EXPLORING OKLAHOMA WITH CHILDREN
Stargazing
BY LINDSAY CUOMO PHOTOS BY MARC DOESCHER
Since ancient times, the nighttime sky has offered a sense of wonder and a mystical glimpse into what lies beyond our planet. Twinkling stars, faraway planets and other celestial objects dance their way across the sky in a captivating light show, offering families a front row seat to a spectacular sight that doesn’t require expensive equipment to enjoy!
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METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / AUGUST 2018
“Astronomy is one of the most accessible of the sciences. It’s right overhead every day,” said Mike Brake, the observing and outreach coordinator with the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club. “All you really have to do is get away from city lights and look up.” While there are many complex and far away features, the moon is a great place to start your stargazing journey. You can learn about the moon’s cycle, how it got all the craters and about the people who have walked on the moon and how they got there.
With the naked eye, you can see stars, planets, meteors, satellites and more. With as little as a good pair of binoculars, nebulas and galaxies become visible. “The main idea is to learn what’s up there,” Brake said. “There are dozens of sky maps available to help you find planets, major constellations and more. This fall, Saturn and Mars will be well placed in the evening sky.” As your interest and experiences expand, so can your tools. Since there is a wide variety of technologies potentially available, Brake recommends starting small and giving yourself time to master the equipment.
