7 - HOT CHOCOLATE

15/07/20

A comprehensive guide to what to take stargazing.

      Regardless of each individuals experience of science and astronomy, I believe star gazing is a great excuse to connect with the world around us and enjoy spending time away from digital devices. For any new or budding stargazers, I thought I'd share my top tips on what to bring when you venture out to admire the stars. 

1 - Prepare for the weather

I do most of my observing in the summer time because the better weather means less chance of being interupted by a great British rain shower. To get the best view of the stars its best to go when the sky is darkest, which in the summer means venturing out around 10 or 11pm. To keep warm and getting comfy I like to bring a thick blanket and a hot drink, in my opinion hot chocolate works best. 

2 - Bring Your Phone 

Whilst you can definitely make star gazing a phone- free affair, it is useful to keep your phone with you to take photos. If you are struggling to know what to look for, you can use apps such as Stellarium, which allow you to navigate the skies using a virtual star map. Stellarium is extremely user friendly as it is location and time sensitive, so the star maps precisely line up with what you see in the night sky and will help you spot constellations in no time. Most importantly, Stellarium is free to download on google play or the app store, and you can unlock all the premium features for a small, one off fee. Try and keep your screen brightness low or on a night mode so that the glare doesn't prevent your eyes adapting to the dark. 

        3 - Invite Some Company  

Whenever I go stargazing I like to bring my dog Dusty. He is also a keen star gazer and will happily stay out in the garden into the late hours of the night.  

        4 - Use Binoculars and Telescopes

I am an strong advocate of finding activities that are fun and free so I want to make it clear that stargazing does not require top end equipment. Since many astronomical instruments come with a hefty price tag I would reccommend seeing if stargazing is something you actually enjoy and intend to do regularly before splashing out. However, if you want to take things to the next level, telescopes and binoculars can allow you to see objects you cant see with the naked eye, like the planets and the craters on the moon. 

5- Find somewhere to sit  

To make the most of a session of stargazing its best to prepare to be outside for about an hour, so its a good idea to find a chair and make yourself comfortable. It can take your eyes a while to adjust to the dark but after a while you should start to be able to pick out plenty of stars and constellations. 

     

6 - Stock up on Snacks  

Think of stargazing like a trip to the cinema, in my opinion a stargazing session is not complete without your favourite snacks. Perhaps try some popcorn, nuts or some Maltesers (a personal favourite). 

 Happy Stargazing!