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.
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no, but would be fun
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I was in the astronomy club in college. I love looking up and seeing a clear sky full of twinkling ⭐️. They remind me no matter what kind of day I have had, if you look there is always beauty and peace to be found. Just like it takes time for the light and beauty of them to reach us if we just hold on there will be the same back in our own lives again.
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A few years ago when the family was at a North Carolina beach house we were on the deck admiring the stars in a very clear sky. My nephew pulled out his phone, opened an App, pointed it the sky and the App identified the stars! I don’t often have a dark enough and clear enough sky at home in order to see the stars – it’s usually on very cold winter nights when I’ not often outside.
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We have 2 telescopes but it has been too overcast to see anything. We love to watch meteor showers and eclipses.
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I used to live in Alaska. Part of the time I lived there, I was miles from anyone, and absolutely no power was used at all. The stars are so much brighter when you’re THAT far away from any artificial light. I spent so much time gazing at stars I’d never seen before, and admiring their unique characteristics. It was even better when they were joined by the Aurora.
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I enjoy looking up and seeing the stars. Ok course, Orien is the most recognized because the stars are close enough together to be seen. The big dipper, too, but it is spread out too much. I like being able to see the space station. If you have the time, you can see it change positions overhead. I remember talking about that to someone I didn’t know at my bus stop. I must have made an impression on him because years later, he recognized me and told me he looks up more frequently and occasionally spots it and think of me.
Once, before we had a roof put on our patio, I spent the night outside watching a lunar eclipse. I was bored out of my mind! It took forever. Much better seeing it in 30 seconds on TV!
I regret where I live it is too bright to see many stars.
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I love watching the night sky, it’s so peaceful and beautiful.
I do all the things listed and living in the middle of nowhere with no city lights really helps.