban or rural location, you'll still want to find as dark a spot as possible, away from bright lights. Even turning off the back porch light can help. Using a building to block someone else's bright lights can be effective, too.