Over the years I have often heard people comment about how much they are interested in the glorious heavens, or how pretty the cosmos is, or how things like comets and supernovae and galaxies seem to pique their curiosities. But that's it. They go no further in any quest to find out more. Most often it is because they are too busy or are intimidated by the high level of thinking supposedly required to "get into it."

Well, that all has to stop. Investing even a small amount of time at the simplest levels of astronomy will help one begin to understand the cosmos and seed answers to the great questions of why we are here and where we are going.

Since this is the season that we celebrate the coming of a new year, and often resolve to change something in that coming year, I thought it might suit us all well to commit to trying a few astronomical things this year; simple things to help one get going in an investigation into the workings of the universe. Here are a few ideas.

Idea #1: Get thee to a star party. There are astronomy clubs willing to let you attend one of their evening gatherings of star gazing which are often open to the public. Let a "backyard astronomer" - a person without a Ph.D. but who often knows the skies better than one who has one - show you the skies. The Moon, the planets, nebulae, star clusters are all out there for the taking. Take a trip through the skies with them.

Idea #2: Resolve this year to look through a telescope. Probably someone you know owns one. Of course, a star party is filled with them. And telescope stores like Oceanside Photo and Telescope often have them set up in front. Take your family out and take a look; it's addicting.

Idea #3: Subscribe for just a year to a magazine like Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. More and more, these image-filled magazines are catering to the layman in all things heavenly. And after a year you will be "in the loop" regarding the latest in astronomical hot topics.

Idea #4: Latch on to one of those astronomy calendars. Inside you will not just find great pictures, but dates marking important events throughout the year, like meteor showers and planetary alignments.

Idea #5: Check out sites like hubblesite.org and Astronomy Picture of the Day. Websites like these are more than jaw-dropping eye candy. They also explain what those intriguing images are all about, and help get the curiosity juices a-flowin'.

Those are just five quick suggestions for how you can start wading deeper into this amazing world of astronomy. There are plenty more. Start wherever you will - but start.
Until next time, clear skies - and the happiest of new years!