Top 10 Tips for Naked-Eye Stargazing

It’s wonderful to lie out under the stars and wonder about the Universe we live in! Here are our top ten tips for stargazing through the naked-eye:

 

1. Find the darkest place you can. Stargazing is best under the darkest night sky you can find. White light blocks starlight from view.
2. Travel away from city lights if possible. If you can’t, turn out as many lights, TV’s and computers you can.
3. Find the biggest sky you can. Trees and buildings block the view, so find somewhere you can see from horizon to horizon. Open spaces, hill tops and the beach are great places.
4. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for 5-10 minutes. As your eyes become used to the darkness, you will start to see better. This is your night time vision! If you need light, use a piece of red cellophane to cover a torch. Red light doesn’t affect your night time vision.
5. Find a comfy place to lie back. That way you won’t get a stiff neck from looking up while standing!
6. Watch for moving things in the night sky. Meteors (shooting stars) look like bright streaks of light. Satellites (like the International Space Station) look like a star that moves slowly and steadily across the night sky. Aeroplanes have flashing green and red lights.
7. See if you can make pictures out of the stars. People have been doing this for thousands of years. There are 88 named constellations.
8. See if you can see different coloured stars. Most look white in colour but others may appear yellow, orange or red.
9. Use a pair of binoculars if you can and take a closer look. What might look like faint milky white smudges of light turn out to be countless numbers of stars!
10. Cool drinks in summer and hot chocolate in winter are a must! Share with friends and family.

 

 

Do you want to discover more about stargazing from your own backyard or from a remote site in Western Australia?

 

Join “Galaxy Girl” at Stargazers Club and together we’ll discover the stars, find out what to see and where to look. All from your own backyard. You don’t even need a telescope or any astronomy knowledge. It’s fun, easy-to-understand.

 

Ideal for beginner stargazers and junior astronomers of all ages (adults and children 10yrs+). Annual members meet several times a year for free stargazing nights and special telescope classes.

 

Join at www.stargazersclubwa.com.au

 

For more information contact Carol (aka “Galaxy Girl”): 0427 554 035 or info@stargazersclubwa.com.au