Welcome to my introductory astronomy lectures! I’m excited to guide you on this fascinating journey into the hobby of amateur astronomy. All you need to start is a dark location and some time. Observational astronomy is about escaping city lights to enjoy the vastness of the night sky, where you might see stars, the Moon, or even a comet. For beginners, finding the teapot shape of Sagittarius and other constellations can be a thrilling start. Stars, planets, and celestial objects have unique coordinates in the sky defined by the horizontal coordinate system, based on altitude (height from horizon) and azimuth (angle along the horizon). Using software like Stellarium helps visualize these coordinates from different locations on Earth. This system, however, varies with observer location and time, making it more practical for local observation rather than distant communication. Understanding the horizontal coordinate system prepares you for exploring the night sky and finding celestial objects relative to your position. Delve into astronomy by familiarizing yourself with constellations, as it’s the next step in learning to communicate star locations effectively. By watching all the videos in this series, you’ll effectively complete a full undergraduate course in astronomy. Enjoy your journey through the cosmos!