Check out the night-time sky
Take a night (or two) and head outside to watch the stars.
Pennsylvania happens to be a fantastic place to do just that, as we have some of the darkest skies on the East Coast.
You just need to know where to look and how.
We talked to Eric Loch, hunter of galaxies and spokesman for the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomy Society to get tips on getting started as well as places around the state to watch the stars.
Where to begin
If you’re looking to just get into stargazing as a fun activity with the family, this is a good choice.
So what do you need? Well, a dark, clear sky is key.
“You have to get out of city lights,” Loch says. “It’s best to go somewhere where you can put a mountain or something that distanced you from the main source of light.”
This doesn’t mean you have to travel out of the Lehigh Valley though. Even just going out to the backyard would work fine if it’s dark enough.
Clear, dry weather is key too. It’s important to check the forecast, especially in summer with the haze and humidity. July is generally our most humid month, so it’s important to check conditions.
Loch says a daytime “check” you can do is look up in the sky and check for jet trails.
“If you see them, that means there’s moisture in the air,” Loch explains.
Loch recommends two apps you can download to your phone to help decide when is a good time to plan a night out to stargaze: Clear Outside and Clear Sky Chart.
“They can predict what cloud cover will be like, the transparency and how much turbulence is in the air.”
What do you need?
You can start by just going outside. No money needed. Allow your eyes to adjust to the night, Loch recommends.
Start with looking for the Big Dipper and other constellations as well as identifying Polaris, the north star.
If you have a pair of binoculars, you can look at Polaris and see that it’s actually two stars close together.
“It’s a neat test,” Loch says.
Even looking at the moon can be fun with simple binoculars.
“You’d be amazed at what you can see,” Loch maintains.
If you aren’t quite sure what you’re looking at, you can download a number of different apps that can help. Sky Safari is a good choice, Loch suggests Using the app you can point your phone toward the sky and it can identify what you’re seeing.
You can also look up star charts like this one: in-the-sky.org/skymap2.php
If stargazing is something you think you want to do more long-term and you want to get a telescope, it’s going to be an investment. Loch says it’s important to get a good quality one — and those can run $500 or so.
Lehigh Valley Astronomy Society
Loch’s group has been promoting and teaching astronomy since 1957 at its South Mountain facility on East Rock Road in Allentown.
During the year, the group holds astronomy events, but since COVID-19, it has switched to virtual programs.
Check out their website: lvaas.org
Plan to watch …
If you’re thinking of starting a skygazing hobby, there’s a stellar event coming up. From July 28-29, a double meteor shower is expected, according to Accuweather.
It promises to be quite the light show, with numerous bright fireballs. Of course, you’ll have to stay up late to watch it, as the best time to view the showers is after 1 a.m. — after the moon has set.
Two other spots to peep the stars in PA
Lots of us have had to rethink summer vacations this year. Visiting a state park that’s known for great stargazing is a safe, fun getaway.