Today is another one of those obscure, fun holidays I love to highlight here. It’s Astronomy Day! Tonight would be a lovely time to head outside—if the weather cooperates—and look up at the sky. I have a star chart to help orient me to the constellations that are visible. If you have a telescope or a nice set of binoculars, get it out, consult an astronomy app on your phone and have it help you point toward a planet that might be visible. Study the moon!
When I was a kid, I used to check out astronomy books from the library then lay outside on a blanket in the grass with a flashlight and try to find as many constellations as I could. When I lived in Texas, I once attended a Star Party, where folks who owned telescopes, some homemade, set up and let people take a peek into the heavens. It was so much fun!
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me whether you’ve ever spent time gazing at the stars, waiting for shooting stars or to see the space station or a distant planet. Share a story!
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I have done all that. I even had my own telescope. It is best to use in outside a city though.
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Not done a lot. As I’ve lived in an urban area. But do remember one time when stationed in Turkey as I walked to work I was walking in the clouds. It was a unique experience
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When I was a kid, we would spend time with my dad’s brother on his farm. We kids slept on the floor in the living room. My favorite spot was in front of the large picture window. I could lay there and look at the stars. So many stars. The milky way. The big and little dipper. Depending on the time of year we were there. I seen them all. It was amazing. These days, there is too much light pollution to see so many, but back then . . .
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One year when I was a camp counselor I learned about constellations I spent the nights looking for them. Today I remember one or two that I look for.
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I have but I just never see anything. I planning to visit a remote area this summer so I hope I see something. Unless it’s overcast again.
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I loved reading books about constellations and remember one that was by HA Rey… We now live where there is a lot of light pollution so there aren’t really good places to stargaze here. Have wanted to see the Northern or Southern Lights so will need to plan to make that happen one of these days!
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We use the app all of the time. As we live in the countryside we can see the night sky very clearly. We tracked the International space station a while back.