The biggest hurdle for beginners is managing expectations. Through a small telescope, stars will always look like dots, and deep-sky objects may appear as faint, fuzzy patches. Real astronomy is less about "casual observing" and more about .

Frustration is the biggest "hobby killer" for new astronomers. A stable setup makes all the difference. Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series

Unlocking the Night Sky: A Guide to Real Astronomy with Small Telescopes