star:stargazing

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star:stargazing [2026/03/16 19:35] – Simon Grantstar:stargazing [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Stargazing+This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. 
 +====== Stargazing ======
  
  
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-## What is stargazing?+===== What is stargazing? =====
  
 Stargazing, or astronomy, is the study and enjoyment of the stars. Actually, it's not just about stars - other objects visible in the night sky include galaxies (groups of billions of stars); planets (which orbit stars); and other rocky things flying around in space, like asteroids (chunks of rock in orbit around stars - there's an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter); comets (chunks of rock that come from outside our solar system); meteoroids (similar to asteroids, but much smaller); meteors ('shooting stars', when a meteoroid enters the earth's atmosphere and burns up - and if it reaches the earth, it's called a meteorite). Stargazing, or astronomy, is the study and enjoyment of the stars. Actually, it's not just about stars - other objects visible in the night sky include galaxies (groups of billions of stars); planets (which orbit stars); and other rocky things flying around in space, like asteroids (chunks of rock in orbit around stars - there's an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter); comets (chunks of rock that come from outside our solar system); meteoroids (similar to asteroids, but much smaller); meteors ('shooting stars', when a meteoroid enters the earth's atmosphere and burns up - and if it reaches the earth, it's called a meteorite).
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-### History+==== History ====
  
 Dating back to prehistory, it’s perhaps the oldest of the natural sciences and was originally closely interwoven with religious, mythological and cosmological beliefs and practices. The seasons were very important to early agrarian communities and the stars served as a calendar: while some stars and constellations (groups of stars, and sometimes galaxies, that look as though they're grouped together when viewed from Earth) are visible year-round, others can only be seen at certain times of year, giving an indication of the changing seasons. One theory is that [Stonehenge](http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/) may have been a primitive ‘computer’ used to predict solar events. For millennia people were extremely superstitious about the stars, believing them to control human destiny. Soothsayers and sages made predictions based on events in the heavens, and occurrences such as eclipses were seen as powerful, potentially dangerous portents. The stars were also fundamental to early navigators, who used them as a guide. Dating back to prehistory, it’s perhaps the oldest of the natural sciences and was originally closely interwoven with religious, mythological and cosmological beliefs and practices. The seasons were very important to early agrarian communities and the stars served as a calendar: while some stars and constellations (groups of stars, and sometimes galaxies, that look as though they're grouped together when viewed from Earth) are visible year-round, others can only be seen at certain times of year, giving an indication of the changing seasons. One theory is that [Stonehenge](http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/) may have been a primitive ‘computer’ used to predict solar events. For millennia people were extremely superstitious about the stars, believing them to control human destiny. Soothsayers and sages made predictions based on events in the heavens, and occurrences such as eclipses were seen as powerful, potentially dangerous portents. The stars were also fundamental to early navigators, who used them as a guide.
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-### Are we alone?+==== Are we alone? ====
  
 In the 1960s, scientists also began to look for evidence of alien life. Certain sugar molecules have been discovered in distant clouds of gas and dust that have the potential to create the basic building blocks of DNA; and there are potentially hundreds or thousands of planets with the conditions required to support life in our galaxy alone. Although nothing has been found so far (and at our level of technology, our attempts can only reach a relatively tiny distance), the search for alien life and other inhabitable planets is very much a part of modern astronomy, and astrobiology. Maybe we won’t be alone for much longer (but then there's [Fermi's Paradox](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/fermis-paradox-does-the-lack-of-contact-from-extraterrestrials-have-implications-for-human-survival)). In the 1960s, scientists also began to look for evidence of alien life. Certain sugar molecules have been discovered in distant clouds of gas and dust that have the potential to create the basic building blocks of DNA; and there are potentially hundreds or thousands of planets with the conditions required to support life in our galaxy alone. Although nothing has been found so far (and at our level of technology, our attempts can only reach a relatively tiny distance), the search for alien life and other inhabitable planets is very much a part of modern astronomy, and astrobiology. Maybe we won’t be alone for much longer (but then there's [Fermi's Paradox](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/fermis-paradox-does-the-lack-of-contact-from-extraterrestrials-have-implications-for-human-survival)).
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-## What are the benefits of stargazing?+===== What are the benefits of stargazing? =====
  
