As autumn shortens the days, the sky transitions from light to dark sooner, graciously revealing an infinite canvas brushed with twinkling stars. An earlier nightfall means it’s possible to squeeze in some quality starwatching before bedtime! And while you might think stargazing is as easy as looking up on a cloudless night, a little prep beforehand can lead to a far more rewarding experience.
\n \nWhat do you need to stargaze?
\nWhile you don’t need fancy gadgets to admire the stars, binoculars are manageable for small hands, transport easily, and let you view things with more precision. If you want to go all-in on amateur astronomy, investing in a good telescope will help you survey the sky in even greater detail. Star charts and planispheres are also handy to have nearby.
\nWhile you don’t want to stumble around in the dark, remember that if you must use a flashlight, first cover it with a few layers of red cellophane and secure it with a rubber band, or simply use a red light. Red light is best when stargazing because it is less disruptive to your night vision. Therefore, if you want to read a hard copy star chart, use red light instead of white.
\nWhat should you do beforehand?
\nBorrow constellation and astronomy books from the library. You’ll find books for all age levels that cover constellations, the solar system, and more. Reading the tales that explain how a constellation came to be makes star-hunting more exciting, as does understanding the planets in case you’re lucky enough to catch sight of Jupiter or Saturn. Having a “How to Find…” book available doesn’t hurt, either.
\nDownload a stargazing app. Investigate if there’s anything interesting happening in the sky on a particular night. Maybe there’s a meteor shower forecast or high chances of spotting the mesmerizing Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis. Apps can be useful for preplanning so you know what to look for once you’re settled in the dark. Space.com recommends the Star Walk 2 app as the best for beginners.
\nGet your hands on a star chart or planisphere. While a star chart provides a generalized overview of the sky, a planisphere is a circular map you can rotate to discover what stars are viewable at a certain date and time. For this reason, planispheres, also known as star wheels, are more helpful in locating specific stars and constellations.
\nFind out what phase the moon is in. The best phase for stargazing is during a new moon when the sky is darkest because the moon is not visible. Fainter stars will be brighter when moonlight isn’t inhibiting their luminosity.
\nDouble check the weather. To be successful on your stargazing mission, choose an evening without clouds. The sky must be clear to see the most!
\nConsider light pollution. Keep in mind that light from your cell phone screen can also ruin your night vision, so choose a stargazing app with a red light mode. Additionally, it’s important to select a remote area outside the city, away from any lights, including the headlights of passing vehicles. Check out lightpollutionmap.info to find a nice, dark location.
\nPrep your night vision. In order to see as many stars as you can, allow time for your eyes to adjust to the dark, a process called dark adaptation. This can take about 15 to 30 minutes and increases your sensitivity to faint objects. In this way, you will improve your ability to see stars and other celestial bodies that are otherwise too dim for the naked eye to spy.
\nDress warm. Once the sun goes down and the cool mountain air descends, you’ll be thankful for a jacket, blanket, or hot drink.
\nNow that you’re ready, what should you look for?
\nThere’s so many fascinating and wondrous things scattered across space that it may be hard to know where to start! In the beginning, keep it simple. Look for individual stars like the North Star (Polaris), and identify common constellations found in the Northern Hemisphere such as Orion, the Big Dipper, and Cassiopeia. Some planets are visible to the naked eye, including Venus and Mars. Scan the heavens for deep sky objects outside our solar system, namely star clusters, nebulae and galaxies – you’ve probably heard of the galaxy known as the Milky Way, for example.
\nWhether you glimpse a shooting star or recognize the Little Dipper, stargazing is an inexpensive, family-friendly outing that’s sure to be a hot topic of conversation with your kids for days to come. Be it tonight or this weekend, carve out some time for a family-fun evening of appreciating the night sky.
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Born in the prairies, Stephanie is a mother, cancer-survivor, cat lover, and avid traveler. Stephanie is also the creator of the family travel blog, Next Family Getaway, nextfamilygetaway.com, where she shares trip ideas and travel advice for those traveling with kids.
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