The Apollo moon landings were defining moments in history.
Today, its still a stimulating way to unwind and connect with the wonders of the universe.
Its also a great intergenerational activity.
They have the time and ability to dedicate to observing at night, she says.
Heres how to get started.
GET ORIENTED
1.
Most large cities have one, as do many colleges, universities and museums.
Theyre also great places to take children and grandchildren on special field trips.
Many astronomers and planetarium professionals cite their childhood visits to a planetarium as an inspiration to study the universe.
I later went to work there part-time while an undergrad.
I was 26, if you’re free to believe that!
I went to Fernbank Science Center and saw a…lovely constellation show.
If going to the planetarium ticklesyourastronomy gene, the nonprofit International Planetarium Societys website has adatabase of planetariums.
The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, for example, regularly hosts public star parties.
It opened to the public in November 2024 and is a popular attraction.
Enthusiasts bring their telescopes, listen to talks and share knowledge about the night sky.
One of the best for beginners of all ages isFind the Constellationsby H.A.
Rey (of Curious George fame), which teaches easy-to-find star patterns and constellations.
Rey also wroteThe Stars: A New Way to Find Them, aimed at advanced beginners.
Another good choice is Alan MacRobertsStar-Hopping for Backyard Astronomers.
MacRobert, a formerSky & Telescopemagazine editor, teaches you how to hop from star to star.
Finally, theCambridge Star Atlasprovides full-color map guides to the entire sky.
Check out a magazine
The best-known magazines for stargazers in the U.S. areSky & TelescopeandAstronomy.
Its published by the Planetary Society, a space advocacy group with more than 2 million members worldwide.
Get a map of the sky
People have used star charts since antiquity for many purposes, including navigation.
Todays charts show the monthly positions of the stars, planets and deep-sky objects.
Astronomy publications feature them prominently, along with guides to the moon and planets.
Use a planisphere
These cardboard or plastic handheld devices contain two disks.
One is a printed chart of all the stars in the sky.
The other is a wheel with a window.
Learn more about these handy tools atearthsky.org.
Point your devices camera to the sky, and these programs will immediately tell you what youre seeing.
Tap on the object and a little box pops up with more information.
Two other apps to consider areSkySafariandStar Walk 2.
Observers such as Wilson rely on them for rapid identification of objects.
Its also useful to determine the exact local time for things like eclipse phases and occultations.
The McDonald Observatory, for example, publishes daily stargazing tips.EarthSkyis another reliable source of up-to-the-minute sky information.
It has an extensive website and YouTube channel.
NASA has useful pages about stargazing atSkywatching.
Other good resources includeSpace.com,UniverseToday.com, theEuropean Space Agencyand theCanadian Space Agency.
She notes that many older listeners who call in are very engaged.
Everyday Spacerhas a weekly video focused on space exploration and astronomy, produced by former rocket scientist Pam Hoffman.
Also, check outDr.
Beckyby Rebecca Smethurst, an English astrophysicist who shares her work with the world on YouTube.
EXPLORE THE NIGHT SKY
11.
Find a safe dark spot
After all your preparations, youre ready to go stargazing.
Whatever area you choose, just double-check you get as far away from light pollution as possible.
