The June Sky

Kick-off a Summer Under the Stars, and possibly win a free telescope at the event, on Saturday, June 12 from 7:30 - 11 PM at the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium.

Embedded video from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology

Summer Under the Stars

I was walking around Cherokee Park last weekend when the sun was going down and enjoying the fireflies that were swarming near the forest-edge. There were kids at the playground swinging and sliding in the twilight, and one of them started to yell, "The first star! Look!" (It was actually the planet Venus, but I kept my mouth shut and let them enjoy). The other children started pointing out other stars as the darkening sky began to unveil more and more of them every minute. It made me realize how the summer months offer so many free opportunities for fun and excitement if you just look up. So this summer we are kicking-off a Summer Under the Stars on June 12, from 7:30 - 11 PM at the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium. Take the pledge this summer to find just one constellation and gaze upon one neighboring planet in the coming months. We offer free videos and printable star maps to assist you. If you think that you are more artistic than scientific, consider that the stars are the greatest connect-the-dots game ever. Many different cultures have placed their mythologies and stories into the stars so that they will live forever, and we are still telling them thousands of years later. So for some of you, stargazing offers a canvas for drawing or writing stories, something that any child can enjoy with a piece of paper and a crayon or chalk. While stargazing is low-tech, it can also be enhanced with binoculars and telescopes, and if you attend the Summer Under the Stars event you can enter to win a free telescope (shown above) for the family, so join us for some summer fun, and let us know if you do get out there and see some stars!

A stellar gift idea - give someone the Universe

I recently attended a wedding shower and I really wanted to go "off the registry." In search of a gift that would keep on giving that wasn't a crock pot, and having a reputation for geek gifts, I came up with a "night under the stars" kit for the young couple. I share it with you now as a unique birthday or wedding gift idea to help you the next time you are searching for something meaningful that will live on and bring the recipient quality experiences and memories that will last.

Main content overview (hints below):
1. Bin or basket for easy storage and transport
2. Comfy blanket
3. Stargazing book
4. Bionoculars
5. Red light/flashlight
6. Bug Spray
7. Stargazing music

Hints about the contents:
1. Bin or basket for easy storage and transport:
The goal here is to have it go from closet or shelf to car easily. I selected a small Rubbermaid tote bin that was transparent and would fit into the trunk of the car easily. Other ideas are a picnic basket or a laundry basket.

2. Comfy blanket:
You want to stay warm or comfortable, and a soft, microfiber blanket is easy to clean and folds down well. If the ground is often wet in your area, you might want to add a tarp or camping ground cover to keep the observers dry.

3. Stargazing book
I have found that most book stores like Borders or Barnes and Noble have at least one kind of stargazing book or guide in their clearance sections at any given time. The good news is that astronomy content rarely goes out of date (unless it is a guide for a specific year). Look for a book that has general constellation maps and star charts for all the seasons, pictures of the planets and other key targets in the night sky. A good example is The Stargazer's Handbook: An Atlas Of The Night Sky.
Add a personal inscription to make it special. I added an astronomical love poem from Witter Bynner, 1917:
Till we watch the last low star,
Let us love and let us take
Of each other all we are.

On some morning with that star
One of us shall lie awake,
Lonely for the other's sake.


4. Bionoculars:
These do not have to be expensive to be good and effective. Hints for selecting a good pair of binoculars can be found at the Sky and Telescope Website.

5. Red light/flashlight:
To read your sky map and see where you are going without ruining your night vision demands a red light. There are flashlights that are also safety glow sticks that come in many different colors, just buy a red one and make it easier than trying to transform a regular flashlight.

6. Bug Spray:
Comfortable stargazing sometimes demands DEET. Put it in the kit so they won't forget about it. Small winged things can ruin the best of skies.

7. Stargazing music:
Here is where you can have some fun. Burn a mix of songs that have astronomical titles or content. Or even burn some podcasts about stargazing for their mp3 player to have the audio tours of the sky with them.
Here are some song ideas to get you started (I understand that there is a wide range of musical tastes, so have fun and make this your own):
-The Weepies (2 songs): Hideaway and Orbiting
-Lemon Jelly: Space Walk
-Brian Eno: An ending (ascent)

Any other ideas on good astronomical songs to add? Please contribute in the comments.
Enjoy giving the gift of the Universe, I promise you'll be a star when you gift some of these to your family and friends.

Rachel Connolly, Director, Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium