Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Stock up on what you need
• Part 2 of 3: Prepare for Stargazing
• Part 3 of 3: Watching the Stars
• Tips
• What do you need

Stargazing can be very fun and enjoyable if done right. First of all, you need to know when, where and how you can observe the stars. Choose a night when the sky is clear, and you can leave the house for an hour or longer, stock up on comfortable clothes and warm blankets, lie down and enjoy the view!

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Stock up on what you need

1. 1 Dress properly. Depending on the time of year, you may need a variety of clothes, as your body temperature will drop if you sit in one place for a long time. Put on several layers of clothing to stay warm.
   • If you are going to gaze at the stars in the fall or winter, wear thermal underwear, a sweater, a hat, gloves or mittens, and a scarf.
   • If you are going to gaze out on the stars in spring or summer, wear several layers of light clothing, such as a hoodie, light jacket, hat, and jeans. Bring something warm with you in case it gets cold at night.
2. 2 Take a mat, chair, and pillow. You will have to spend a lot of time before your eyes get used to the night sky, so you need to take care of your comfort. If you don't lie on your back or sit in a comfortable reclining chair, your neck will quickly get tired and start to ache.
   • You can bring the following comfortable and warm items: yoga mat, pillows, tarp (if dew falls at night), camping mat, folding chair or sun lounger.
   • If you prefer to sit on the ground, be sure to spread something warm to avoid catching a cold.
3. 3 Use a comfy, warm blanket. Bring one or two blankets with you so you can keep warm and place them on a chair, rug, or tarp. You can wrap yourself in a blanket, lay it on the ground, or roll it up and place it under your head.
   • Do not use blankets that cannot be washed. Please note that any items you take with you for stargazing can get dirty and wet.
4. 4 Add food and drinks. You will have to spend some time outside, so you need to stock up on food and drinks. This will help you to eat and be entertained, so take whatever you like with you!
   • You can bring the following drinks with you: hot chocolate, coffee, tea (especially if it's cold outside), water, soda, beer or wine (if you are 18 years old and not driving).
   • Foods that are compact and energizing will work well, such as a mixture of dried fruits and nuts, muesli bars, chocolate, beef jerky, soup in a thermos, ready-made sandwiches.
5. 5 Bring binoculars so you don't strain your eyes. This will allow you to see more stars, planets and constellations than with the naked eye. You do not have to strain your eyes trying to see something that is not very bright.
6. 6 If you intend to gaze at the stars for an extended period, bring a tent or awning with you. If you think you will be late, or are worried about bad weather, bring a tent, canopy, or tarp. If necessary, you can take shelter from bad weather or just relax if you get tired. In addition, it is convenient to keep food, drinks, chairs and blankets in a tent or under a canopy.

Part 2 of 3: Prepare for Stargazing

1. 1 Watch the stars on clear, dry days. On a night like this, you will see more stars, avoid getting wet in the rain or overheating due to high humidity. A light breeze can clear the air a little, but a strong wind increases the feeling of cold, in which case it is better to bring extra blankets and a sweater with you.
2. 2 Watch the stars in summer. The summer months (June, July and August) are great for stargazing. At this time, it is more comfortable than in winter, and you need to take less things with you.
   • In summer, there is a higher chance of seeing a meteor shower. The Perseid meteor shower is a spectacular sight and can be seen almost everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. It can be seen every year in August.
   • Constellations such as Cassiopeia, Ursa Major and Cepheus can be seen throughout the year.
3. 3 Get out of the city so that nothing bothers you. Aim for stargazing away from major cities and populated areas. In such places, the stars are less visible due to air pollution and artificial light sources. Better to find a secluded and quiet corner in the countryside.
4. 4 Consider wildlife. If you can find a sparsely populated countryside that is good for stargazing, there is a good chance that wild beasts are found there. Your peace can be disturbed by wild boars, bears, deer, wolves, foxes and other animals. Find out what animals live in the area, and be careful at night.
   • Be sure to grab insect spray, or instead of stargazing, you'll have to fend off mosquitoes all night!
   • To scare away animals that come close to your parking lot, you can bring a small spotlight or something that makes loud sounds.

Part 3 of 3: Watching the Stars

1. 1 Take a friend or family member with you. This is a good safety measure in case you lose your way in the dark or are simply afraid to be alone at night in an unfamiliar area. Plus, the two of you can see more stars.
2. 2 Make yourself comfortable on the ground. Place your tent, chairs, rugs, food and drinks on a level surface with everything close at hand. In this case, you do not have to look for anything, and nothing will get lost in the dark.
   • Be sure to clean up after yourself to avoid attracting wildlife and preserving the environment.
3. 3 Position your head at a 30-degree angle to the ground. In this case, you do not have to strain your neck and lift your head, and you will feel comfortable, as if you are lying in bed. Use a pillow or chaise longue to do this, or place a rolled-up blanket under your head.
   • You can also just lie on the ground to see the sky more fully. However, some people find it harder to get out of this position quickly.
4. 4 Use an infrared flashlight to relax your eyes. When you're ready, you'll have to turn off your regular lights to gaze at the stars. If you need to look around occasionally, use the light of an infrared flashlight to keep your eyes from getting used to the dark again. Red light is less stressful for the eyes and does not interfere with stargazing.
   • It will take your eyes 5 to 30 minutes to get used to the dark, and you will prevent this by turning bright white lights on and off.
   • In order not to buy an infrared flashlight, you can cover a regular flashlight with red cellophane film.
5. 5 Don't strain your eyes. Try to use the “peripheral vision method” when observing the night sky, which helps you see relatively dim stars. Instead of straining your eyes, look away from the area you are trying to see. Because peripheral vision is more sensitive to light and darkness, you can more easily see dim objects when the rest of the sky appears dark.
6. 6 Enjoy! Stargazing is fun, whether you are a beginner or an experienced astronomy enthusiast. Lie on your back, grab a bite to eat, talk to a friend, and get a good look at the night sky - this is not a very common opportunity in everyday life.

Tips

• An overnight camping trip is a great opportunity to gaze at the stars. You will find yourself away from lights and densely populated areas, with comfy bedding, sleeping bags and warm clothing.However, don't forget about wild animals and insects! You will be able to see the stars even if you sit by the campfire.
• If you brought binoculars or a telescope with you, wait for them to cool to ambient temperature, otherwise the image will be blurry.

What do you need

• Suitable clothing
• Binoculars
• Flashlight with red cellophane film or infrared flashlight
• Food and drink
• Comfortable things to sit and lie on