Star Hunters

Written by: Victoria Otero Edited by: Rachel Chen

Image by Helen Zhang

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and felt it was calling you to explore? Each night, the universe puts on a spectacular show just for us; the best part, you don’t need a rocket ship to see it. All you have to do is go outside and look up. Stargazing is one of the easiest ways to become a real-life space explorer. From spotting constellations like the Big Dipper to finding bright planets such as Venus and Jupiter, the night sky is full of treasures waiting for you to discover. Here’s how you can start your own backyard exploration among the stars. 

1. Find your perfect stargazing spot:

Start by picking a quiet and dark place where there are no lights to get in your way. Streetlights and porch lights can make it hard to see the stars because of light pollution, which is artificial light that can alter the natural environment. Unfortunately, if you live in a big city, this may be a bit hard for you. The darker your surroundings, the more stars and planets you’ll be able to spot!

2. Let your eyes adjust to the dark:

When you first step outside, it may seem like there aren’t many stars. This is because your eyes need time to adapt. After about 20-30 minutes in the dark, your pupils will widen, and you'll be able to see many stars that weren’t visible before. 

3. Look for the Big Dipper:

The Big Dipper is one of the easiest star patterns to find; it looks like a big spoon. Once you spot it, use the two stars near the edge of the bowl of the spoon, If you draw an imaginary line upward through them to the next brightest star, you’ll find the North Star or Polaris. Since the North Star doesn’t move much during the night, it can be used to find your way.

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4. Spot bright planets:

Planets can look a lot like stars, but there is a big difference: stars twinkle, while planets do not. This is because planets are much closer to Earth than stars are, so their light doesn’t get jumbled by the atmosphere as much. If you’re looking west, you may find Venus, which glows bright white. Jupiter can often appear high up and glow steadily too. If you’re lucky and the night is clear, you might even see Saturn and its rings through a pair of binoculars.

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5. Use a star map or stargazing app to help you:

It can be tricky to know what you’re looking at, but a star map can make things easier. You can find a free one and print it online or use a phone app such as SkyView or Star Walk Kids. Just point your phone at the sky, and the app will tell you the names of constellations, stars, and planets in real time. 

The more you stargaze, the more you’ll see that the sky is never the same twice. Some nights you may see bright planets, and other nights none at all. Ancient people once used these same stars to tell stories, make calendars, and find their way home. Now you can share that same wonder and curiosity right from your backyard. Every time you look up, you’re exploring space, one star at a time. 

References:

1. Byrd, D. (2024, September 18). Our top 10 stargazing tips for beginning astronomers. EarthSky | Updates on Your Cosmos and World. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/top-10-stargazing-tips/

2. ‌NASA. (n.d.). Skywatching - NASA Science. Science.nasa.gov. https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/ 

3. Stargazing Basics Archives. (n.d.). Sky & Telescope. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/stargazing-basics/ 

4. A beginner’s guide to stargazing. (2024). The Planetary Society. https://www.planetary.org/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-stargazing 

5. ‌A Kid’s Guide to Stargazing | OLogy | AMNH. (2024). American Museum of Natural History. https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/astronomy/a-kids-guide-to-stargazing