Do you feel nostalgic for the twinkling stars in the night sky? Do you dream of enjoying the maximum amount of shooting stars? Or maybe you live in a big city and haven’t seen the galaxy yet?
Darker skies mean more stars
To start, you need a dark sky away from city lights to see more stars. This is especially true if you want to see the Milky Way. There are more faint stars in the sky than bright stars, and only the brightest stars and planets are visible in bright city skies.
The reason for this is light pollution – the scattered light from sprawling urban areas in the night sky. Light pollution is the scattered light from parking lots, sports fields, streetlights, and other human activities. It’s a community effect of scattered light from these things that appears as a glow in the night sky. The larger and more developed the city, the more light pollution it produces.
For watching faint stars and shooting stars, the darker the sky, the better. The effect of sky illumination due to light pollution decreases the farther you move away from the population center. Therefore, moving at least 20 to 30 miles beyond the city limits is essential.
Types of areas that have better dark sky conditions
Moving away from population centers is key, but there are some other factors that can enhance star watching. Being at a higher elevation helps because you’ll be above the dense air in lower-elevation areas that have fog, clouds, and smoke obscuring your view of the stars. If you can safely access a viewing location that is a few thousand feet above the surrounding area, it can be beneficial for a clearer sky.
You don’t have to find locations very far from roads or highways. As long as there aren’t too many bright lights nearby, you can find great spots very close to busy highways. Light pollution accumulates, so it gets worse the closer you are to more developed areas.
The direction you’re facing also matters. You might have a dome of light pollution from a city that is 30 to 50 miles away on one horizon, but when you turn in the opposite direction, you might find a much darker sky. You could also find a fantastic stargazing spot under relatively dark skies, with a view looking towards an area under significantly darker skies. An example of this is a mountain campsite under a class 4 sky, with a great view towards class 3 skies over the ocean.
Let’s say you want to see the Milky Way, and your stargazing app on your mobile device tells you it will appear in the southeast early in the evening. Therefore, you will find the best view by going to a location where there is no large city center between you and the southeast horizon.
It’s also a good idea to check the weather in the area you’re considering, as the best spots may sometimes be cloudy. Other factors to check include winds, temperatures, and even smoke from wildfires. All these factors can affect your viewing conditions and your stargazing experience.
Some landscapes are better than others
The next factor to consider when choosing a location for stargazing is the landscape itself. A dark sky away from city lights, with no bright moon, is wonderful. But if you are in a deep valley or dense forest, it can be somewhat challenging to get those expansive views of the night sky you’re looking for.
Try
Find a location that has open views from all directions, or at least clear views in the direction of the things you hope to see. For example, the bright core of the galaxy is generally seen toward the south, so make sure there isn’t a high mountain range blocking your view. If you’re observing from a forested area, try to choose a location near a lakeshore, meadow, or any other type of open space. This way, you can enter an open viewing area once it gets dark.
We hope this is clear, but make sure that the location you choose is a place where you are allowed to stay overnight! You’ll want to avoid inadvertently entering private property and be aware of the laws and access times, even if you’re heading to public lands. Try to scout out your stargazing location during the day, so you can ensure it provides a great view and is safely distanced from the road, as well as being aware of any hazards you may encounter in the dark.
When you arrive at the site
If you’ve successfully found a beautiful place where it gets very dark at night, it’s still a good idea to check out the site during the day. If you haven’t visited it before, try to arrive before sunset. Watch for hazards that could affect your safety, and make sure you and your vehicle are at a safe distance from the road. Remember that rocks, shrubs, and fallen branches present tripping hazards in the dark. You’ll want to take precautions when dealing with steep hills and other sharp inclines.
You should also be safe regarding any animals that may be in the area. Stay alert for animals like cows, deer, or rabbits on the road while driving through dark highways. At your viewing site, be cautious where you step in case of snakes, and be careful about how to stay safe in areas that may have bears or other wildlife.
Finally, give your eyes time to adjust to the dark. It may take half an hour or more for your vision to become fully sensitive to low-light environments. Be especially careful when you first arrive, or after turning on a light, even for a short time. Preserve your night vision by minimizing the use of bright mobile devices and flashlights, using only very dim light sources if possible. The best types of lighting for stargazing are red lights and red LED lamps, as red light has the least impact on your night vision. A headlamp equipped with a red LED light is the ideal choice to help you find your way while out on a night under the stars.
We wish you clear skies…
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/the-solar-system/skywatching/how-to-find-good-places-to-stargaze/
Leave a Reply