The Fine Art of Observing The challenge of astronomy is that we must view most of the universe from extremely far away. But when it comes to distant stars and galaxies, we're stuck where we are. So, ever since the dawn of telescopic astronomy, the art of observing has been the art of using your eye to the utmost of its ability. When looking through the telescope, focus and refocus with care. A good observer is always fiddling with the focus, trying to get it just a hair sharper.
Many people find it best to keep both eyes open, since squinting strains the working eye.
Don't expect to see right away everything an astronomical object has to offer. The first look always shows less than comes out with continued scrutiny. This is true whether your subject is a dim galaxy that can hardly be told from the blackness of space, or detail on the Moon or a planet where the light is almost blindingly bright. One reason it takes time to see detail is the unsteadiness of the Earth's atmosphere. Celestial objects constantly shimmer and boil when viewed at high power, due to weak but ever-present heat waves in the air around and above us.