The only way to see the objects depicted in those wonderful photographs in text books and on websites is to own a telescope and a CCD or other type of camera. To see small details in the moon, and to view cloud patterns of Jupiter, a telescope is required.

A large number of open and globular star clusters and a few galaxies are within reach of a nice pair of binoculars. However, it is important to know that you can enjoy several aspects of our night sky using only your eyes.

The term "naked-eye" means simply using only your eyes to view a celestial event; and there are a good number to choose from.

Solar and lunar eclipses as well as our moon are well within reach of our eyes. We can even look for meteors, satellites and iridium flares. Aurora can fill the sky of the extreme northern and/or southern latitudes, and there are even a few celestial objects that are also with 'eyes' reach.