Stargazers should check out cosmos
With the hype of Tuesday’s partial solar eclipse behind us, many of you might be wondering about the vast cosmos a bit more than usual.
Why not find a dark spot to stargaze while the nights are still warm?
Each week this summer, The Record will put together a list of curious and interesting activities to explore in Waterloo Region (and if you want dark skies, a bit beyond). This week, it’s stargazing. Steve Holmes has spent many nights out in farmers’ fields (with permission, of course) with his telescope and long-exposure photography equipment.
His passion for the cosmos began as a child.
“Astronomy was what it was all about,” Holmes, now in his 60s, said.
As lifelong stargazer and member of the K-W Astronomy Club, Holmes shared some tips for where you can go to take in some of the sky’s sights without professional equipment.
If you want to get a good look at the millions of stars that dot the Milky Way, the best nights are clear and moonless.
That’s because the moon gives off too much light to see any stars, Holmes said.
Unfortunately, the region has too much light pollution to really get a good view, so Holmes recommends driving at least 30 miles out of town away from city lights.
One good spot that is a reasonable distance from the cities is Conestogo Lake. The conservation area is operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority and is a frequent stop for many local amateur astronomers.
The astronomy club will occasionally host star parties at the park for visitors who are camping overnight.
While there isn’t one good place to view the sky from the park, Holmes said it is best to stay in the day-use parking lot or find a safe area near the dam.
“The direction you really want to be able to see is to the south,” he said.
Although you can only see about 20 per cent of the Milky Way, Holmes said that’s where “a lot of the really cool stuff is.”
As long as you stay west and south of Kitchener and steer clear of light pollution.
Other good spots to stargaze include large parks or country roads that are off the beaten track and far enough from big cities.
Holmes said Ayr is a great spot for stargazing and so are large parks.
If you want to stay in town, you will still be able to admire the moon and see a few planets on a warm, clear night, he said.
The K-W Astronomy Club hosts star parties throughout the year, and members of the public are invited to drop by and take a peek at the cosmos.
They don’t host parties in the winter because it is cold and hardly ever clear, Holmes said, but keep an eye on the group’s Facebook page for upcoming events.