The focus of my blog is on ‘vintage’ – and what could be MORE vintage than the stars! If you’re looking for something to do tonight, look up at the sky – it’s National Astronomy Day!
Astronomy Day began in 1973, and is still celebrated in the United States, Canada, and many other countries of the world. Observatories and astronomy clubs host observing events, but you can do the same from your own backyard. My family and I like to invite friends and neighbors to our backyard for a Stargazing Party. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Location, Location, Location
Living in a rural area, our backyard is perfect for star gazing. Because it is so dark at night, we need a bit of ambient light – just enough light to safely move around in the yard. So, before our guests arrive, I set out votive candles around the yard in the shape of constellations – the handle of the Big Dipper lights the path to our firepit – which sits in the bowl of the Big Dipper. Our guests arrive at dusk, and meet us out at the firepit for the evening. Some people bring binoculars, and we take turns viewing the sky with my telescope. On chilly nights, the fire and hot cocoa keeps us warm – and there is a bowl of bite-sized Milky Way candy bars (in case anyone wants a sweet treat). The chairs at our firepit recline all the way back, making star gazing very comfortable. We spread out blankets for those who prefer to lay on the ground.
If you live in the city or near city lights, pack up your lawn chairs and blankets and head out of town. Find a park or open field off the beaten path – the further away from city lights you are, the more stars you’ll observe.
“How many stars can you see on a clear, moonless night?” It’s estimated that most people will be able to see between 2,500 and 5,000 stars. How’s that for amazing!
What To Watch For
Just after sunset here in the United States, the moon and Jupiter will rise in the southern sky tonight. If you look closely, you might also see four of Jupiter’s brightest moons! Look even closer at the sky, and you may see dozens and dozens of satellites and maybe even our favorite – Iridium flares – no telescope required! To calculate the visibility of these satellites for your location, including observing the International Space Station, we like to use the website Heavens Above . Who will count the most satellites tonight? (Me! Me!)
If you’re unfamiliar with the night sky and the constellations, I highly recommend an app for your smart phone called The Night Sky . Using this app, you can hold your phone up to the sky and see the names of the constellations and stars you are pointing at. You can even turn on a feature that allows you to see your surroundings in the background, looking through the camera on your phone – this helps you know where you are looking in the sky. Pretty cool, huh?
Powers of Ten
Before you head out for a night of star gazing, you might want to set the mood, and share this video called “Powers of Ten” with your family and friends – it’s an amazing classic!
Look up at the sky! And enjoy your evening!
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Very Cool.
We had a star party with the cubscouts and had a blast. In northern Pennsylvania is one of the top 2 spots in the country for total darkness, http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/cherrysprings we got to see the milky way like we could reach out and touch it, your post makes me want to go back this summer. And I didn’t know about that app.
Oh that is so awesome! That’s one of the things I miss about living in the country away from street lights.