 The benefits of stargazing can be roughly grouped into [navigation](/navi/navigation), inspiration and contribution. A little knowledge about the positions of the major constellations can help to orientate you and, once mastered, celestial navigation techniques can be used anywhere in the world. The benefits of stargazing can be roughly grouped into [navigation](/navi/navigation), inspiration and contribution. A little knowledge about the positions of the major constellations can help to orientate you and, once mastered, celestial navigation techniques can be used anywhere in the world.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Before you start+==== Before you start ====
  
 Astronomy is a huge field, but you can take baby steps by learning the patterns of the planets’ orbits, the main groups of stars and constellations, and the lunar monthly and annual cycles. There are lots of websites and books to help you, or you could join an astronomy association and maybe meet like-minded stargazers. See books and links (see resources). Reading about NASA’s [astronomy picture of the day](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/) over the course of a few months can also teach you a lot; plus it might be a really good idea to visit a planetarium - here's how to find one near you [in the UK](http://planetaria.org.uk/) and [around the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_planetariums). Astronomy is a huge field, but you can take baby steps by learning the patterns of the planets’ orbits, the main groups of stars and constellations, and the lunar monthly and annual cycles. There are lots of websites and books to help you, or you could join an astronomy association and maybe meet like-minded stargazers. See books and links (see resources). Reading about NASA’s [astronomy picture of the day](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/) over the course of a few months can also teach you a lot; plus it might be a really good idea to visit a planetarium - here's how to find one near you [in the UK](http://planetaria.org.uk/) and [around the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_planetariums).
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-### Light pollution+==== Light pollution ====
  
 It's easier to see stars if it's not a full moon (and the newer the better), and you're away from artificial lights. Don’t be put off completely if you live in a city or an area with a lot of light pollution, however. While everyone should experience the breathtaking sight of stars in a really dark sky at least once in their lifetime (the UK has a few ‘dark parks’ where you can do this - see [Dark Sky](http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/) [Discovery](http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/)), for stargazing beginners, a certain amount of light pollution can actually make it easier to pick out the larger, brighter stars and constellations. It's easier to see stars if it's not a full moon (and the newer the better), and you're away from artificial lights. Don’t be put off completely if you live in a city or an area with a lot of light pollution, however. While everyone should experience the breathtaking sight of stars in a really dark sky at least once in their lifetime (the UK has a few ‘dark parks’ where you can do this - see [Dark Sky](http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/) [Discovery](http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/)), for stargazing beginners, a certain amount of light pollution can actually make it easier to pick out the larger, brighter stars and constellations.
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 _Time lapse video of a meteor shower in California; meteors are space rocks that enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, causing a 'shooting star', and meteorites are the ones that make it to Earth._ _Time lapse video of a meteor shower in California; meteors are space rocks that enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, causing a 'shooting star', and meteorites are the ones that make it to Earth._
  
-### Naked eye, binoculars or telescope?+==== Naked eye, binoculars or telescope? ====
  
 You can start stargazing tonight, without any equipment at all. There's a lot you can see and learn just with the naked eye. See [here](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpactlinks/linksstargazing/#nakedeye). You'll see more with a good-quality pair of binoculars, which will set you back about £60. Consider buying a camera tripod mount to keep them steady. You can start stargazing tonight, without any equipment at all. There's a lot you can see and learn just with the naked eye. See [here](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpactlinks/linksstargazing/#nakedeye). You'll see more with a good-quality pair of binoculars, which will set you back about £60. Consider buying a camera tripod mount to keep them steady.
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-### Safety+==== Safety ====
  
 Stargazing is a very safe activity, but if you’re going to be spending time outdoors at night then make sure you’re well wrapped up, have sufficient food, water and a fully-charged phone. Also, let someone know where you’re going and make sure you don’t fall into any holes while you’re gazing up at the sky. Stargazing is a very safe activity, but if you’re going to be spending time outdoors at night then make sure you’re well wrapped up, have sufficient food, water and a fully-charged phone. Also, let someone know where you’re going and make sure you don’t fall into any holes while you’re gazing up at the sky.
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Stargazers Lounge](https://stargazerslounge.com/) - forum - [Stargazers Lounge](https://stargazerslounge.com/) - forum
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[litr:transport|Low-impact transport]] - [[litr:transport|Low-impact transport]]
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • star/stargazing.1773689742.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 19:35
  • by Simon Grant