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How to Look at the Sky at Night

Observing the stars, constellations and planets in our galaxy is not just for astronomers. Looking at the night sky requires very little equipment beyond your eyes; additional tools such as a telescope are not necessary when starting out. Stargazing can be a good way of teaching children the basics of astronomy and interest them in what lies beyond our planet. It is also an interesting activity for a lone adult or a couple.

Things You'll Need

Blankets
Small pillows

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain a star map. The star map will allow you to more easily identify stars, constellations and other objects in the night sky. The best type of star map is a planisphere, a particular type of map that can be adjusted to match the night sky at the specific time and date.
  
  Obtain a flashlight with a red lens If your star map is not visible in the darkness. The red tint will preserve your night vision better than a normal flashlight. If you already have a normal flashlight, you can apply a few layers of red tissue-paper to the lens.
- 2
  Drive to a location with few lights. The more lights there are in your area, the more difficult it will be to see anything in the night sky. This is due to a phenomenon known as light pollution. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, the sky-view within a major city shows fewer than 50 stars. At extraordinarily dark sites an observer might see approximately 7000 stars.
- 3
  Spread a blanket on the ground and lay supine on it in a comfortable position. Support your head with a pillow. Refer to your star map to identify objects in the sky.

Astronomy