Start here
00: Start Here
Welcome. This module gets you from "I have a computer" to "I ran an astronomy calculation and understood the answer".
Nothing here assumes prior knowledge of Python, Git, terminals, virtual environments, or astronomy.
The lessons
| # | Lesson | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is this? | Why Moonfield exists and how to use it |
| 2 | Setup | Working install on Windows, macOS or Linux |
| 3 | Your first command | Run something and understand the output |
| 4 | Pre-flight check | Confirm your environment is trustworthy |
| 5 | Editors and IDEs | Optional. What they are, whether you need one |
Before you start
You need:
- A computer running Windows, macOS or Linux
- About an hour
- Somewhere you can see the sky, eventually, not for lesson 1
You do not need:
- Any programming experience
- Any astronomy background
- Maths beyond arithmetic (we build the rest)
- A telescope, binoculars, or any equipment at all
- An internet connection, after the initial install
How to read a Moonfield lesson
Each lesson has three layers. Read the one you need:
- Beginner: what do I type to make this work?
- Standard: why does it work?
- Advanced: what did we simplify, and what would fix it?
Skipping Advanced is fine. It exists so nothing is hidden from you, not to make you feel behind.
If you get stuck
That is expected, and it is not a sign you are bad at this. Go to Getting Unstuck, which is organised by symptom rather than by cause.
If that does not help, open a Discussion. Learning questions belong there and are always welcome. You do not need to apologise for asking, and you do not need to prove you tried hard enough first.