Family Time and Stargazing
Are you frustrated at the way your children communicate in grunts and shrugs without even looking up from the television screen? Is your phone in danger of becoming permanently attached to your daughter’s ear? If so, maybe it is time to turn off the technology. However, staring at a blank television screen isn’t going to draw your family together. You will need to find an activity to enjoy together. Why not give stargazing a try?
If you have never tried stargazing, you may be wondering why anyone would want to go out and stare at the sky. After all, there’s nothing much up there, right? Actually, there are so many amazing things in the sky, that it is a wonder more people aren’t interested in stargazing. Besides stars, you will be able to see nearby planets, the moon, and possibly even meteors. A few nights of gazing at the stars with the family may just launch one of your children on the journey to become an astronomer or even an astronaut.
If you are worried about the expense involved, don’t worry. Your family can pick out some of the amazing stars and other heavenly bodies in the sky without any equipment but their eyes. Believe it or not, a pair of inexpensive binoculars can be useful, as well. Wait until your children are hooked on stargazing before you can decide to shop for a good telescope so that you can look for some of the stars and planets that are harder to see.
You should begin stargazing on a dark, cloudless night. Don’t try to search for stars during a full moon or on a night with an overcast sky, you and your children may come away from the experience feeling a bit frustrated. If you live in the middle of a busy city, it is best to take a trip away from the bright lights before you try to stargaze. Looking for stars in the city is like trying to watch a slide show with the lights on. You may still be able to see stars, but they aren’t as bright and you may not be able to see stars that would be visible in darker conditions.
Before you take your children out to look for the stars, you will need to make a few preparations to be sure they don’t become frustrated by not being able to identify them. Go outside before it is completely dark and face the direction the sun is setting in. This is the western sky, which means the eastern sky is directly behind you. The northern sky will be on your right and the southern sky will be to your left. Once you know which direction to look in, you can use a star map for your area to help you point out the stars and identify them correctly. If you are more high tech, you can use a piece of equipment called a planisphere instead. The planisphere will give you the most up to date information on what stars and planets should be visible and where they are located in the sky.
Are you interested in trying to identify planets? Just remember that you will probably see them in the sky before the stars appear. If the stars are already out when you are ready to begin stargazing, look for the objects in the sky that are glowing steadily. They will be the planets. Stars actually twinkle, just as the song “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” says.
Don’t forget a few other essential items before you begin stargazing with your children. It often is chilly at night, so grab a few sweaters and make sure you have a blanket or tarp to sit on. A thermos of hot chocolate can really add to the experience, as well. Since it will be dark, you may also want to bring a flashlight, but be sure to turn it off when you arrive at your location, since the light will interfere with your night vision. Don’t forget your star map or planisphere, so that you will be able to locate stars and planets and help your children to identify the stars they see.
Finally, don’t forget to have fun as you and your children discover the amazing secrets of the sky.
