Virginia is for more than just lovers, it’s for stargazers as well.  A great year-round activity, stargazing is easy, free, relaxing, and educational.  And it doesn’t require a lot of equipment and can be done with or without others. 

While the night sky can be a bit intimidating (with 88 separate constellations and over 1000 visible stars), with a few smart tools and tips, you, too, can master and enjoy the beauty of the night’s lights.  Seasoned stargazers recommend starting with a good star chart or sky watching guide. After you understand the coordinate system (which will help you locate just about any visible object by simply using your arm and hand) you can quickly begin observing stars and planets in your own backyard. If you live in an urban or suburban community, you’ll want to escape the ambient light by leaving town for the darkness of the countryside.  

The best time to view the night sky is on a moon-less night. Without the light of the moon, you are more likely to see the Milky Way (a galaxy featuring a dim ‘milky’ band that glows in the formation of an arch) and meteors (aka, shooting stars). You might also see 5 of the solar system’s 8 planets.  If you are a beginner, start your gazing adventure using just your eyes. As you progress, a good pair of binoculars is recommended. And if you really catch the bug, you may want to consider purchasing a telescope.  There are many astronomy clubs throughout Virginia who can help you select the right equipment.

When you are ready to take to the road to observe the night sky, here are some excellent observation spots to try; the NASA Visitor Center on Wallops Island, Hungry Mother State Park, Grayson Highlands State Park, the Keeble Observatory at Randolph-Macon College and Sky Meadows State Park.