Like the ancients: with the naked eye. Summer is the best season for stargazing. Only in August does the Milky Way come into view just after sunset, a luminous band of light that streams overhead from north to south. A Klutz Guide: Backyard Stars ($5, www.klutz.com) will help you pick out the North Star, trace the Big and Little Dippers, and make the acquaintance of the constellations. Want to take a closer look? Invest in a pair of binoculars (at least 7 x 50 magnification) or a lightweight, easy-to-use telescope like the Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Dobsonian Telescope ($229, www.telescope.com).