These are the obvious starting places but from The Little Dipper you can find the constellation known as The Swan or Cygnus. Just use the same system you used to find The North Star but continue drawing that line that started in those pointer stars in the bowl of The Big Dipper. Go about half as far as you went to find Polaris and you are there. Both of these terms refer to the tripod your telescope sits on. The mount is the actual tripod and the wedge is the device that lets you attach the telescope to the mount. The mount and the wedge are there to assist you with a superior viewing session and to keep your expensive telescope safe from a fall. Of course, to take your moon worship to the ultimate, stepping your equipment up to a good starter telescope will give you the most stunning detail of the lunar surface. With each of these upgrades your knowledge and the depth and scope of what you will be able to see will improve geometrically. For many amateur astronomers, we sometimes cannot get enough of what we can see on this our closest space object. Learning the background to the great discoveries in astronomy will make your moments star gazing more meaningful. It is one of the oldest sciences on earth so find out the greats of history who have looked at these stars before you. -Get a geek. Astronomy clubs are lively places full of knowledgeable amateurs who love to share their knowledge with you. Our Neighbors in Space We have a special feeling toward the other planets that circle our sun. Maybe it s all the science fiction stories about visiting the moon, Mars and other planets. But we love to think about those planets that make up what we call the solar system. that do what our planet does but do it very differently indeed. This explains the similarity in composition as has been confirmed by many of the moon exploratory space missions that were conducted by NASA. But this background also highlights another important influence the moon has had on Earth s development that is seldom recognized and that is the stabilization of Earth s orbital pattern.