Hey, Stargazers!
Whether you're brand new to stargazing or an amateur astronomer, we all look up at the night sky and admire the stars and planets from time to time, but sometimes, it pays to have a friend in the biz, like me.
Here are five stargazing pro tips to get you to the next level.
First location, location, location.
Whether you live in the countryside or downtown in a city, there is always some place nearby that can help you get the most out of your stargazing experience.
If you're lucky, your own backyard may be an ideal spot for star viewing, but sometimes you could have trees blocking your view or even light pollution from nearby street lights or local businesses.
None of that is going to help you see the stars, so even taking a walk to your local park or schoolyard can make a huge difference in what you can actually see in the sky.
The best option is to venture out into the countryside a bit and escape the light pollution.
Depending on what you're trying to see you might have to hit the skies at a different time of night or even a different time of year.
Have a plan before you go outside and things will go more smoothly.
Trust me.
That said, autumn, winter and spring are what many astronomers refer to as the observing season.
These are the months where the nights are the longest and when you're more likely to have clear skies.
Also, when there is a full moon, it can disrupt your view.
It's pretty but it's not the best for stargazing because it's so bright and it can wash out everything around it.
Generally, the best time to stargaze is when the moon is in the gibbous, crescent or new phase.
Remember, humans are not the only thing that can cause light pollution.
You may be thinking, "Trace, how can I truly dive into the wonders of stargazing without owning a telescope?"
No need to worry, man.
I don't even have a telescope and I host an astronomy show.
You can actually learn a lot about the night sky without any fancy high-tech tools.
In fact, many astronomers recommend beginners just observe the night sky with their own eyeballs.
You can orient yourself in the night sky by locating some anchor objects such as the Big Dipper or the North Star and go from there.
Then if you want to start looking a bit closer, binoculars are a good place to start.
Whenever you're stargazing, let your eyes get adjusted.
Astronomers refer to this process as dark adaptation.
Just like walking into a dark room, you should give yourself a couple of minutes to let the cells in your eyes adapt to the darkness.
This is a physical process so it can take like 10, 20 minutes.
It also means avoiding your phone since the phone's light can take away from your night vision.
If at any point you need a light to see something, use a red flashlight.
Red light helps your eyes maintain their night vision so you get the best view possible when you're looking up at the sky.
If you're really excited to see the night sky, there is no one who knows the area you live in better than your local astronomy club or organization.
You can also go to a planetarium, an observatory, a museum, even a library is a good place to start and you can find out more info from those people.
And they may even have tools you can borrow.
Not to mention, you'll meet people who share a similar passion of stargazing.
Astronomy is fun, but it can be even more fun when you do it with other people.
Those were our top five tips to better your stargazing experience.
If you have more tips or suggestions, comment below and let us know your favorite way to study the night sky.
We'll see you next time and remember keep looking up!