"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." Vincent Van Gogh.
For many, the awe of the night sky starts in childhood. I remember when I was small loving the night sky. I grew up in Northern Colorado in a small town near Rocky Mountain National Park. We were high in the Rockies away from the lights of any city. When it was dark, it was really dark, but that made it so much easier to see the sky dance with beautiful twinkling diamonds. The constellations stood out and were easy to find. And on more than one occasion we would watch falling stars plummet to the earth. I loved the sky then and 50 years later I am still in love with its wonder and beauty.
It doesn't take much to get started with stargazing. Whether you're looking for specific constellations, spotting planets with the naked eye or looking for a galaxy far, far away using a telescope, there are a lot of ways you can observe the wonders of the universe.
Here are a few simple tips on how to start deepening your connection with the cosmos.
1. Find a dark-sky site: We are pretty lucky around here with having multiple options to choose from on where to go to stargaze. The Colorado National Monument, Glade Park, The Mesa, and if you want to travel a little further, the Uncompahgre or any mountain range close by. You can even check with an astronomy club in the area to see where they suggest. The key is to get away from the light pollution of the city. Leave your electronics in your vehicle or pocket. The light from them is even too bright and can ruin your night vision. Use a red flashlight to read your star charts if need be.
2. Get Oriented: Learn where North, South, East and West are from your location. The planets rise in the east and set in the west just like the sun and moon. Learn which stars and constellations are visible as the seasons change. The position of planets is often described in relation to these standards. Sky positions are measured in degrees. The horizon is 0 degrees and directly overhead would be 90 degrees.
3. Equipment: There is no equipment necessary to get acquainted with the night sky. However, if you want to really get involved with astronomy, the most useful piece of equipment nowadays is a good smartphone application. Binoculars give you a better view of night sky objects and are reasonably priced and easy to carry. However, a telescope will allow you to see much more than the naked eye does. Planetary features like the craters of the moon and Saturn's rings are easily visible using a telescope. Start with a smaller one which tends to be easier to operate and travel with. Once you get hooked, you can start to research for something bigger and better to accommodate your stargazing needs.
4. Be Faithful to the Sky: One of the greatest things about becoming a stargazer is that you make a life-long friend. Once you start watching, be patient and persistent. If you watch regularly, you will learn and see how the sky changes in subtle ways from day to day and year to year. Once you start looking up and noticing, you will eventually make a connection with nature that will last your whole life long.
The celestial sky unfolds, a tapestry of shimmering light, its mysteries untold.
Enjoy!