Planning a stargazing spectacular this summer? Take note of these seven tips to make the most of your night sky adventure.
1) Bring a red flashlight. White light will destroy a stargazer’s hard-earned night vision, which can take 15 or more minutes to develop. Even red lights can damage your night vision, so point them down when in use, and try to use them sparingly.
2) Warn others if white light must be used. It’s okay to use a flashlight if you drop something, but keep the light focused and shout out a warning to your fellow stargazers so they have time to briefly close their eyes.
3) Watch where you walk. It’s easy to stumble in the darkness, especially when power cords or other wires are spread across the ground. Use reflective tape on or around your telescope, to aid guests who are navigating the darkness. A strand of red christmas lights can also work well.
4) Designate a spot for food and drinks – away from your equipment. Walking around with food and beverage in the dark is not advised, and certainly not recommended near expensive telescopes. Designate a place that is a safe distance away from your equipment where you can sit and enjoy yourself.
5) Set the tone with an out-of-this-world soundtrack. If you’re a streaming music subscriber, you’ll easily find a space-themed playlist to set the mood for your night of stargazing. Jam along to classic space tunes such as “Space Oddity,” “Man On the Moon,” “Rocket Man” and “Intergalactic” through the Seattle Times’ Space Playlist on Spotify. If you prefer ambient drone to make you feel weightless, check out the Floating Through Space playlist on Spotify.
6) Invest in a state-of-the-art telescope. The new eVscope eQuinox features Unistellar’s signature smart telescope technologies, a uniquely powerful combination of speed and sensitivity-to-light in one sleek, compact package. The device also features Unistellar’s socially-minded viewing experience, that allows up to 10 simultaneous observers.
7) Stargaze while you conduct space science. With the eVscope eQuinox you can enjoy the beauty of deep space, protect the planet against near-earth asteroids, conduct hands-on science, and so much more. No advanced training is required: Unistellar hosts numerous citizen science opportunities each month, conducted in collaboration with SETI Institute and Unistellar’s quickly growing, global community of nearly 5,000 users.
